ABOUT VENTURA WILD
Ventura Wild is an education initiative of Ventura Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Our programs connect children and families to nature by nurturing awareness, knowledge, skills, and stewardship of the natural world.
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Ventura Wild Offerings:
Our Ventura Wild programs maintain a 4:1 child-to-mentor ratio. Our mentors 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.
We are a team of highly experienced naturalists and educators passionate about supporting your child’s nature connection journey in a safe and compassionate learning environment.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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We invite children to explore, learn and play outside with us in Spanish! Every week we explore wild places while introducing new language skills. Our bilingual instructors are skilled naturalists, educators, and mentors.
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Is your child ready to practice more intermediate nature-based skills? These workshops are best suited for children who have experience in nature and are capable of more focused skills and adventurous hiking.
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Week-long day camps, each day visiting different wild places to explore and learn about our local ecosystems. Always a fun opportunity to be with friends and deepen the programs we offer during the rest of the year.
Ventura Wild also offers overnight camps during the Summer Season. This is a special opportunity to fully immerse in nature to practice skills for self-reliance in the backcountry.
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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.
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Internships are offered throughout the year, including Summer.
This is a professional development opportunity for those interested in gaining practical experience in early childhood and outdoor education.
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We partner with schools to offer environmental education programs and events. Programs include school field trips and extended learning opportunities that are in line with classroom goals.
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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!
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.
Ventura Wild Core Routines:
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.
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.
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