Explore California’s Most Beautiful Parks Teaching in the Great Outdoors.
Outdoor Education Where & When You Want It.
Naturalists at Large is a leading outdoor and environmental education group in California. Since 1985, we have provided outdoor education programs for tens of thousands of students from over two hundred schools. We have introduced students to environments as diverse as the pygmy forest of Sonoma, the Giant Forest of Sequoia, the spring wildflowers of the Sonoran Desert, and giant kelp forests of Santa Catalina Island’s waters.
We pride ourselves on our ability to facilitate outdoor programs that are exciting and fun, while giving students an understanding of the beauty and diversity of our planet. We are committed to teaching people of all ages the skills to be at ease in the outdoors, and to come to a better understanding of the Western ecosystems: mountains, deserts, and seashores.
Education of the natural world and learning how to become a responsible steward of the environment is every bit as important as traditional academics. Through thought provoking subject matter and activities, as well as Leave no Trace ethics and proper camping habits, we hope to inspire not only a love of the natural world, but a sense of responsibility to sustain wilderness for generations to come.
Explore over 35 sites throughout California:
Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Point Reyes, Pinnacles, Colorado River, Catalina Island, Coastal Redwoods, Santa Monica Mountains, Anza Borrego, Santa Cruz Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Big Basin, and Mono Lake to name a few.
The Naturalists at Large Tradition
Naturalists at Large was founded in 1985 by Richard Stowell, a former school administrator, to fill a void that existed in outdoor programs. Existing providers offered only “packaged” programs, where schools had to fit themselves into a pre-defined, inflexible program. Naturalists at Large does not offer “one-size-fits-all” programs, but instead designs a custom program that meets each school’s specific goals. Naturalists at Large ensures that your most precious resource, time, is well spent.
