Each year, Napa RCD provides free environmental education programs that connect Napa County students to the natural world around them and grows our overall community of conservation and future environmental stewards.
This year, we are able to provide the programming at no-cost thanks to generous donors, grants, and partners, including Lewis Cellars, County of Napa, Napa County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program, North Bay Watershed Association, University of California Chancellor’s Office, Napa County Wildlife Conservation Commission, and a gift from Steve Rasmussen and Felicia Woytak.
Our programs are designed to build a relationship with nature which is an important foundation for developing an interest in caring for the natural world.
“We believe every student deserves the opportunity to connect with the natural world through hands-on, outdoor learning”
Napa RCD staff guide 500+ youth each year in experiencing the unique biodiversity of Napa County. One of our long-term goals is to increase representation and diversity in the field of conservation and environmental stewardship locally by working with Title 1 schools to create student-centered programs which improve access to positive nature experiences and help grow youth skills for environmental action-taking.
Wild Napa Youth offers 4th grade students a 3-part series consisting of two class visits and a field trip. Through the repeated practice of nature journaling built into the program, students practice important skills such as observation, focus, mindfulness, and reflection while learning about and connecting to nature. During class visits, staff lead students through a Napa County Biodiversity presentation, student discussion, nature observation and exploration activities, and nature journaling. During a 3-hour field trip to Skyline Park, students participate in a nature connection hike and exploration activities where students practice curiosity building, writing, drawing, and language development by utilizing their surroundings, their classmates, and their journal. This year, every 4th grade student at 6 different schools throughout the County will participate in Wild Napa Youth.
For high school students, we offer Green Futures, which connects students with real-world conservation action and environmental careers. This 2-part program consists of one 1-hour class visit and one 4-hour field trip to Skyline Park. Green Futures students participate in meaningful environmental data collection, species identification, tree planting and care, and forest health investigations. Students are exposed to conservation careers through small-group and one-on-one mentorship with professionals in the natural resources field.
“I strongly believe that the skills I learned at the skyline makes me care for parks.”
So far, we have brought Green Futures to 4 classes of students from Valley Oak High School, and will work with 4 more groups in the spring semester. This year Valley Oak students have provided critical monitoring and maintenance to support the survival of 20 native oak trees and planted 17 new oaks to restore forest at Skyline Park.
This year we are growing our impact by working more closely with partners to provide curiosity-building practices and mentorship in smaller groups of students. Partners involved in Wild Napa and Green Futures include: Skyline Wilderness Park, Land Trust of Napa County, American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation, Innovative Health Services, Steven Rasmussen and Felicia Woytak, Napa County Health and Human Services Agency, and teachers, students, and parent chaperones.
If you would like to register your school for Wild Napa or Green Futures, please visit naparcd.org/school-programs
