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.

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What LATO has been up to

Learning Among the Oaks

12 hours ago

We’ve been so busy hiking and bird watching and enjoying the wildflowers and having Oak Ambassador graduations we hardly have time to post!

It’s a beautiful late spring this year in SLO county’s oak woodlands. Hope you are getting out there and enjoying it too.

#learningamongtheoaks
#landconservancyslo
#pismopreservehike
#santamargarita
#oakwoodlands
#spring
#k6education
#outdooreducation
#kidsinnature
#oakambassadors
#kidsteachingkids ... See MoreSee Less

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Learning Among the Oaks is in California.

1 week ago

Spring has sprung! Our nest boxes at Historic Santa Margarita Ranch are perfect for birds such as western bluebirds, whose eggs are shown here. Follow along this season as our awesome volunteers monitor the progress of these nests! 🪺🐣

#lcslo #SantaMargarita #eggs #volunteers #spring #NestBoxes #getoutside ... See MoreSee Less

Spring has sprung! Our nest boxes at @santa.margarita.ranch are perfect for birds such as western bluebirds, whose eggs are shown here. Follow along this season as our awesome volunteers monitor the progress of these nests! 🪺🐣

#lcslo #santamargarita #eggs #volunteers #spring #nestboxes #getoutside

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Learning Among the Oaks is at Vineyard Elementary.

3 weeks ago

Woo hoo! Spring break is here! 🌸 🐥 This week also marks our last Vineyard Elementary School (VES) hikes of the school year. VES Oak Ambassadors led their school’s third graders on amazing journeys of “Animals and Oaks Through Time.” Along the VES Nature Trail, students traveled all the way back to what life was like on the Central Coast 10 million years ago. They hopped around time, learning to read tree rings, examining locally collected fossils, observing generations-made acorn woodpecker granaries, and more!

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County * Vineyard Elementary PTO * Vineyard Elementary School #environmentaleducation #outdooreducation #placebasededucation #learningamongtheoaks #oaks #californiaoakwoodlands #timetravel #futurescientists #futureconservationists ... See MoreSee Less

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Sounds like a great day! 👏🏼 🌳

Learning Among the Oaks

3 weeks ago

CNPS is hosting another sketching hike for families with kids ages 5-10 at Three Bridges Oak Preserve this Saturday! ✏️ 🌳Spring Family Sketching Hike - returning to Three Bridges Oak Preserve in Atascadero on Saturday March 30 930-1130 am. This hike is aimed at kids 5-10 years and their families however, everyone is invited. No experience is necessary and materials are provided. More details at our website calendar cnpsslo.org/event/spring-family-sketching-hike/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Learning Among the Oaks

4 weeks ago

Dear Estrella, Alexis, and Pablo,
We loved having you explore with us in the oak woodlands too! Thank you for writing us these wonderful notes. It really made our day.

Team Learning Among the Oaks will be hiking with 1,600 young people this spring. Many of our outdoor educational experiences include puppet shows and mini-educational sessions led by 4th and 5th grade Oak Ambassadors. They are also excellent at rolling over logs and keeping our explorers safe out in nature.

These thank you notes are also for the teachers, principals, school district staff, bus drivers, parent chaperones, donors, grantors, and hike volunteers that make these programs possible. Thank you so much!!

#learningamongtheoaks
#lcslo
#oakambassadors
#outdooreducation
#natureeducation
#oakwoodlands
#californiaoaks
#californiaoakwoodlands
#2ndgrade
#bioblitz
#bughunters
#foundatoad
#kidsinnature
#futureconservationists ... See MoreSee Less