Calendar

Experience life out on The Nature Reserve during that magical time of the evening where shadows become long and the sky fades from fiery orange to a soft blue. Be on the lookout for wildlife as the day comes to end and the evening just begins.

Interpretation Level: Medium
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Trail Length: 2 miles (1 mile each way)
Ages: 8 and up

Please join us for Volunteer Orientation and Training!

This fun and informational orientation is the first step in joining us as an official Nature Reserve Volunteer. Learn about The Nature Reserve's history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Nature Reserve lands through conservation and education.

 Ages: Adult, 18 and up

Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering for The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.

Enjoy an evening outdoors, as you gaze into the night sky, learn the constellations, and peer through the telescopes of our guest astronomers. The Nature Reserve astronomers are all volunteers who enthusiastically share their telescopes and expert sky knowledge with you. (What to bring: warm clothing, flashlight with red cellophane/lens to reduce light pollution, binoculars, optional beach chair.)

Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up

Camouflage, warning, or just pretending, animals use colors in so many ways! Meet live animals and explore hands-on activities to see how animals’ colors help them in their habitat.

The program is open house style with self-guided and naturalist-guided hands-on activities, crafts and live animals. Registration not required, walk-ins welcome. Please sign-in upon arrival.  Please arrive within 30 minutes of program start time to enjoy all of the activities. Program activities will end promptly at the event end time.

The program activities are geared for children ages 4 and up. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.

Join us at The Nature House at Ranch Camp in Rancho Mission Viejo for Hiking 101! We'll start by learning about the "Ten Essentials" you should have when hiking, trail tips, and make a minimalist first aid kit! Then head out on a guided hike along the trails around Ranch Camp, to learn more about the local plants and animals.

Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy - Moderate
Trail Length: 1.2 miles
Ages: 6 and up

Nature buddies are all around us as woodpeckers gather acorns and butterflies visit flowers. Spend a morning being a nature buddy to understand how nature works together!

The program is open house style with self-guided and naturalist-guided hands-on activities, crafts and live animals. Registration not required, walk-ins welcome. Please sign-in upon arrival.  Please arrive within 30 minutes of program start time to enjoy all of the activities. Program activities will end promptly at the event end time.

The program activities are geared for children ages 4 and up. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.

Experience life out on The Nature Reserve during that magical time of the evening where shadows become long and the sky fades from fiery orange to a soft blue. Watch the moonrise from the top of North Ridge and be on the lookout for wildlife as the day comes to end and the evening just begins.

Interpretation Level: Medium
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Trail Length: 2 miles
Ages: 8 and up

Celebrate the final days of summer at Summer Nature Day, a drop-off program for kids. Campers will enjoy outdoor play with friends at Boulder Pond & Playground, explore nature-based activities, and meet live animals. Along with scheduled activities, they’ll have supervised free time for games, arts and crafts, and summer fun.

Sign up for both weeks and get a discount on the second week!

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 pm (Drop off begins 8:30 am)
Ages: 5-11

Please read our Summer Nature Days Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Campers must be registered or on the waitlist by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 4.

Summer Nature Day staff are the same amazing outdoor educators that lead and teach our school field trip programs and summer camp. Each staff member is a professional educator who enjoys working with kids, and sharing their love for the outdoors. Each staff member is also CPR/First Aid certified and background checked. For more information, check out our individual bios.

Celebrate the final days of summer at Summer Nature Day, a drop-off program for kids. Campers will enjoy outdoor play with friends at Boulder Pond & Playground, explore nature-based activities, and meet live animals. Along with scheduled activities, they’ll have supervised free time for games, arts and crafts, and summer fun.

Sign up for both weeks and get a discount on the second week!

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 pm (Drop off begins 8:30 am)
Ages: 5-11

Please read our Summer Nature Days Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Campers must be registered or on the waitlist by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 4.

Summer Nature Day staff are the same amazing outdoor educators that lead and teach our school field trip programs and summer camp. Each staff member is a professional educator who enjoys working with kids, and sharing their love for the outdoors. Each staff member is also CPR/First Aid certified and background checked. For more information, check out our individual bios.

Join us on this special night to view a partial lunar eclipse. The dark skies above The Nature Reserve provide an ideal spot to view this special celestial occasion. Astronomers from The Orange County Astronomers will have telescopes available for viewing. There will also be binoculars to borrow.

We'll also have space themed snacks and drinks, as well as lunar crafts and activities for kids. Bring blankets and chairs for sitting on the grass and enjoying the evening.

Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up

Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 26.

Please join us for Volunteer Orientation and Training!

This fun and informational orientation is the first step in joining us as an official Nature Reserve Volunteer. Learn about The Nature Reserve's history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Nature Reserve lands through conservation and education.

 Ages: Adult, 18 and up

Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering for The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.

Join Rosy the snake and Buckwheat the tortoise for a fun morning at The Nature House. We'll be reading a nature-themed book, playing games, and exploring the Nature House at Ranch Camp.

Ages: All (Recommended 3-5) w/accompanying adult

Join us for a family-friendly presentation with guest speaker, Bob Allen, for an evening of photographs, stories, and specimens of tarantulas, other spiders, and night-time insects of Orange County.

Ages: 8 and up

Join guest leader, Bob Allen, to get up close and personal with tarantulas and other arthropods! We'll be on the lookout for male tarantulas making their annual late summer search for females.  We will also look for trap-door spiders and other critters of the evening.

This event will partially take place alongside a private road overlooking oak groves, grasslands and more. Participants will initially drive on the road from site to site to look for tarantulas and other  many-legged critters and later take a stroll on a trail to view them.

Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 8 and up

Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, September 5.

Please join us for Volunteer Orientation and Training!

This fun and informational orientation is the first step in joining us as an official Nature Reserve Volunteer. Learn about The Nature Reserve's history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Nature Reserve lands through conservation and education.

 Ages: Adult, 18 and up

Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering for The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.

Hoots, howls and other cries in the night are what we'll be listening for on this nighttime adventure on The Nature Reserve. Enjoy a night hike, as we learn about nocturnal animals and listen for the calls of the wild.

Interpretation Level:  High
Difficulty Level: Easy-moderate
Ages: 8 and up

Enjoy an evening outdoors, as you gaze into the night sky, learn the constellations, and peer through the telescopes of our guest astronomers. The Nature Reserve astronomers are all volunteers who enthusiastically share their telescopes and expert sky knowledge with you. (What to bring: warm clothing, flashlight with red cellophane/lens to reduce light pollution, binoculars, optional beach chair.)

Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up

Enjoy an evening outdoors, as you gaze into the night sky, learn the constellations, and peer through the telescopes of our guest astronomers. The Nature Reserve astronomers are all volunteers who enthusiastically share their telescopes and expert sky knowledge with you. (What to bring: warm clothing, flashlight with red cellophane/lens to reduce light pollution, binoculars, optional beach chair.)

Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up

Please join us for Volunteer Orientation and Training!

This fun and informational orientation is the first step in joining us as an official Nature Reserve Volunteer. Learn about The Nature Reserve's history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Nature Reserve lands through conservation and education.

 Ages: Adult, 18 and up

Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering for The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.