Placer Nature Center

Placer Nature Center has a simple mission: give children (and adults!) the opportunity to learn about and experience nature first hand. Founded in 1991, Placer Nature Center has connected over 200,000 children and adults, in and around Placer County, with nature where they learn science, enjoy nature, experience teamwork, and develop curiosity and wonder about their environment.

Studies show that contact with nature as a child is the single factor that strongly determines a person's interest in adopting stewardship behaviors. Yet access to nature is virtually nonexistent for children in our increasingly urbanized and electronically driven society. Through experiential learning at PNC, students understand that every aspect of our lives, our actions and behaviors, and our environment are inseparable.

Through our programs children gain indispensable skills like team work, how to analyze and interpret data, make decisions, use critical thinking and learn how to become skilled communicators.

Placer Nature Center has a 60 acre nature preserve just minutes from Auburn, CA off of I-80. We provide field trips for school children almost every day of the school year both at our center, in the school yard and at other local nature preserves. Every week, 100's of children experience nature in new way or for the first time in our programs. Our programs are led by trained volunteer docents. We teach children about nature, ecology, recycling, watersheds etc with hands-on activities that adhere to the California Content Standards for teaching.