ABOUT VENTURA WILD

Ventura Wild is an education initiative of Ventura Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Our programs connect children to nature and instill a deep sense of belonging, by nurturing awareness, knowledge, skills, and stewardship with the natural world.

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Discover Ventura Wild Offerings:

Our Ventura Wild programs maintain a 4:1 child-to-mentor ratio. Our mentors are highly experienced naturalists and educators passionate about supporting your child’s nature connection journey in a safe and compassionate learning environment. Our education team members are all background checked and participate in regular trainings throughout the year, including Wilderness First Aid, CPR, epi-pen administration, child development, cultural competency, and more.

  • Students discover the challenge and inspiration of learning from life through awareness, investigation and play. Longer programs allow for deeper exploration, discovery and opportunity for projects and focused skills. We accept Charter Funds!

  • Children growing into some independence will enjoy this opportunity to explore, play and connect in natural settings. Our programs focus on whole body natural learning rhythms that allow children to discover themselves, each other and the planet.

  • A chance to engage with friends in natural settings, balance screen and classroom time with sensory, physical and metal wellness time: sitting by a creek, walking through the trees, noticing the wind, sun and water soothes the soul.

  • We invite children to explore, learn and play outside with us in Spanish! Every week we explore wild places around our communities and gain awareness, knowledge, self reliance and social skills. Our bilingual instructors are skilled naturalists, educators and mentors.

  • Is your child ready to practice more intermediate nature-based skills? This program is best suited for children who have experience in nature and are capable of more focused skills and adventurous hiking.

  • Week-long day camps, each day visiting different wild places to explore and learn about our local ecosystems. Usually involving beaches or swimming holes, and always a fun opportunity to be with friends and deepen the programs we offer during the rest of the year.

  • Ventura Wild offers overnight camps during the Summer Season. This is a special opportunity to full immerse in nature to practice skills for self-reliance in the backcountry.

  • This is an opportunity for your child to step into the transition from childhood to adolescence feeling empowered and supported, exploring friendships, family, self and the world together.

  • We partner with schools to offer environmental education programs for their students. Programs include school field trips and extended learning opportunities that are in line with classroom goals.

  • Our education team provides family events, workshops and guided hikes through Ventura Land Trust’s public events. Come join us for tide pooling, birding, night hikes and so much more!

Ventura Wild Core Routines:

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the Earth before we ask them to save it.” Richard Louv, Last Child Left in the Woods

Ventura Wild emphasizes four stages of nature connection: sensory awareness, knowledge, skills, and stewardship. Our programs practice the following core routines to connect to the rhythms and seasons of nature. We explore, learn powerful skills and practices, and embrace the diversity of the natural world: 

GRATITUDE
Practicing gratitude and respect for nature and all aspects of life.

SKILLS
Introducing naturalist skills, such as plant & animal identification, mapping, navigation, conscious foraging, shelter building, and more.

PLAY
Including games, songs, activities, and time set aside for creative play.

EXPLORATION
Exploring our environment with confidence, curiosity, and respect.

KNOWLEDGE
Learning focused on discovery and the natural inquiry of our environment.

AWARENESS
Expanding our senses to attune to our surroundings.

SIT SPOT
Deepening our understanding of place by practicing stillness and observation.

TRACKING
Observing and questioning our findings to better understand who we share this land with.

Ventura Wild would love to hear from you!

Email: venturawild@venturalandtrust.org

Phone: 805-643-8044 x 4

Mailing Address: Ventura Wild, P.O. Box 1284, Ventura, CA 93002

MAKE A DONATION TODAY!

Help us bring more children into outdoor learning and be stewards in our community

Your kind donation will help us provide more scholarships, offer bilingual programs, hire and train staff, raise funds for transportation and so much more.