Education Overview

Watch this video about our seven education programs at the marsh

Since 1992, Sea and Sage Audubon has partnered with the Irvine Ranch Water District to provide high quality environmental education programs at the beautiful San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, a 300-acre freshwater wetland in Irvine, Orange County, CA

Our Philosophy

We all need personal experiences with nature. Nature helps us to slow down and live in the moment as we watch a bird, a butterfly, a flower. It is through our experiences in nature that we learn to care about the environment and how to protect it. One of the best places to experience nature is on one of our education programs with our experienced naturalists. You’ll be surrounded by an abundance of interesting plants and animals at the wetland. We hope that our education programs will help get you started on a life-long love of nature!

Our Programs

We currently provide these 5 interpretive programs at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary for children and adults.

Outdoor Adventures

(fee) is a science discovery program for 4-5th grade school classes about the wetland ecosystem and how students can help protect birds and the environment

Nature Day Camps

(fee) are week-long day camp programs that provide children with interactive nature experiences through daily nature walks, nature journaling, art projects, and other fun activities.

Summer Bat Walks

(fee) are pre-paid events from July through September where participants watch the sun set and use sonar detectors to listen and watch for bats that often fly over us on the trail.

Nature Discovery Kits

(free) are 6 kits about owls, bats, butterflies, reptiles & amphibians, bird nests, and trees that can be borrowed by any local educator to supplement their nature presentations.

Junior Naturalists

(fee) is a monthly program of bird-watching trips and stewardship projects for teens that provides enriched nature experiences and social contacts with other teens with similar interests in the outdoors.

Resources:

Our Education Team has created a variety of educational videos and science lessons that can be used by anyone who wants to learn more about nature especially educators.
Sponsorship Opportunities:

You can help us bring elementary school children to the wetland for an Outdoor Adventure science discovery program, enable a deserving child to attend Nature Day Camp, or sponsor a taxidermy bird specimen for our programs. Contact our Project Director for details.
Education Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteering to become a naturalist is a several year commitment and very rewarding. Training opportunities include Outdoor Adventures (fall), Summer Bat Walks (June), and Nature Walk (TBD). Contact our Project Director for details.
Pollinators’ Garden:

Our Education Staff have created a beautiful 6,600 square foot demonstration garden behind the Duck Club at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary for your enjoyment and education about southern California native plants that attract hummingbirds and solitary native bees.

Thank you to our important funders in 2023!

Anonymous Foundation ($50,000)
Roger’s Gardens ($7,204)
Anonymous (2)
Sonia Appell
Disney VoluntEARS (2)
Gordon Generation Foundation
Gary and Maya Matkin
Catherine Reynolds
Tom and Edith Van Huss
Wickramasinghe Family (in memory of Sophie)
Gloria Widmann

Marsh Education Project’s Annual Report

We hope that you will join us for one of our education programs and learn more about the natural world that surrounds us!

If you have questions, contact Trude Hurd, Project Director of Education, by email

Project Director of Education Trude Hurd

Education Assistant Mindy Bergen

Education Chair Ellyn Siskind