Programs

Creating a facility that reflects environmental values is a complex undertaking. In this field workshop, you'll learn about the full process behind designing and constructing the Environmental Nature Center’s first building (that wasn’t a trailer) — a LEED Platinum-certified nature center that now serves as a community model for sustainable architecture.

From initial vision to final details, the workshop will cover the challenges, innovations, and decisions that shaped the project. In addition to the building itself, participants will explore the center’s broader sustainability initiatives, including their Zero Waste Policy, Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, and TRUE Zero Waste Certification. This is an opportunity to examine how sustainability goals can be embedded into both infrastructure and day-to-day operations.

Presenter: Bo Glover, President of the Environmental Nature Center

The ENC Nature Preschool is about to embark on its sixth year of operation. Building a preschool from scratch had its challenges, including landing on an identity for the school. Families kept asking, “What’s your educational philosophy going to be?”, “What are your values?”, and “What kind of school is this?” 

It was hard to land on a cohesive framework of who we wanted to be, other than a school that values nature and sustainability. Over the course of a few years (and ongoing!) we started building rituals and traditions that helped shape our school culture. Join this field workshop for a taste of how we landed on that framework and experience some of those rituals for yourself.

Learning objectives include: 

• Understand some of the ‘growing pains’ involved with opening up a Nature Preschool
• Learn how to intentionally build school framework and educational philosophy from scratch
• Learn tactics for a bottom-up approach, using teachers, parents, and students to mold your school culture

Presenters: 

• Vanessa Sener, Nature Preschool Director
• Nicolle Callan, Nature Preschool Assistant Director
• Devon O’Connor, Nature Preschool Teacher

This Field Workshop takes place 8am-12pm. 

The Environmental Nature Center gained stewardship of Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary amid the pandemic, stepping in to preserve and reactivate this unique site when it was on the brink of closure. In the years since, the ENC has navigated the complex realities of operating a second nature center — managing everything from a historic home renovation to wildfire mitigation strategies, all while preserving the legacy of birding that defines Tucker.

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. With ties to world-famous actress Helena Modjeska and the inventor of the hummingbird feeder, Benjamin Tucker, the site offers both cultural richness and ecological importance.

Join us for a guided hike through Modjeska Canyon’s oak woodlands as we reflect on lessons learned in land stewardship, site acquisition, and program integration. Expect heat, hills, and a lot of inspiration.

Learning objectives include: 

• Explore the cultural and ecological history of Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, including the influence of Helena Modjeska and Benjamin Tucker, and how these historical figures shaped the site’s birding legacy.
• Understand the process and logistics of assuming stewardship of an existing nature center, including legal, operational, and relationship-building aspects during a period of crisis (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic).
• Identify the unique challenges and opportunities involved in managing multiple sites, such as staffing, communication, programming, and aligning mission-driven goals across locations.
• Examine the realities of managing a remote, fire-prone site, and discuss best practices in fire preparedness, community engagement, and land stewardship in vulnerable habitats.
• Gain insight into historic structure preservation within a natural setting, including lessons learned from renovating and interpreting a historically significant home as part of a public-facing nature center.
• Participate in an immersive field experience, with a guided hike to observe Tucker’s native habitat and bird populations, and reflect on how on-site experiences can be designed to educate and inspire diverse audiences.

Presenters: 

• Wendy Green, Nature Center Manager
• Julie Williams, Naturalist

Driving time to Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary is approximately 40 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC.

Once a tight-knit beachside community and now a beloved State Park, Crystal Cove is a coastal treasure with a remarkable story of preservation, public access, and partnership. This Field Workshop will take you into the heart of the Crystal Cove Historic District to explore how Crystal Cove Conservancy — a nonprofit working in partnership with California State Parks — manages a complex, place-based operation that bridges education, historic preservation, conservation, and hospitality.

Through a tour of the Historic District and discussions with Conservancy leaders, this session will highlight how nonprofit and public agencies can build mutually beneficial relationships while managing sensitive natural and cultural resources, generating earned income, and serving the public good.

This workshop will feature:

• A 40-minute walk-and-talk of the Crystal Cove Historic District, led by Crystal Cove Conservancy President & CEO Kate Wheeler, offering insight into the site's transformation from a coastal community to a model for public-private partnership.
• An inside look at the Conservancy’s unique role operating within a California State Park, including how it balances historic preservation, public access, education, and conservation.
• A closer look at the Conservancy’s mission-aligned social enterprise model, including the operation of cottage rentals, concessions, and retail through its for-profit subsidiary, Crystal Cove Management Company.
• A Q&A session with Conservancy department directors at the Japanese Language Schoolhouse, offering perspectives on how operations, education, development, and retail teams work together to support park stewardship and financial sustainability.

Learning objectives include: 

• Explore a public-private partnership model that balances conservation, education, historic preservation, and sustainable tourism.
• Consider the challenges and opportunities in restoring and operating a historic district within a highly visited public space.
• Learn how the Conservancy has structured and operationalized a mission-aligned social enterprise model within a State Park.
• Explore how different departments coordinate to manage daily park operations, support education programs, and sustain long-term conservation goals.
• Consider the challenges and rewards of operating within a State Park while also advancing environmental and educational missions.

Presenters: 

• Kate Wheeler - President and CEO
• Hallie Jones - Executive Vice President
• Lisa Levenson - Director of Programs

Driving time to Crystal Cove is approximately 20 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC. Please wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk and stand on uneven ground for ~40 minutes. From the carpark to the meeting site there is a downhill slope. From the walk-and-talk to the Q&A meeting site there is a set of steep stairs. If participants require mobility accommodations, please let us know in advance and we will provide a golf cart to assist with transport between locations.

Growing educational programs and community connections with limited resources is no small task — but it’s exactly what staff at the Back Bay Science Center have accomplished in just a short time.

In two years, the Back Bay Science Center went from less than 1,000 visits to almost 5,000 through re-building old relationships, developing new partnerships, and a lot of listening and creative problem-solving. This Field Workshop offers a look at how the Science Center revitalized its programs and facilities in the wake of the pandemic. 

The visit will include a tour of the Science Center with its beautiful view of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve estuary and its tidepool touch tanks. Hosts from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will discuss rebuilding the education programs and re-designing the facility with minimal resources post-covid and their partnership with Orange County Coastkeeper, a nonprofit that organizes field trips for local Title I High School Programs.

Learning objectives include:

• Understanding the design of an education facility for high school and college programs (that is also useful to the public)
• How to create new bridges with educators in the community to promote visitation and engagement
• How to organize funding, buses, substitutes and working with high school teachers  to provide access to environmental education programs

Presenters: 

• Jene Dietz, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Genessee Ouyang, Orange County Coast Keeper

Driving time to Back Bay Science Center is approximately 20 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC.

Creating a facility that reflects environmental values is a complex undertaking. In this field workshop, you'll learn about the full process behind designing and constructing the Environmental Nature Center’s first building (that wasn’t a trailer) — a LEED Platinum-certified nature center that now serves as a community model for sustainable architecture.

From initial vision to final details, the workshop will cover the challenges, innovations, and decisions that shaped the project. In addition to the building itself, participants will explore the center’s broader sustainability initiatives, including their Zero Waste Policy, Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, and TRUE Zero Waste Certification. This is an opportunity to examine how sustainability goals can be embedded into both infrastructure and day-to-day operations.

Presenter: Bo Glover, President of the Environmental Nature Center

The ENC Nature Preschool is about to embark on its sixth year of operation. Building a preschool from scratch had its challenges, including landing on an identity for the school. Families kept asking, “What’s your educational philosophy going to be?”, “What are your values?”, and “What kind of school is this?” 

It was hard to land on a cohesive framework of who we wanted to be, other than a school that values nature and sustainability. Over the course of a few years (and ongoing!) we started building rituals and traditions that helped shape our school culture. Join this field workshop for a taste of how we landed on that framework and experience some of those rituals for yourself.

Learning objectives include: 

• Understand the ‘growing pains’ involved with opening up a Nature Preschool
• Learn how to intentionally build school framework and educational philosophy from scratch
• Learn tactics for a bottom-up approach, using teachers, parents, and students to shape your school culture

Presenters: 

• Vanessa Sener, Nature Preschool Director
• Nicolle Callan, Nature Preschool Assistant Director
• Devon O’Connor, Nature Preschool Teacher

This Field Workshop offers a guided hike and a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, part of a 22,000-acre coastal sage scrub open space. Managed through a public-private partnership between Orange County Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation, the park is supported by a range of public and private stakeholders.

Participants will learn how the two organizations collaborate to manage the site, including operating a successful volunteer program and navigating complex stakeholder relationships. The workshop will also explore how public and private agencies coordinate efforts to meet regulatory requirements related to endangered species and the urban wildland interface.

The visit will provide time for discussion, information sharing, and reflection on the benefits and challenges of collaborative land management.

Presenters: 

• Nathan Taxel, Orange County Parks
• Christie Sweeney, Laguna Canyon Foundation

Driving time is approximately 25 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC.

This Field Workshop is 9am to 1:15pm.

Tired of the noise? Overwhelmed by the details? Let's cut through the chatter and reconnect with the core of our mission: saving the damn world. This isn't about incremental change; it's about radical regeneration and organizational sustainability. Join us at The Ecology Center, a 28-acre oasis of hope amidst urban sprawl, and reignite your passion for the "Big Picture" while discovering the keys to building a thriving nature center.

We're here to talk about the raw, unfiltered truth: the urgent need to shift culture and create a future where humanity thrives in harmony with nature. At The Ecology Center, they're not just talking about it — they're doing it. This Regenerative Organic Certified™ farm is a living testament to the power of action, a place where visionaries, farmers, educators, community builders, entrepreneurs, and master collaborators are forging a new path.

This isn't your typical conference workshop. We'll explore how The Ecology Center has transformed a barren lot into a thriving ecosystem and a successful social enterprise. We'll examine their innovative approach to retail, dinners, café operations, and events. You'll also learn how The Ecology Center is able to pay its staff, including farm workers, living wages — a crucial element of their sustainable model. We'll witness firsthand the power of regenerative agriculture to heal the land and nourish communities and the power of a well-run and well-connected organization to sustain and amplify that work.

This is a call to action. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and reconnect with the fire that drives us all.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Rearticulate the core mission of their nature center and develop a renewed vision for their organizational purpose.
• Identify and implement innovative strategies for community engagement, social enterprise, and partnership development.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of social enterprise initiatives for their organization.
• Develop strategies for maximizing organizational impact while ensuring financial viability and organizational sustainability.

Presenter: Jonathan Zaidman, Engagement Director at The Ecology Center

Driving time to The Ecology Center is approximately 30 minutes. Transportation is provided from ENC. Lunch will be provided on-site at The Ecology Center.

A strong board of directors is essential to a nonprofit’s success. In this half-day workshop, participants will explore practical strategies for building and sustaining an effective board. Topics include board recruitment, onboarding, roles and responsibilities, governance best practices, and fostering a productive board-staff relationship. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples from current and past members of the ANCA Board, attendees will gain tools to assess their current board structure, engage members more effectively, and align board efforts with organizational goals. 

Whether you're developing a new board or strengthening an existing one, this session will provide valuable insights into enhancing board performance and supporting your nonprofit’s long-term success.

Attendees will leave with sample documents, resources, and concrete next steps to build and sustain a successful board. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand the core roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board.
• Identify effective board structures and committees.
• Develop strategies for board recruitment and onboarding.
• Enhance board engagement and accountability.
• Strengthen the board/staff partnership.
• Apply best practices in board leadership and governance.

Presenter: Jen Levy, Executive Director, Association of Nature Center Administrators

9am-3pm  |  $25/person

Step back in time and indulge in a charming afternoon in San Juan Capistrano with ENC Education Director Mindy Schwartz. Wander through the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, soaking in California’s rich history, then unwind with afternoon tea at The Tea House in the picturesque Los Rios Historic District. Enjoy time to explore the area’s quaint shops, antique treasures, and vibrant local flavors. A perfect blend of culture, history, and relaxation!

Cost for activities is on your own: Admission to the Mission is $18 ($15 for seniors), and tea at The Tea House will range from $30-$80 depending on your order. Limited carpooling with Mindy is available — once full, transportation must be arranged through ANCA’s carpooling system. Meet at the Ayres Hotel Lobby at 9am. We will return by 3pm.

Driving time to San Juan Capistrano is approximately 30 minutes from the Ayres Hotel.

10am-2:30pm  |  $25/person

Join ENC Early Childhood Education Specialist Kass DeBoer for a delightful day of treasure hunting in Old Towne Orange! Home to numerous antique, collectible, and specialty shops, this charming historic district is the perfect place to explore unique finds and vintage gems. After browsing, we’ll gather for lunch at one of the many fantastic local restaurants. 

Cost for shopping and dining is on your own. Limited carpooling with Kass is available — once full, transportation must be arranged through ANCA’s carpooling system. Meet at the Ayres Hotel Lobby at 10am. We will return by 2:30pm.

Driving time to Old Towne Orange is approximately 30 minutes from the Ayres Hotel.

8am-6:30pm  |  $125/person

What better way to cap off your visit to Southern California than with an excursion to Catalina Island? Take a 90-minute boat ride to Catalina at 8:45am, and upon arrival you'll be greeted by scenic views of the Catalina wilderness and bluffs. You'll arrive in the seaside town of Avalon, where you can explore local restaurants, shops and art galleries.  When you're ready for more adventure, you can go snorkeling, hiking, or even zip lining! Or if you just want to spend a day reading a good book on the beach with a tropical cocktail in hand, that can be arranged as well. At 4:30pm you'll catch the boat back to Newport, leaving your magical 1-day island vacation behind.

Fees for this excursion include your boat tickets, as well as transportation from the hotel to the boat dock in the morning, and from the boat dock back to the hotel or ENC in the evening. We'll also provide you with a curated list of restaurant, shop, and activity recommendations for the island.

Depart the Ayres Hotel at 8am. Participants can choose to return to the hotel or ENC following the Field Trip; return will be approximately 6:30pm.