Environmental Nature Center - ENC

Environmental Nature Center - ENC Mission: To provide transformative experiences through connection with nature. Visit encenter.org/donate and join our efforts.

Please join us in connecting people to nature by donating to the Environmental Nature Center during this season of giving. On behalf of the Board of Directors and our amazing staff, we wish you and your family a safe and wonderful holiday season. Thank you for your commitment to being a part of the solution!

Thanks to our friends at Stu News Newport for helping spread the word about the ENC’s upcoming Wine Walk! 🍷🌿We’re gratef...
09/03/2026

Thanks to our friends at Stu News Newport for helping spread the word about the ENC’s upcoming Wine Walk! 🍷🌿

We’re grateful for their ongoing support of local organizations, events, and community news — including this lovely feature about our Sept. 27 Wine Walk with Hi-Time Wine Cellars.

If you’re not already receiving Stu News Newport, we encourage you to subscribe. It’s a great way to keep up with what’s happening around Newport Beach.

And if you haven’t grabbed your Wine Walk tickets yet, don’t wait too long — space is limited!

Read the story: https://stunewsnewport.com/enc-hosts-wine-walk-090126/
Wine Walk tickets: https://events.encenter.org/events/wine-walk-2026/

🎃 FALL FAIRE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: THE GLOVER FAMILY 🎃As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ENC Fall Faire & Pumpkin ...
09/03/2026

🎃 FALL FAIRE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: THE GLOVER FAMILY 🎃

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ENC Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch, we're shining a spotlight on the wonderful people and families helping make this milestone celebration possible.

A heartfelt thank you to the Glover Family for sponsoring our Pumpkin Patch and supporting a tradition that has brought generations of ENC families together.

The ENC has been an important part of the Glover family's life for decades. Bo Glover, ENC's President & CEO, has been part of the organization since 1991, first as a volunteer and later as its longtime leader. We're especially grateful that Bo and his family continue to personally support the organization and the community celebration that means so much to so many ENC families.

Thank you to the Glover Family for helping us celebrate 50 years of Fall Faire and for helping keep this beloved tradition going for the next generation. 💚

Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch
Sunday, October 18, 2026
10 AM–3 PM
Environmental Nature Center | Newport Beach

A beautiful morning for some first-time birders! 🐦🌿During last Sunday's Birding Walk at the ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuar...
09/02/2026

A beautiful morning for some first-time birders! 🐦🌿

During last Sunday's Birding Walk at the ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, a young boy and his mom headed out with us to discover the birds that call the ENC home.

Since neither had been birding before, we started with the basics using Cornell’s Birding 101 approach, learning what to look and listen for as we explored.

And the birds delivered! Several species stopped to bathe and drink at the stream, including a particularly exciting visitor, a Black-throated Gray Warbler. We also spotted an American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, and Hutton’s Vireo.

Not a bad way to spend a morning, especially for your first time birding! 💚

📷 Swipe through to see some of the birds we encountered.

Pictured: Black-throated Gray Warbler, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Hutton’s Vireo. Photos by Julie Williams.

🌿 Native Plant Tip TuesdaySeptember is for planning!Fall is right around the corner, and that means California native pl...
09/02/2026

🌿 Native Plant Tip Tuesday

September is for planning!

Fall is right around the corner, and that means California native planting season is almost here. 🌱

Now is a great time to take a walk around your garden and start thinking about what comes next. Where could you use more shade? More color? More habitat for birds, butterflies, and native bees? Is there a thirsty plant you've been meaning to replace?

A little planning now means you'll be ready to take advantage of cooler temperatures and winter rains when planting season arrives.

🌿 Make your plant wish list
📏 Measure those empty spaces
☀️ Notice how much sun each area receives
💧 Think about your soil, drainage, and irrigation
🐝 Consider what your local wildlife could use more of

And here's a good reason to start that wish list now!

📅 Save the Date: Saturday, October 24
ENC and the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society are teaming up for our Fall Native Plant Sale at the Environmental Nature Center.

We'll have a diverse selection of regionally appropriate California native plants to help you put those fall garden plans into action. ENC and CNPS OC members receive 10% off native plants, and everyone is welcome to shop!

More details coming soon. For now, start planning that fall garden. 🌱💚

🌊 Join us for California Coastal Cleanup Day!The ENC will be out there on Saturday, September 19 from 9 a.m.–noon, joini...
09/01/2026

🌊 Join us for California Coastal Cleanup Day!

The ENC will be out there on Saturday, September 19 from 9 a.m.–noon, joining thousands of volunteers across California for the state’s annual Coastal Cleanup Day.

What happens on our streets, trails, creeks and open spaces eventually affects our coast. This statewide day of action is a great opportunity to roll up your sleeves, care for the places we love, and make a tangible difference for wildlife and our watersheds.

We’ll be there, and we’d love to have you join us!

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
🌊 Find a cleanup site and learn more at CoastalCleanupDay.org

📬 We could use a few helping hands!We’re getting ready to spread the word about the ENC’s upcoming Wine Walk, and we nee...
08/31/2026

📬 We could use a few helping hands!

We’re getting ready to spread the word about the ENC’s upcoming Wine Walk, and we need volunteers to help us label and stamp postcards on Friday, September 4!

Choose a two-hour shift:
🍷 11 AM–1 PM
🍷 1–3 PM
🍷 3–5 PM

It’s easy, relaxed work and a great way to lend the ENC a hand. Bring your earbuds and a favorite playlist or podcast—we’ll provide the postcards, labels and stamps!

Open to most ages; children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Sign up for a shift:
https://events.encenter.org/events/volunteer-label-stamp-27/

Every postcard helps us spread the word about Wine Walk and support environmental education in our community. Thank you! 💚

A few spots remain in our Little Naturalist classes for the month of September. This month we will be learning about roc...
08/29/2026

A few spots remain in our Little Naturalist classes for the month of September. This month we will be learning about rocks, sticks, forms of water and MUD! You won’t want your child to miss out on this sensory filled experience! You can register online through our website, encenter.org

🌎 Big news for environmental education in California!SB 1048 has passed the California Legislature with bipartisan suppo...
08/29/2026

🌎 Big news for environmental education in California!

SB 1048 has passed the California Legislature with bipartisan support and is now on Governor Newsom’s desk. If signed, it would establish a California State Seal of Climate Literacy, a voluntary diploma distinction recognizing high school students who develop climate knowledge, systems thinking, and real-world problem-solving skills.

At the Environmental Nature Center, we see every day what happens when young people have opportunities to learn about the natural world firsthand: to ask questions, understand the systems around them, and discover that they can be part of creating a healthier, more resilient future.

The Seal of Climate Literacy would recognize students who take that learning further through interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on, community-connected projects.

There’s just one step left. 📣 Take 60 seconds to ask Governor Newsom to sign SB 1048 into law:
https://win.newmode.net/CASealofClimateLiteracy

Let’s help prepare California students not just to understand the environmental challenges ahead, but to help solve them.

🌱📚 Stories by the Stream: Seeds!What better way to learn about seeds than with a story, a hike, a little digging in the ...
08/28/2026

🌱📚 Stories by the Stream: Seeds!

What better way to learn about seeds than with a story, a hike, a little digging in the dirt, and some creativity?

At our recent Stories by the Stream at ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, children gathered for Fluffy Flying Seed before heading out on a seed hike to see what they could discover. Along the way, they learned about the many clever ways seeds disperse and travel to new places.

Then it was time to grow! 🌼 Each child planted native wildflower seeds in a recycled cup to take home and created a watercolor painting inspired by plants.

We love watching a story come to life through exploring, creating, and getting hands-on with nature. 💚

Keep an eye out for our next Stories by the Stream at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary!

🍂 FALL FAIRE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: BLUMENSTEIN LAW 🍂As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ENC Fall Faire & Pumpkin Pa...
08/27/2026

🍂 FALL FAIRE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: BLUMENSTEIN LAW 🍂

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ENC Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch, we're shining a spotlight on some of the wonderful people and organizations helping make this milestone celebration possible.

We're delighted to begin with Laura Blumenstein of Blumenstein Law, a longtime Fall Faire sponsor, dedicated member of the ENC Board of Directors, and outdoor enthusiast.

Laura has supported the ENC and our mission for many years, giving generously of both her time and resources. Her continued sponsorship of the Fall Faire helps us welcome thousands of families to the ENC for a day filled with nature, discovery, and community—and helps support environmental education throughout the year.

Thank you, Laura, for being such a steadfast friend and champion of the ENC. We're so grateful to have you celebrating 50 years of Fall Faire with us! 💚

Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch
Sunday, October 18, 2026
10 AM–3 PM
Environmental Nature Center | Newport Beach

Address

1601 E 16th Street
Newport Beach, CA
92663

Opening Hours

Saturday 10am - 3pm
Sunday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+19496458489

Website

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