Get ready to be inspired! The Summit is coming to the Environmental Nature Center, a coastal oasis in the heart of Southern California and a nationally recognized pioneer in sustainable building design and operations.
During your visit, you’ll not only explore the ENC’s award-winning campus in Newport Beach but also experience the innovative ENC Nature Preschool and the historic ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary.
Located in the heart of Newport Beach, California, the ENC has served its community for over 50 years as a leader in science and social science education. The center’s five-acre campus — just minutes from the beach — provides a dynamic setting for learning, exploration, and connection.
With a staff of over 40 employees, the ENC serves more than 28,000 students and thousands of visitors each year.
Programs
The ENC offers year-round programming that emphasizes hands-on, place-based learning. Programs include school field trips, early childhood education, seasonal camps, adult team-building, public events, and off-site outreach.
Sustainability
The ENC’s campus exemplifies sustainable design and operation. Throughout the Summit, participants will experience how the ENC integrates sustainability into every aspect of its work.
Zero-Waste Operations
The ENC diverts over 97% of its waste from the landfill and does not provide single-use disposable products — so bring your favorite drinking vessel! The ENC was awarded TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum Certification by Green Business Certification Inc., recognizing outstanding zero waste performance.
Sustainable Buildings
Both the ENC’s main building and the ENC Nature Preschool are certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council and are solar powered, net positive, and designed for exceptional energy and water efficiency.
The buildings incorporate passive design strategies such as natural ventilation and daylight harvesting to reduce energy use. Recycled and sustainable materials were used extensively for construction. Native, drought-tolerant landscaping eliminates the need for irrigation, while bioswales and rain harvesting systems manage all stormwater on site.
ENC Nature Preschool
The ENC Nature Preschool educates 72 children daily, engages parents in active learning, serves as a model nature preschool and provides a research forum on early childhood and environmental education. With hands-on daily experiences, children acquire a deep intuitive understanding of nature and the natural world.
ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
The ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary is a 12-acre site owned and operated by the ENC. Located in Modjeska Canyon — in the foothills of the Cleveland National Forest, about 40 minutes from the ENC’s Newport Beach campus — the sanctuary includes a natural history museum, scenic trails, a restored historic residence, and a bird observation deck.