Pescadero Coast ​and Redwoods

Explore miles of beautiful redwood forests just inland of the Pescadero coastline. With heights towering over 200 feet and diameters as long of 12 feet across, the redwoods in and around Memorial County Park and Portola Redwoods State Park make for a fantastic space to learn and explore. The location along the Pacific Ocean makes it an excellent option with easy access for schools from both the Greater Bay Area and Santa Cruz County and a great location for schools without mid-trip transportation. The program covers content from redwood ecology & natural history, to the importance and health of our local watersheds, to teamwork & collaboration and an opportunity for some basic wilderness skills. 

Program Activities

We customize our programs to meet your needs with our final itineraries reflecting your personal interests, educational goals, transportation options, and desired trip length. Check out some of the fun program options that can be a part of your outdoor education experience in Pescadero!
  • Redwood Forest: Hike along the miles of trails in one of the nearby parks for an extensive exploration of the redwood ecosystem and the special niches found among its unique soils.
  • ​Pescadero Creek: Dive deeper into learning about our waterways. Pescadero creek runs through the parks and during the spring serves as a window into the spawning and the lives of steelhead trout. It's also a great opportunity to search for macro-invertebrates and learn what the type and abundance of these organisms tells us about the health of our watersheds. 
  • Map Skills & Navigation: Let the students take the lead as they learn how to read maps and use a compass to find their way through the park.
  • Science Inquiry: Students investigate their surroundings through a series of hands-on science activities such as a comparative soil study, creating a dichotomous key, measuring the flow rate of Pescadero Creek, and observing the macroscopic and microscopic intricacies of the forest floor. 
  • Pescadero State Beach & March: Study estuarine ecosystems and the important role they play in the lives of marine and fresh water organisms. Engage in a service learning activity such as a beach or waterway clean up.
All of FIELDGUIDES' programs have a strong emphasis on outdoor living, student autonomy, and building community. Our programs have a unique "family-style" camping format that helps students grow socially and emotionally. By sleeping outside and helping with daily chores students gain a deeper connection to themselves, others, and the natural world. Find out more about our camping format. 
Contact us today! FIELDGUIDES INC. (650)969-6325. [email protected]