**Our Homeschool Outdoors class is FULL for the Spring 2023 Semester.**

To maintain the quality of our programs, we limit our class size to 15 students. We are currently at capacity, with  all students signed up for the entire semester. Please check back in August for our Fall 2023 Semester!

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March 2023 Class Schedule:  

Classes are held rain or shine. Cancelled if there is the chance of thunderstorms or wind over 10 mph.

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March 2nd, 2023 - Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

Slime molds & Fungi Safety

Students learn about the curious being that is not quite animal, not quite plant, not quite fungi, but completely fascinating. We will also go over several common local species of fungi, and some fungi safety tips!

Parking Location (no parking fee)

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Unit: All the Small Things (bugs, mosses, and tardigrades!)

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March 9th, 2023 - Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

Lesson 1: Aquatic Invertebrates

Students will learn about the life cycle and adaptations of aquatic insects through hands-on exploration and observation.

Parking Location (no parking fee)

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March 16th, 2023 - Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

Lesson 2: The Hidden World of Moss

Students discover the microscopic wonderful world of moss, and learn about a unique invertebrate that inhabits them!

Parking Location (no parking fee)

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March 23rd, 2023 - Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

Lesson 3: A (non-aquatic) Bug’s Life

Students learn about the life cycle and adaptations of terrestrial insects before going on a bug hunt!

Parking Location (no parking fee)

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March 30th, 2023 - Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

Lesson 4: Bug Eyes

Students will learn about insect eyes and how they differ from our own.

Parking Location (no parking fee)

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General Information: 

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Our homebase is Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve but we visit other locations throughout the county. 

 

Ages 6-12 (younger and older siblings welcomed)

Thursdays 10:00AM-11:30AM

Drop-ins are welcome, register anytime during the semester. 

The cost is per class and limited to 15 students:
$25 per student

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Per semester:

$450 per student 

*We do take checks made out to Saved By Nature. Homeschool classes run weekly during the normal school year with holidays, and summer off. We are approved with Ocean Grove Charter School! This is a drop off program. (we encourage parents to hike in a group)

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1st Semester Begins 2022 (18 classes)

August:  23rd, 30th

September:  6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

October:  4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

November: 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th

December:  6th, 13th

January: 3rd, 10th

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2nd Semester Begins 2023 (20 classes)

January:  19th, 26th

February:  2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

March:  2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

April:  6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

May:  4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

June: 1st

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Curriculum themes for 2nd semester include: 

• Introduction to Nature journaling (2 classes)

• Fantastic Fungi & Where to Find Them (4 classes)

• Mosses, Lichens, and Bugs, oh my! (4 classes)

• Poetry & Art (2 classes)

• The Power of Water (4 classes)

• Art in the Park (2 classes)

• Field trip TBD

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What better place for your kid(s) to learn and build an affinity for nature than outdoors? Nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range and home to burrowing owls, California badgers, endangered tiger salamanders and mammals such as coyote and gray fox, everything we need is right here! Homeschool Outdoors is an outdoor science laboratory, where we learn together through hands-on experiments, observation, and art!

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"As a long-term homeschool Mom, I can attest that Richard Tejeda is phenomenal with kids and has a special heart for homeschool families! We miss our homeschool classes with him!"

 

Your Instructors/Naturalists:

Richard Tejeda (aka Mr. Richard) - has degrees from West Valley College in Park Management and from San Jose State University in Environmental Studies with a minor in Sustainable Water Resources. He is the 2020 Environmentalist of the Year, a generalist naturalist and the founder and Executive Director of Saved By Nature. He has worked for CA State Parks, Santa Clara County Parks, Open Space Authority, Monterey Bay Salmon Trout Project, Valley Water and created the homeschool program in 2008 at Guadalupe River Park Conservancy where he taught for 6 years.

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Elexis Padrón - has degrees in Art and Community Studies from UC Santa Cruz, is a Certified California Naturalist, and brings five years of experience in youth education. Three of those years were spent leading hands-on learning in outdoor settings with Climate Corps Education Outside and California State Parks. She is a big advocate for bringing art and science together, and a lover of nature journaling.

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Leslie Anido - worked for the Santa Clara County Office of Education 37 years, including more than two decades as a special education teacher at Blackford Elementary School, which sits on the border of Willow Glen and Campbell. Her classroom served children from school districts across the county.