“That was really fun! I haven’t looked at my phone once in four hours!”
From a 5th grader, those words are quite a revelation. Statistically, youth 8-12 years old spend 6-8 hours per day on entertainment media and only 6-8 minutes in unstructured outdoor play. This amount of “screen time” and sedentary activity has led to increases in child obesity, inadequate physical activity, stress, sleep deprivation, and poor diet quality; in contrast, being outdoors in nature has proven to combat many of those ills. In fact, numerous studies have shown the benefits that time spent in the outdoors has to one’s health and well-being. For instance, psychologist, Roger Ulrich, has discovered that people have significantly lower heartbeat rates and higher alpha-wave amplitudes when viewing natural scenery.
Bowler and colleagues found that activities in a natural environment resulted in reduced negative emotions (e.g., anger, fatigue and sadness) as compared to similar activities in a human-made environment. Children with ADHD who regularly play in green settings have milder symptoms than children who play in built outdoor and indoor settings according to a study done by Faber Taylor with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. And it’s been observed that children with better access to public parks and recreation programs are less likely to have significant increases in BMI (Body Mass Index) over time. As a result, when our children are withdrawn from the natural environment, they are deprived of the innate benefits it has to offer.

“In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”
- Baba Dioum

FREE NatureTrack field trips fill the school budget gap with ingenuity and wonder! We even cover the transportation costs.
NatureTrack is honored to have over
who dedicate their time, expertise and enthusiasm in a variety of ways. From administrative and logistical support to hospitality and field instruction, NatureTrack could not function without them. Below, are some of the naturalists you are likely to encounter on a NatureTrack adventure.
Volunteer Stories and Videos coming soon...

Testimonials
Teacher Education Program
Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
University of CA, Santa Barbara
K-6 Science Teacher
I hope that all of the teachers at my school will get their kids out into the woods with this program, as I am confident that it is precisely this type of experience that helps kids get excited about science and to cultivate a real respect and reverence for the natural world. This respect is key so that they are able to fulfil their responsibility as future stewards of our planet’s fragile resources and open spaces."
Sixth Grade Teacher
Adelante Charter School
Santa Barbara, Ca
Ontiveros Elementary School
Santa Maria, California
8th Grader
St. Lawrence of Brindisi
Third Grade
Rye
Los Berros Elementary
Contact Us
Phone:
805.886.2047
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 953, Los Olivos, CA. 93441
NatureTrack Foundation – Executive Director
Sue Eisaguirre
805.886.2047