Education & Youth
Lost Coast Environmental Education Resource
The Lost Coast Environmental Education Resource (LCEER) brings fun, hands-on learning about the environment to local schools. Since 2010, the program has been supported through funding from an Assistance Agreement with BLM King Range. Teaching students about nature in their own back yard encourages the next generation of environmental stewards - and the varied LCEER curriculum, offered to grades K thru 6, draws from a wide array of natural science topics.
The curriculum includes fun, engaging, place-based lessons and activities, many with a King Range or public lands connection. The curriculum is publicly available for free via our LCEER Lesson Matrix at https://lostcoast.org/lesson-matrix/. In addition to classroom learning, FOLC’s Environmental Education Coordinator also leads field trips to destinations in the King Range and throughout the larger Lost Coast region, connecting local students to our magnificent public lands.
Youth Interpreters Program
A component of the LCEER program, our Environmental Education Coordinator works with local high school students to teach and present our LCEER lessons in elementary classrooms.
The teens gain valuable experience as leaders and educators, often prompting interest in science or teaching careers, while younger children enjoy interacting with older students to learn locally relevant natural science curriculum.
High school Youth Interpreters are eligible to apply for a scholarship via the Ron & Eve Broughton Youth Interpreter Scholarship Fund for their participation.
Summer Adventure Camp
“Summer Adventure Camp is the best camp ever!” said 9 year old Gigi of her camp experience. From tide pools to creeks and ridge tops to meadows, every day our campers see a new adventure. Our day camp serves over 60 kids each year, ages 4 – 13, bringing them outside to hike, create nature inspired crafts, learn about edible and medicinal plants, journal, observe wildlife, swim, play, explore, and learn the value of giving back through service projects. The natural diversity in the Lost Coast area inspires curiosity and keen observation skills in the children, enhancing their perspective of the environment. Our teachers and volunteers love participating in the camp as much as the children do, experiencing together the wonders of the natural world. Scholarships are available.
2025 Camp Schedule Coming Soon
To Sign Up Contact
Michele Palazzo, 707-223-0112/[email protected]
Summer Adventure Camp is supported in part by The Bill Graham Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund
Natural Science Day
Exposure to the natural sciences at a young age can be foundational in developing curiosity, respect and a lifelong desire to learn about the natural world around us. Humboldt County is blessed with many environmental non-profits, natural science-based school/youth programs, and the bounty of our local landscapes as a living classroom – and Natural Science Day, FOLC’s newest youth event, celebrates this abundance! Held annually around the fall Equinox at the Garberville Town Square, this showcase of natural science and the arts features fun activities and informational displays for kids of all ages.
FOLC’s Environmental Education Coordinator presents a wide array of hands-on natural science lessons, alongside informational displays on the myriad educational, stewardship, youth, and citizen science programs FOLC offers. Additionally, many other local organizations/agencies/tribes join the fun, presenting activities and information on their natural science-based programs and how to get involved. Recent participants include CA State Parks, BLM King Range, Eel River Wailaki, Sequoia Park Zoo, Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association, Humboldt County Library, Sanctuary Forest, the Natural History Museum of Cal Poly Humboldt, Eel River Recovery Project, Redwood Discovery Museum, and others.
Custom Education Events & Family Activity Days
FOLC also offers custom programs, events and field trips to community and school groups. A sampling of these include Young FOLC at the Shelter Cove Library, Farm School events at the Southern Humboldt Community Park, Expanded Learning Opportunities offerings in partnership with the Southern Humboldt Unified School District, and environmental education activities at a wide array of community events - plus regular Family Activity Days at the Lost Coast Education Center which feature fun lessons from FOLC’s Garden Curriculum!
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