Published December 11, 2025
BY TULLAH McCOLL
Ventana Wildlife Society, a nonprofit organization in Monterey County that has worked to conserve native wildlife for the past 48 years, provides various educational opportunities that connect, educate and provide outdoor experiences to the community.
“There are so many benefits to being outdoors,” says Cece Gutierrez, VWS community bird school and nature program coordinator who works with the Salinas community. “Everyone should have access to getting outside and in nature.”
Ventana Wildlife Society’s educational programs encourage experiential learning when it comes to the environment. courtesy of CECE GUTIERREZ
Following her work with VWS as a summer camp counselor in 2018 and hosting online education programs during the pandemic, Gutierrez joined the team full-time in 2022 and has pioneered two educational programs in the Salinas area since.
“There can be a disconnect between the community and the environment, even when we live in such a special place and the ‘Salad Bowl of the World,’” Gutierrez says. “You’d think because we live so close to a beautiful environment that everyone would be exposed to that, but when a lot of these families are farm workers, they don’t have the time and means to get out to [experience the outdoors] in that way.”
Through partnering with The Bird School Project, another local non-profit working to protect the environment, along with funding provided by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, administered by California State Parks, Gutierrez was able to create Nature Classes, open to students at La Paz Middle School and the Community Club, which welcomes all Salinas families.
La Paz Middle School students join VWS and The Bird School in outdoor learning. courtesy of CECE GUTIERREZ
“As someone who grew up in East Salinas and Castroville, I wish there had been free programs like the ones Ventana Wildlife Society offers,” shares Graciela Rodriguez, another VWS program coordinator who works on similar programs in the Castroville and Prunedale area. “I often see myself in our youth participants, and it gives so much joy to witness their curiosity and amazement when experiencing something new in nature.”
The Nature Classes provide 12 three-hour sessions per school semester for La Paz students who desire learning experiences beyond the classroom, like tidepooling, hiking, bird watching and even sand crab lessons at the beach.
“Sometimes it’s the first time these kids have stepped foot on a beach, even though they only live 20 minutes away,” says Gutierrez.
While the program normally uses the weekly class to visit nearby spots like parks and beaches close to their campus, Gutierrez’s team also tries to take the students to places like Big Sur and other locations further away.
Also hosted at La Paz Middle School, but open to all Salinas families, including grandparents and newborns, the Community Club is a space for learning about healthy lifestyle choices, making eco-friendly arts and crafts and having the opportunity to go on outdoor field trips throughout the year, while connecting with others and the environment.
The Community Club hosts Salinas families to engage in environmentally friendly crafts and activities to better understand sustainability. courtesy of CECE GUTIERREZ
“A lot of times these families come from outside of the United States, like Mexico, for example, and when we go camping they can get emotional and nostalgic in a way, because they haven’t seen stars since they came here,” shares Gutierrez.
Being able to provide free transportation, camping gear and other outdoor necessities allows VWS to support more of the community in growing a love and appreciation for the planet.
“How can we expect them to care about conservation without first making nature accessible?” asks Rodriguez.
Though the four-year grant provided for the Nature Classes and the Community Club ends in June, Gutierrez and her team hope to find a way to continue both resources that they feel are making a positive difference in many Salinas families’ lives.
More information about VWS educational programs can be found at ventanaws.org
