Exploring New Horizons Outdoor School

08/25/2023

We are back and ready to kick start the 2023-24 school year! Staff training starts next Monday and we can’t wait till students arrive in September.

07/20/2023

As ENH transitions to its new Executive Director, Joshua Lanam, we want to thank our current Executive Director, Jacob Sackin, for all his hard work these past 4 years. Jacob steered ENH through the pandemic, creating an Outdoor Afterschool program and a Virtual Science Camp program, as well as reopening our Pigeon Point program and opening our new Sempervirens site in Scotts Valley! We also want to thank Jacob for helping to create the new ENH garden, and for his years as a Naturalist, Program Director, Board Member, and Executive Director. One of Jacob’s passions is writing outdoor education songs and you can see some of them on the ENH YouTube Channel where one of his songs has over 1,000 views!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzGxxjlYNrTshUB8CPso4pg

07/17/2023

Exploring New Horizons is excited to announce Joshua Lanam as its next Executive Director! Josh brings a combined 20 years experience in nonprofits, education, and business.

"I have a passion for the natural world that was fostered growing up at the summer camp where my mom was the camp director. This role allows me to bring my skills to a field to which I have a deep personal connection."

Read the full announcement at https://www.exploringnewhorizons.org/ed-announcement/.

We provide outdoor residential education to K-8 students at two unique locations through a rich curriculum tied to state and national education standards.

06/14/2023

As we head into summer break, many of us will be planning camping trips with our family and friends. Unfortunately, some Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) students have never had the opportunity to experience the majesty of our national parks and scenic camping grounds.

The Mt. Diablo Education Foundation believes that all our students deserve to experience the great outdoors. We have partnered with Exploring New Horizons Outdoor School to provide outdoor education to MDUSD students who do not normally have access to this opportunity!

We are fundraising to ensure that we can provide our students with this life-changing experience. Will you help us reach our $10K fundraising goal? Donate today at https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_1f2fa930-5cf7-11e8-94a1-0a7fa948a058&WidgetId=37888

06/13/2023

Exploring New Horizons creates a once in a lifetime experience that students will remember for the rest of their lives. During the 2022-23 School year, ENH engaged over 7,500 students, 1,079 high school cabin leaders and parent chaperones, and 285 classroom teachers in 3 to 5-day outdoor education programs. In our 44-year history, we have now served over 223,000 students!

Please see our full Impact Report below with survey results, student and teacher quotes, and our 2025 goal to reach over 9,000 students a year while increasing the percentage of lower-income schools to 50% and the number of participating Black and Latino students.

https://www.exploringnewhorizons.org/exploring-new-horizons/about/exploring-new-horizons-2025-2-pager/

04/12/2023

So exciting to see students exploring the new garden at our ENH Sempervirens site! A big thank you to all our partners including the Salvation Army, Big Creek Lumber, Central Home Supply, Upstarts Organic Seedlings, and San Lorenzo Lumber!

04/11/2023

March disappeared so quickly! Thankfully the weather is warming up and the flowers are blooming! We are gearing up for our last month and a half of programs before summer break! If you attended our programs this year, share your favorite memory below.

04/04/2023

The students at Pigeon Point last week saw a endangered San Francisco Garter Snake. Can anyone figure out what species of animal is in its mouth?

03/21/2023

Now entering our 45th year, Exploring New Horizons seeks a dynamic Executive Director who is passionate about leading our team of program leaders and naturalists to deliver life-changing outdoor education programs. Please see the updated job description on our jobs page (link below) and share with your networks!

https://www.exploringnewhorizons.org/exploring-new-horizons/jobs/

03/18/2023

ENH had to cancel our Sempervirens program this week due to the storm taking out a section of the road to our site, but our amazing staff used the time to nearly finish our new garden. The road is now repaired and ready for program next week and the garden looks beautiful, but many Monterey and Santa Cruz communities were hit hard by the flooding and are in need of support. The Community Foundation for Monterey County has established a “Storm Relief Fund” to provide food, shelter and financial assistance. Please see link below for donations.
https://www.cfmco.org/impact/montereycountystormrelieffund/

03/06/2023

ENH and the Harden Foundation are partnering through a 2-year $20,000 grant to engage more Monterey County students in outdoor education! If you know a Monterey County school interested in a 3-day outdoor education program at Pigeon Point during the 2023-24 school year please have them contact us!

03/01/2023

Town Hall Meeting night at Sempervirens!

Should we build the Slug Station Dam on the San Lorenzo River to help combat climate change? Would you vote yes or no and why?