About
The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Programs include recreational walks, interpretive hikes, astronomy nights, family programs, stewardship volunteer opportunities, and an educational speaker series. Specific events include Wildflower Happy Hour, Spring Sunrise Hike, Reading with Reptiles, Celebrate Earth Week! Trail Stewardship, Mud Kitchen Morning, Celebrate Earth Week! Volunteer Orientation and Training, Astronomy Night, Celebrate Earth Week! Family Walk to Mother Oak, Bugs and Butterflies at Riley Park, and Earth Day at Panhe in San Clemente. The programs also participate in Ocean Festivals, city celebrations, and talks with hands-on activities at local libraries and school science nights.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: $20 | 21 and up | Indoor Presentation for Wildflower Happy Hour; $5-$10, Free/Supporter | 10 and up | Moderate-strenuous for Spring Sunrise Hike; Free | All Ages (recommended 3-5) for Reading with Reptiles; Free | 10 and up | Moderate-Strenuous for Celebrate Earth Week! Trail Stewardship; Free | All Ages for Mud Kitchen Morning; Free | 18 and Up for Celebrate Earth Week! Volunteer Orientation and Training; $10-$15 | 8 & up | Easy for Astronomy Night; $5 | 6 and up | Easy-Moderate for Celebrate Earth Week! Family Walk to Mother Oak
The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo is managed by the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Trust, a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance Reserve lands for ecological, educational, charitable, conservation, open space, scientific, and recreational uses, guided by the principle “Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.” The Reserve includes actively managed and monitored vegetation communities such as Coastal Sage Scrub, Riparian, Open Water, Chaparral, Freshwater Marsh, Streamcourses, Grassland, Alkali Meadow, and Woodland & Forest, with management actions that include invasive species control like removal of artichoke in The Nature Reserve and removal of giant reed in San Juan Creek, as well as stewardship activities such as clearing trails of vegetation, constructing bridges, installing signs, and erecting fencing. Covered Species monitoring follows the Habitat Reserve Management and Monitoring Program, and the Reserve participates in programs studying disease in mountain lions, migratory patterns of red-tailed hawks, reproductive output of barn owls, genetics of fairy shrimp, the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count, and regular NABA butterfly counts.
Community outreach includes participation in local fairs and fiestas, county parks, green days, and other conservation themed events, along with programs for groups such as Boy and Girl Scouts and conservation and civic organizations. The public also encounters the animal ambassador Rosy, the Rosy Boa Snake, during these outreach efforts.
Last updated April 6, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: $20 | 21 and up | Indoor Presentation for Wildflower Happy Hour; $5-$10, Free/Supporter | 10 and up | Moderate-strenuous for Spring Sunrise Hike; Free | All Ages (recommended 3-5) for Reading with Reptiles; Free | 10 and up | Moderate-Strenuous for Celebrate Earth Week! Trail Stewardship; Free | All Ages for Mud Kitchen Morning; Free | 18 and Up for Celebrate Earth Week! Volunteer Orientation and Training; $10-$15 | 8 & up | Easy for Astronomy Night; $5 | 6 and up | Easy-Moderate for Celebrate Earth Week! Family Walk to Mother Oak
The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo is managed by the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Trust, a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance Reserve lands for ecological, educational, charitable, conservation, open space, scientific, and recreational uses, guided by the principle “Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.” The Reserve includes actively managed and monitored vegetation communities such as Coastal Sage Scrub, Riparian, Open Water, Chaparral, Freshwater Marsh, Streamcourses, Grassland, Alkali Meadow, and Woodland & Forest, with management actions that include invasive species control like removal of artichoke in The Nature Reserve and removal of giant reed in San Juan Creek, as well as stewardship activities such as clearing trails of vegetation, constructing bridges, installing signs, and erecting fencing. Covered Species monitoring follows the Habitat Reserve Management and Monitoring Program, and the Reserve participates in programs studying disease in mountain lions, migratory patterns of red-tailed hawks, reproductive output of barn owls, genetics of fairy shrimp, the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count, and regular NABA butterfly counts.
Community outreach includes participation in local fairs and fiestas, county parks, green days, and other conservation themed events, along with programs for groups such as Boy and Girl Scouts and conservation and civic organizations. The public also encounters the animal ambassador Rosy, the Rosy Boa Snake, during these outreach efforts.
Last updated April 6, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.