Wild L.A. Outdoor Equity Program

The Wild L.A.: Explore the Amazing Nature In and Around L.A. grant-funded program* is a cross-departmental effort that brings together the Museum’s Community Partners and Museum experts to increase outdoor equity.

The program aims to foster a sense of belonging and confidence in natural areas, increase environmental literacy and stewardship, and provide opportunities for individuals from marginalized communities to access and connect with natural environments. This multi-year program engages communities and youth through field trips to natural areas, campouts at the Museum and local areas, and a teen internship in partnership with the EXPO Center.

Field Trips to Natural Areas:

Outdoor activities have been shown to impact physical and mental health positively. We leverage the scientific expertise of our staff and the benefits to well-being by providing no-cost field trips and creating inspiring outdoor learning experiences for participants. Below is a video capturing one such experience with Community Partners from Korean American Family Services at Charmlee Wilderness Park. This field trip is one of a series of events meant to bring young Angelenos informal science education and meaningful connections with nature. Other field trip locations include the Old Los Angeles Zoo, Eaton Canyon’s Nature Center, Abalone Cove, and Oro Vista Park.

CampOuts at NHM and in Natural Areas:

Yearly, the Wild L.A. program also hosts two types of campouts– one in the Museums Nature Gardens and another in a natural area.  The campouts are geared toward first-time or novice campers interested in camping and building their comfort in sleeping outdoors and exploring nature.  

The NHM Campout welcomes Community Partners to camp in the Nature Garden and serves as a stepping stone for many who are not comfortable sleeping outdoors. The program aims to empower them with the basic skills needed to attempt camping on their own and lowers barriers by providing them with all their camping gear–including a tutorial on setting up a tent. While camping at the Museum, they explore wildlife in the gardens, go on a night hike, roast dinner at the campfire, and make everyone's favorite camping dessert, s'mores!

As an extension to the NHM Campout, the Wild L.A. program hosts a campout for participants who feel ready to take the next step in a more typical camping environment– like a California State Park! Community Partners are invited for a weekend of camping, day hikes, and nature exploration with Museum experts. 

Internship Program:

The Wild L.A. internship builds opportunities for local high schoolers to cultivate their STEM identity and comfort in natural areas. Over Spring and Summer, students from EXPO Center’s Teen Clubhouse develop their science communication skills with NHM staff, increase their comfort in nature by visiting local parks, and build skills to return these learnings to their communities.

Jacqui Estrada

This co-developed internship aims to expose high schoolers to practical skill-building that can be transferable to any workplace while exposing students to the wide range of careers that make up the Natural History Museum.

Nothing is quite as inspiring as spending time in nature, and it's hoped that these opportunities can help inspire participants to become future generations of scientists and environmentalists—generations that might better reflect the demographic diversity of Los Angeles County and the State of California. 

The Museum would like to thank our Community Partners from the following organizations who have participated in Wild L.A. Outdoor Equity field trips, campouts, and internships:

EXPO Center, Breathe SoCal, Korean American Family Services, Extraordinary Families, Proyecto Pastoral | IMPACTO, Self Help Graphics, Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, Pacoima Beautiful, Courage Camps, Compton Junior Equestrians, Las Fotos Project, Black Girls Trekkin’, Latino Outdoors, and Teapot Gardens LA. 

*This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants, and Local Services.