San Diego's FREE family nature club!
Won't you join us on an adventure today?
Family Adventures in Nature meets all over San Diego County, 2-3 times per month on the weekends. We also schedule several camping trips during the year that you won't want to miss out on!
Additionally, we offer many "Nearby Nature Clubs" that meet weekly or biweekly:
Oceanside: O'side Trail Tribe is led by Amanda Byzak
Encinitas: Encinitas Explorers is led by Kacy Lafferty
Carmel Valley: Pequeños Exploradores* is led by Jazmin West
Poway/Scripps Ranch: Wilderness Wednesdays is led by Shawna Hamon
Mira Mesa/Rancho Peñasquitos: Thursday Trekkers is led by Mylinh Arnett
Balboa Park: Urban Canyoneers is led by Tracy Mueller-Gibbs
Central San Diego: Central Wanderers is led by Cham Edussuriya
Sages and Songbirds, a group especially for grandparents and grandkids is led by Patti Shields. This group meets the first Saturday of each month at a different location, chosen especially for this group!
*This club is bilingual/Spanish
If you would like information on how to start a Nearby Nature Club near your home, please email Janice for more information!
Janice Swaisgood is a teacher by training with over 15 years in the field of bilingual education. She has dedicated herself to her family and the movement to connect children and nature since 2009 and currently serves as the National Coordinator for Nature Clubs for Families for the Children & Nature Network. Along with her husband Ron Swaisgood, she also volunteers for the San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative. Ron is a conservation biologist and also very involved in the movement to connect children and nature, primarily with their two boys, Owen and Luke.
Family Adventures in Nature, Nearby Nature Clubs
Family Adventures in Nature was founded in November 2009 after Ron and Janice Swaisgood were inspired to start a family nature club when they read Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Family Adventures in Nature quickly grew and as of the fall of 2012, has nearly 800 families in its membership. Weekly emails keep members informed as to what opportunities there are to get out and explore with FAN and its "sub-clubs" called Nearby Nature Clubs. Each Nearby Nature Club has its own volunteer leader that meets either weekly or bi-weekly "nearby" their own neighborhoods. The "main" club meets 2-3 times per month, usually on the weekends. All together there are typically over 20 opportunities to adventure with us every month!
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