What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

Community Nature Connection

Home
United States
Los Angeles, CA
Community Nature Connection

Community Nature Connection is committed to providing equitable access to the outdoors for communities throughout Los Angeles County.

Community Nature Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for access and equity in the outdoors. Through quality programming and innovative community partnerships, Community Nature Connection facilitates outdoor experiences. In our years of experience we have served tens of thousands of youth, family and school groups with outdoor recreation experiences, overnight camping, leadership and

team building programs and other traditional outdoor adventures. Many participants have seen the ocean, roasted a marshmallow, camped, stargazed, and explored natural areas for the very first time.

08/08/2026

Applications are now open for the Fall 2026 Emerging Naturalists Program at Vista Hermosa Park🌱

This program is great if you or someone you know is in High School, local to Westlake/Historic Filipinotown, and interested in exploring our local environment and what it means to be a naturalist! Students who complete the program will also be awarded a stipend.

Check out the application for more info and apply today!

08/07/2026

Apply for this Fall’s Outdoor and Coastal Access Leadership Institute (OCALI)! This paid experience is perfect for high schoolers in Northeast LA who are looking to become more aware and involved in environmental and outdoor access issues in California.

Apply by August 27 at the link in our bio!

Thank you to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Youth Community Access program and the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority (MRCA) for continually supporting this program.

07/28/2026

Join us at Audubon Center at Debs Park with our partners RCD Santa Monica Mountains for this FREE Wildfire Mitigation training. Learn about wildfires, home hardening, and defensible space. We’ll review California’s wildfire regimes, ecology, and the importance of home hardening practices from a community-wide perspective. In-person attendees can take home a free native plant!

Register at the link in our bio! 🌻

07/15/2026

🏵 SAVE THE DATE! 🏵

A decade of community. A decade of connection. A decade of growing together.

Join us on November 14, 2026 for Gratitude Blooming, an afternoon celebrating a decade of expanding access to nature, building community, and growing the next generation of stewards.

📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026
🕒 3:00–5:00 PM
📍 Studio-MLA | Los Angeles
🧡 We hope you’ll join us for this special milestone. More details are blooming soon 🌼

07/09/2026

On Saturday June 6th, CNC met up with community members at Vista Hermosa Park to set off an adventure hiking to the Grateful Bench at Wilacre Park in Studio City. We took our time hiking to the Grateful Bench which sits about a mile into the Betty B Dearing Trail.

On the trail, we saw lots of wildlife such as different kinds of insects, hawks, a coyote and a king snake! This urban hike is full of fun and surprises and is accessible for a wide range of ages and mobility needs. Participants took a moment of reflection at the Grateful Bench and did a sit spot meditation and reflection activity with one another. Participants left feeling relaxed, grateful, and connected to nature. Make sure to check out this incredible urban hiking opportunity, for more information visit the Grateful Bench Website!

Thanks to our partners:

06/26/2026

This past spring, 16 high schoolers local to northeast LA completed the Outdoor and Coastal Access Leadership Institute (OCALI) at Akuutet Learning Nursery 🌱 For three months, OCALI propagated native plants, visited local green spaces, and connected with other outdoor and environmental advocacy groups. The cohort concluded their program by leading a Fire Resilience Community Workshop in collaboration with 💚

Thank you to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Youth Community Access Program for supporting this program.

06/23/2026

Last month, CNC collaborated with the Los Angeles State Historic Park Fellowship program to hike Escondido Falls! Participants hiked to the falls, lending helping hands to one another while navigating creek crossings along the way. Once they arrived at the falls they enjoyed a picnic lunch by the water and connected with one another while enjoying the view of the falls from the Grateful Bench. On the way back, the group participated in a scavenger hunt, looking for local native plants of the canyon.

Want to hike this gem of a canyon and visit the Grateful Bench at Escondido Falls? Paid parking is located at the “Parking for Escondido Falls” lot off of PCH in Malibu. Free parking is located along PCH. Begin hiking on the dirt trail that parallels paved Winding Way and follow it 0.75 mile through a residential development. Be respectful of the neighborhood and stay on the trail by the side of the road. Turn left at the large sign for Edward Albert Escondido Canyon Trail and Waterfalls.The dirt trail descends into a shady corridor of oaks and sycamores and the first of several creek crossings. Turn left at the first trail intersection next to a wood post with a bench symbol and continue another 0.8 mile to the lower base of the falls. The bench sits just off the path ahead of the waterfall.

If you get the chance to visit this incredible waterfall make sure to check out the bench and tag us!

06/04/2026

Join us this Saturday for a hike in the hills!
📍Meet-up at Vista Hermosa Park
🕑8:30 AM-2:30
🚍Transportation provided
🥪Lunch provided
🥾2.3 mile RT hike to the grateful bench
👬Bring your family and friends
📝Register at the link in bio!
Thanks to our partners

04/30/2026

Are you a high schooler looking for a fun summer in the outdoors? Apply for the Summer 2026 Outdoor and Coastal Access Leadership Institute (OCALI)! ✨This 3-week program includes field trips to local green spaces and the coast 🌊 We end the program with a camping trip to San Jacinto State Park 🏕️ Apply at the link in our bio by Saturday, May 30. Priority will be given to those local to the Westlake/Historic Filipinotown neighborhoods.

Thank you to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Youth Community Access program for supporting this year’s OCALI!

04/27/2026

🌷Join us this Saturday May 2nd to celebrate our Spring 2026 OCALI Cohort! The day will be centered around fire resiliency and community with activities planned by the OCALI participants. Meet our partners to be connected to fire resources and to see an example structure analysis to learn how to protect your own home. Lunch will be provided as well as opportunities to join a hike throughout Elyria Canyon, land care, and art activities. Students who attend the event are eligible for volunteer hours. All are welcome and invited, please register at the link in our bio. Flyer credits to our own OCALI participant Amanda!

🌻Thank you to the California Natural Resource Agency’s (CNRA) Youth Community Access Program for making this Spring OCALI cohort possible.

Address

Los Angeles, CA
90065

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.communitynatureconnection.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Community Nature Connection posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Community Nature Connection:

Featured

Peter Christian Hernandez Memorial Scholarshi

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Los Angeles?