Introducing young people to the wonders of nature has been shown to improve their overall well-being and readiness to learn and places them on a path to becoming good stewards of the natural world as adults. Whether you are a teacher or a parent, Point Lobos offers magnificent opportunities for both an introduction to the environment and for continued learning.
Staff and volunteer docents offer guided on-site or virtual field trips for schools, and an intensive summer camp called Summer Adventures. Additionally, young people can now learn more about the wealth of natural resources in Point Lobos from their iPad with the Discover Point Lobos app. Find information about each of these resources below.
Point Lobos is a natural reserve, not a park. Afforded the highest level of statewide protection, the purpose of a reserve is to forever protect an area of unique natural beauty and ecological significance. Stay on marked trails, do not collect natural objects of any kind, and please do not disturb wildlife in their natural habitat.
Checklist
- Get administrative approval from your principal.
- Fill out the reservation request completely. When you submit your reservation online, you will receive an email response to your request. Requests for school-led walks must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. If you are requesting a docent-guided walk, please submit at least four weeks in advance.
- Arrange transportation. Transportation grants for Title 1 schools are available from the Point Lobos Foundation. Contact Melissa Gobell for information.
- Review online resources for teachers. Develop a lesson plan and activities schedule. Consider activities such as dividing into smaller study groups, lunch and an alternative plan for rain or other inclement weather.
- Recruit parents for adult leaders and chaperones. At least one adult for every ten students is required. For guided walks, one adult for every 6 students is required. However, any additional adults above the required ratio are expected to explore the reserve on their own.
- Share your lesson plan, the Guidelines for Chaperones document (Spanish Guidelines for Chaperones), and field trip activities with the chaperones. Make sure the adults understand their roles and responsibilities, and, in particular, how they can assist the docent who is leading the walk by reminding students to remain focused on the task at hand. Finally, please make sure that all participants wear easily visible name tags to facilitate the interaction between the docent leader and your students.
- Prepare students for the trip. Let them know where they are going, the difference between a reserve and a park, appropriate behavior when visiting and what they may encounter. Discover Point Lobos is a terrific educational and interactive tool (available for free on iTunes) to prepare students for your visit. Have them bring appropriate clothing and shoes. It is frequently cool and windy at the Reserve.
- Lunches: Eating is allowed only at picnic tables in Whalers Cove, Piney Woods, and Bird Island. No food or drinks may be taken on the trails. Restrooms are located at the picnic areas.
- It is helpful to bring a list of children with special medical needs (allergic to bee stings, etc) and a first aid kit for small problems. Garbage bags are great to sit on if it is wet and can be used as rain slickers. Have someone bring a camera!
All school buses and private vehicles bringing students to Point Lobos must park in the Piney Woods picnic area. School buses should not leave their parking spaces, as other visitors may park in the area designated for buses. Buses and other vehicles over 20 feet in length are not permitted on weekends, holidays or during the summer months.
Please contact Melissa Gobell, Docent Coordinator and School Walk Coordinator,
at (831) 625-1470
or melissa.gobell@parks.ca.gov
with any questions.