Docent Led Tours
Our team of passionate volunteers and knowledgeable staff are ready to take you on a guided nature walk through our beautiful natural trails. As you stroll through the serene surroundings, our experts will share their vast knowledge about the local ecosystem, providing insights into the flora, fauna, and geological features of the area. Whether you are an avid nature lover or simply looking for an educational and leisurely activity, our guided walks offer a unique opportunity to connect with nature and learn about the environment in a fun and interactive way. Join us on one of our guided walks and discover the wonders of our local ecosystem today!
Please call/email Inside the Outdoors directly for information about school field trip’s held at Shipley Nature Center: (714) 708-3885 / insidetheoutdoors@ocde.us
Please send us an email to info@shipleynature.org with your request to schedule a tour with our trained volunteer docents who enjoy sharing the history of the area, our diverse habitats and unique nature aspects in an urban setting. School field trips are age-appropriate from preschool through college.
Free parking is available at 17851 Goldenwest Street, Huntington Beach which leads to the 200-yard paved-walkway to enter the visitor gate. Decomposed granite walk-ways surround the interpretative building, demonstration gardens and the facility areas containing the restrooms and the cold-filtered water station. The Interpretative Building contains inter-active exhibits, books and gift shop. Please do not bring food inside the nature center. Outside the gates there are picnic tables for lunching. No pets are allowed; except ADA service animals.
The nature center is managed by The Friends of Shipley Nature Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Scheduled tours cost $5.00 per person. Tour donations are accepted through our account at PayPal.
Your tour will include walking the nature trails while learning about the flora and fauna of the Oak Woodland, Redwood, Coastal Sage Scrub, Riparian, Meadow and Blackbird Pond habitats. The Interpretive Building offers areas for creative, interactive learning for young children using puppets, books, and poetry for dramatic play. You will also find a diorama and taxidermy specimens of birds and animals that live at or visit Shipley. The history of the area is told through historical panels beginning with the Ice Age to present day Huntington Beach.
Volunteer Docent Carolee
Some tours may include visiting the conservation yard to learn about composting, vermicomposting, water conservation and rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels, water hogs, composting bins, and a man-made stream are on display. Information regarding home use is available.
SCHOOL GROUPS
Inside the Outdoors, administered by the Orange County Department of Education, provides environmental field trips with a curriculum supporting current California academic standards. To learn more about scheduling a school group, please read their page.
