Discovery Program

County Parks' Discovery Program immerses students and teachers in nature-related activities designed to educate them about scientific phenomenon and history of the local environment. Discovery Kits are customized to match the unique characteristics of each park. Each hands-on course features:

Pre-field trip activities for classroom use
Hands-on field trip activities in the park
Post-field trip activities for classroom and home use

Park locations start with Louis A. Stelzer County Park and also include El Monte, Felicita, Flinn Springs, Guajome Regional, Los Penasquitos, Otay Lakes and San Dieguito - covering most parts of San Diego so all kids have ready access to a park for educational purposes.

Sponsorship opportunities are available! This program would not be possible without sponsors to supplement the program's costs. Learn more about how your business or organization can expand resources for youth outdoor education.

Discovery Kit

We also offer an Ecology Discovery Kit for teachers, designed especially for kids grade K through 2. Content includes key terms, activities for the classroom, activities for a field trip, and follow-up suggestions to keep kids active in, and excited about, the outdoors.

Similar content is shared during the formal Discovery Program, with specific kits covering different topics in nature like birds, trees and sustainability.

All curriculum correlates to California Science Framework standards and aligns with information in our ongoing Multiple Species Conservation Program.

Field trips should be coordinated through park Staff to ensure venue and and ranger availability. Contact Kyle Icke at Kyle.Icke@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-561-0580.

Download the Teacher's Guide