Learning Among the Oaks

Connecting kids, nature, and land

Help us build a community of kids who care about nature and each other

See how we’re changing young lives

“I have learned that being an Oak Ambassador means more than just knowing about animals, oaks, rocks and other parts of nature. It means being responsible, respectful, and helpful to nature and teaching others to do the same.”

—- Boone, 5th grade Oak Ambassador

About Learning Among the Oaks

Learning Among the Oaks (LATO) is The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County‘s (LCSLO) nature education and youth conservation leadership program delivered through three public school bases, each with its own associated oak nature trail for educational hikes, field studies and stewardship experiences.

These services reach more than 2,000 people each year, mostly children and families, many from underserved communities. LATO’s place-based learning and integration with public school programs means that experiences are relevant to kids’ everyday lives and that kids from a variety of backgrounds have the chance to participate.

Together, we’re building a community of kids who care about nature and each other.

What LATO has been up to

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1 week ago
Learning Among the Oaks

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It was a chilly but wonderful morning to learn among the oak trees in Santa Margarita, CA.

Fourth and Fifth graders from our Oak Ambassador program put on a puppet show and led second grade students from San Benito Elementary on a Jr. BioBlitz. We watched California Quail, found slugs and earwigs and crickets, and learned about spiders while gently turning over logs.

We also had a classroom session where the students met Peanut the Opossum and learned all about these gentle, nocturnal oak woodland dwellers. A huge thank you to Pacific Wildlife Care for your partnership and amazing volunteer educators. The kids all loved Peanut!

We are grateful for the teachers, chaperones, LATO volunteers, Atascadero Unified School District, Santa Margarita Ranch, and all the staff at Santa Margarita Elementary School who make these programs happen. Thank you to the donors supporting experiential education for San Luis Obispo County youth.

@landconservancyslo
Santa Margarita PTA
San Benito Road Elementary
@atascaderousd
Historic Santa Margarita Ranch

#placebasededucation
#placebasedlearning
#learningamongtheoaks
#exploringhabitats
#californiaoaks
#californiaoakwoodlands
#futurescientists
#futureconservationists
#futureleaders
... See MoreSee Less

It was a chilly but wonderful morning to learn among the oak trees in Santa Margarita, CA.

Fourth and Fifth graders from our Oak Ambassador program put on a puppet show and led second grade students from San Benito Elementary on a Jr. BioBlitz. We watched California Quail, found slugs and earwigs and crickets, and learned about spiders while gently turning over logs.

We also had a classroom session where the students met Peanut the Opossum and learned all about these gentle, nocturnal oak woodland dwellers. A huge thank you to @pacificwildlifecare for your partnership and amazing volunteer educators. The kids all loved Peanut!

We are grateful for the teachers, chaperones, LATO volunteers, Atascadero Unified School District, Santa Margarita Ranch, and all the staff at Santa Margarita Elementary School who make these programs happen. Thank you to the donors supporting experiential education for San Luis Obispo County youth.

@landconservancyslo 
@santamargaritapta 
@sanbenitobengals 
@atascaderousd 
@santa.margarita.ranch 

#placebasededucation 
#placebasedlearning 
#learningamongtheoaks 
#exploringhabitats 
#californiaoaks 
#californiaoakwoodlands 
#futurescientists 
#futureconservationists 
#futureleadersImage attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment

We know you don’t want to cook dinner on a Wednesday! Come join us at @brooksburgerswestcoast instead. It’s a delicious win win.

@landconservancyslo
#eatforgood
#dontwannacookwednesday
#yumyum
... See MoreSee Less

We know you don’t want to cook dinner on a Wednesday! Come join us at @brooksburgerswestcoast instead. It’s a delicious win win.

@landconservancyslo 
#eatforgood 
#dontwannacookwednesday 
#yumyum

Our Vineyard Elementary Oak Ambassadors in training had some special visitors yesterday. They were over the moon to meet Alice, a Great Horned Owl, and Pip, an American Kestrel.

We love our partnership with Pacific Wildlife Care and working with them to enrich the programming we deliver to youth throughout San Luis Obispo County. Please give them a follow, and if you can, support the work they do to Rescue, Rehabilitate & Educate.

#learningamongtheoaks
#pacificwildlifecare
#animalambassadors
#oakambassadors
#landconservancyslo
#environmentaleducation
#sanluisobispocounty
#nokidleftinside
Vineyard Elementary PTO
... See MoreSee Less

Our Vineyard Elementary Oak Ambassadors in training had some special visitors yesterday. They were over the moon to meet Alice, a Great Horned Owl, and Pip, an American Kestrel. 

We love our partnership with Pacific Wildlife Care and working with them to enrich the programming we deliver to youth throughout San Luis Obispo County. Please give them a follow, and if you can, support the work they do to Rescue, Rehabilitate & Educate. 

#learningamongtheoaks 
#pacificwildlifecare 
#animalambassadors 
#oakambassadors 
#landconservancyslo 
#environmentaleducation 
#sanluisobispocounty 
#nokidleftinside 
Vineyard Elementary PTOImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Two great programs🎉🎉 Conservation Through Preservation and Education ❤️

Thank you!!! My daughter raved about this!

Gabba Rossi Nature's Remedy 🍀⚡️🥀✌️🎵 This shirt comes and goes... so if you want one, you better get it now..🛒🛍️👇👇 77bestfashion.shop/20240313-112911 All Europe Shipment

All ages are invited to submit 1-2 nature-inspired lines to a collective poem about how nature has been a teacher to you! 🌳🦨🍄🐿🌿 Exciting Announcement! 🌿 As we prepare to celebrate National Poetry Month in April, we at Ten Strands are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for all nature enthusiasts!

Whether you are a writer with a passion for poetry or simply someone eager to engage in a community experience, we invite you to join us! 🎨💭 We welcome submissions from any language and invite individuals of all ages to contribute. Teachers are also encouraged to submit lines on behalf of their classes.

Submit your lines here: forms.gle/hheXyd3XPyW1ZsTc8
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All ages are invited to submit 1-2 nature-inspired lines to a collective poem about how nature has been a teacher to you! 🌳🦨🍄🐿
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I have learned to love nature, to be one with nature, and to value nature.

- Rosie, Oak Ambassador, 4th grade

Subscribe to the LATO

Nature Notes Newsletter

Our Partners & Supporters

San Luis Obispo County Fish and Game Fines Committee

Rod Hoadley ~ Peak Racks

Marguerite Costigan and Terry Sanville

Ann Robinson

Brisco Foundation

Joan Collier

Barlow Family Foundation

Justin Community Grants

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Randy and Sally Knight

Christine Harvey

Mankins Foundation

Marney and Roger Briggs

James F. Maino and Lisa Kilburn

Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation

Warren and Carol Sinsheimer

DeVos Family Foundation

 

Cal Poly Biological Sciences Department (Professors John Perrine and Emily Taylor)