Montecito Spring/Fall: Naturalists at Large

Our education programs for over two hundred of California's public and independent schools have introduced thousands of students to environments as diverse as the…

Who do weserve ?

Pygmy Forest of Sonoma

Giant Forest of Sequoia

Sonoran Desert

Colorado River

CatalinaIsland

What does

Naturalists at Large

do ?

We work with each school every step of the way to identify their outdoor education goals and then tailor a program to meet those specific needs.

Trail Group sizes of 9 to 14 studentsAlways with one instructor and one adult from your school

Naturalists at Large provides a complete outdoor curriculum for primary through

high school level students. We can

accommodate trips for 15 students to

over 200.

Naturalists at Large draws it’s instructors from all over the United States. These are men and women with 4-year university degrees who have proven experience working with youth in the outdoors and in the classroom.

With their high comfort and experience in the outdoors, their passion for teaching, and a commitment to safety first, we have the foundation for a fantastic experience for you and your students.

All of our instructors are CPR and First Aid Certified. 80 % of them hold advanced certifications such as Wilderness Emergency Medical Training, Wilderness First Responders and Wilderness Advanced First Aid.

RESPONSE TIMES: for Emergency Services

Ambulance: Under 30 minutes from Grant Grove

Medivac Helicopter: Under 20 minutes; winter...varies with provider, consult EMS dispatcher Law Enforcement: 15 minutes

The Montecito Sequoia Lodge is located in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, about 10 miles from Grant Grove

4 ½-5 hour drive from Los Angeles or San Francisco

There are 36 hotel style lodge rooms with private bath or winterized cozy cabins with nearby heated bathhouse.

Located at an elevation of about 7,500 feet Montecito Sequoia offers spectacular scenery, magnificent mountain vistas, and views of the Great Western Divide.

The lodge has a wonderful dining facility providing quality food for every taste

There’s a variety of

menu options from which to

choose.

Meals are wholesome

affairs providing the

nutrition needed for

active participants.

Allergies and Special Food Needs

Program meals offer vegetarian food options.

For those with specific needs due to allergies or personal reasons, we suggest discussion with your faculty.

Naturalists at Large can help guide those with special diets to supplement their meals in ways which everyone can most easily manage.

A focus of most all Naturalists at Large programming is the interaction of the individual with the group. The needs of both must be met through the development of cooperation, leadership and problem solving skills.

The facilitation of activities, with the emphasis on our interaction with the environment and each other, promotes awareness of each individual’s role in making the group experience a positive one.

Lake Homovalo…

Educational Themes can include:

*A Sense of Place. How are our urban environments and Sequoia similar/different? How do urban areas impact the wilderness? *Geology of the Sierra Nevada Mountains *The ecology of Giant Sequoias*Tree identification.*The mixed conifer "snow" forest of the Sierra*Plant and animal adaptations of the Sierra.*Activity options include multiple-day backpacking, visits to nearby Sequoia Groves, day trips to Kings Canyon, and more

NAL will provide:*One naturalist / instructor for every twelve to fourteen students to conduct outdoor education programs for the students. (School provides one faculty member for every group of twelve.) *Program activities developed by Naturalists at Large with the faculty of the school.*All meals while at the program site.*A meeting room throughout the program period.*Evening programs on Sierra natural history, adventure travel, or forest history every night.Optional activities – outpost camping, backpacking, day trips to either Grant’s Grove or Giant Forest.

“Can’t believe we all fit in here…

What next”?

Snack Time !

And a few other optional activities…

Journal & ReflectiveActivity

Map & CompassOrienteering

Animal Tracking

Creativity

Relaxation & Stretching

Fun Games

Side trips can be arranged for visits to other parts of the Sequoia-Kings

Canyon National Park

Evening ProgramsNaturalists at Large will use the evening as

an alternative activity/learning time for students. Each evening will have a

different focus.Astronomy: constellations, motion of stars and planets, stellar evolution, stories and

myths.Evening hikes to foster confidence with no

artificial light. We also cover nocturnal adaptations of animals.

Traditional campfire: songs, stories and skits performed by the students and

Naturalists at Large staff.

(DAY ONE)3:00 Students arrive. Unload bus.

General site orientation Split into trail groupsSmall group orientationsDetailed room preview in trail

groups. Snack in the Dining hall

5:00 Faculty supervised free time. Recreational games

6:00 Emergency Drill / Dinner. Set up/clean up

7:30 Evening program: Night hike with Astronomy and Games

8:15-9:00 Pumpkin carving in the dining hall-SCARY!!!9:00 Students released to Faculty for the

evening.9:30 In rooms10:00 Lights out and quiet 

(DAY TWO)7:30 Breakfast. Set up/Clean up by 8:30 Students meet in trail groups / Pick up trail lunch9:00 Groups 1&2 go off site and visit Big Stump

Groups 3&4 Grant Grove  Groups 5-9 will spend the day in camp A) Hike with natural history B) Frisbee OrienteeringC) Climbing Traverse or __________Canoeing/Archery (if available)

 3:00 Groups 1-4 meet the buses and return to camp4:30 Faculty supervised free time.

Recreational games 5:30 Dinner. Set up/clean up by 7:30-8:00 Trail group activities – active night hike with games. Video in the Ponderosa for all students Pictionary or Night hike 9:30 Students released to faculty for the evening10:00 Lights out and quiet 

A great adventure for the group…

And the individual.

Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star. …Muir

Ask about…

Allergies, Medications, and Special Dietary

Needs

Equipment Reminders

Follow your equipment list.

Pack together. Adult and student can double check the contents of the gear bag.

All clothing should fit in a medium size duffle.

A day pack is essential to move about the program with water, some food, extra layers of clothing, and personal incidentals.

Rain gear is a must. (water-proof shell) Rain Ponchos are fine.

Comfortable closed toed shoes are required. Light weight hikers or tennis shoes with a few pairs of good outdoor socks (non-cotton).

A good water bottle (quart or liter).

The proper sleeping bag (check your equipment list for specifics).

Plastic bag protection. A half dozen, 2 gallon storage ziplocks are good for protecting clothing in a gear bag from moisture. Along with a couple hefty 15 to 30 gallon bags to line your gear bag and sleeping bag (& daypack).

Don’t send gear that you could not afford lost or broken (expensive cameras, cell phones, and other electronics). A handy disposable camera would be just fine.

Follow your equipment list, ask questions, borrow from friends.

For more information

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