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Santa Monica Mountains Institute
Our Program
Santa Monica Mountains Institute inspires southern California youth with passion for nature through hands-on exploration of the magnificent ecosystem right in our backyard. We partner with the National Park Service to offer residential field based science programs In the Santa Monica Mountains.
Nature is our classroom. From our campus in the mountains that rise from the Pacific Ocean and follow the Southern California coastline we engage participants in a personal exploration of the unique mediterranean landscape, the ecology and the watersheds of the area.
The institute is dedicated to serving culturally and economically diverse youth. We strive to make our programs culturally relevant and available to participants regardless of economic status.
Our educators:
- Encourage students to use critical thinking skills.
- Guide students to develop field science projects.
- Emphasize the power of evidence based explanations and scientific Inquiry.
- Use a natural canvas to develop their art of teaching.
- Improve student communication and team work skills.
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PRINTLincoln High ninth graders are the first to attend residential environmental science programs at the new Southern California NatureBridge campus
Santa Monica, Calif. (March 1, 2010)— Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and NatureBridge today announced the launch of residential field science programs at Santa Monica Mountains Institute. This week, 20 Lincoln High School ninth graders from East Los Angeles will be the first students at the new campus. Over the course of the 18-month pilot, the campus at Circle X Ranch will host approximately 1,400 students from Orange, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
A new educational and outreach program designed to give children from urban and underserved communities access to Ventura County’s natural resources and open spaces has been formed in a partnership between the National Park Service and a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco. Read the full story at vcstar.com »
September 18, 2009. SM MOUNTAINS — The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and NatureBridge are partnering to create a residential education campus in the middle of the Santa Monica Mountains, the organizations announced Thursday. The new Santa Monica Mountains Institute, co-operated by the two groups, will provide out-of-classroom environmental education to the area's youth.
The Santa Monica Mountains will be home to a new environmental education campus for Southern California students.
Thirty-eight year old environmental education organization expands to fill need for outdoor science and environmental education in Southern California
San Francisco (Sept. 29, 2009)—NatureBridge announced today that Henry Ortiz had joined the organization as Director of its new Santa Monica Mountains Institute campus. The campus is scheduled to launch its first residential environmental education programs in March 2010.
La Organización de enseñanza medioambiental, con 38 años de servicio, se expande para suplir la necesidad de enseñanza científica y ambiental en el sur de California.
San Francisco (29 de septiembre de 2009) La organización NatureBridge (Puente a la Naturaleza) anunció hoy la llegada de Henry Ortiz como Director del nuevo Instituto Cordillera de Santa Monica. El recinto docente lanzará en marzo de 2010 su primer programa residencial de educación ambiental.
In 2016, the National Park System will enter its second century. With that, come a new set of problems--population, development, global warming--that did not exist when the series of public lands were dedicated nearly 100 years ago.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to be home of fourth NatureBridge residential education campus
Santa Monica, Calif. (September 17, 2009)— Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and NatureBridge today announced the formation of Santa Monica Mountains Institute, a new environmental education campus that will serve Southern California urban youth. The new campus, located at Circle X Ranch in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains, will be operated by NatureBridge in partnership with the National Park Service.
Your contribution helps students participate in life-changing programs in outdoor classrooms.
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Santa Monica Mountains Open House
Teachers are invited to join us for an open house at Santa Monica Mountains Institute on Saturday, Sept. 25 or Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign up now »
Leadership
Institute Director
Henry Ortiz
Advisory Board
Chairman, Geoffrey Given
Principal, Given and Company
Santa Monica, CA
Dan Abrams
Entrepreneur
Venice, CA
Michael Brandt
Screenwriter
Los Angeles, CA
Paul Culberg
Agoura, CA
Lori Daniel
Founder, Two Chefs on a Roll
Carson, CA
Seth Ford Gilman
Senior VP, Poms and Associates
Woodland Hills, CA
Jerry Hunter
Distinguished Lecturer
California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Mark Lemons
President, Mark C. Lemons Foundation
Pacific Palisades, CA
Nicole Morris, M.D.
Attending Physician, Family Practice Dept.
Kaiser Permanente
Los Angeles, CA
Susan Nissman
Public Servant, Santa Monica Mountains
Keith Swayne
Laguna Beach, CA
Woody Smeck
National Park Service Liaison to the Board
Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Contact Us
For general questions: smmi@naturebridge.org
Santa Monica Mountains Institute
401 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
tel 818.319.5175