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cambriamain: Kern Environmental Education Program: KEEP Cambria
KEEP Site & Facilities:
KEEP Cambria Pines is located at Camp Yeager in the small town of Cambria along California's beautiful central coast. The campus features 13 acres of Monterey Pine habitat, plus a lush meadow and seasonal creek. Hiking trails offer glimpses into beautiful native habitats. The site is owned by the Coalinga-Huron Recreation & Parks District.

The Environment and Program:
The state parklands along the Central Coast provide a rich diversity of natural habitats in which to explore and study first-hand the concepts of ecology and California State science standards. This variety of communities makes for an outstanding environmental education experience for the students. Students perform a wide variety of field studies and investigations in several of these sites throughout the week. Typical lessons focus on concepts such as energy, adaptation, interdependence, food chains, ecosystems, and human impact. Students participate in hands-on activities including creative writing, nature related art projects, and Scientific Monitoring. Typical hikes include:

San Simeon Forest - The coastal scrub community includes hardy plants that flourish on dry slopes. These stands of vegetation provide excellent habitat for wildlife such as Mule Deer, Brush Rabbits, and an astonishing variety of insects. The pine forest ecosystem features Monterey Pines, Coast Live Oaks and a wealth of small plants. Raptor and deer sightings are common.

Moonstone Beach and Tidepools - The beautiful, open coastline affords occasional views of dolphins, Sea Otters, and Harbor Seals. The rocky intertidal zones feature shore crabs, sea anemones, many other invertebrate species, and an abundance of birds.

Morro Bay Estuary and Mudflats - The estuary of Morro Bay provides a nationally recognized display of mudflats, marshes, and is an example of the mixing of fresh and salt waters. Morro Rock, an immense solitary, volcanic formation is located at the entrance to Morro Bay. It is home to two breeding Peregrine Falcon pairs and an occasional pair of Sea Otters. Spring also brings the local bird rookery into full swing with nesting Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Night Herons, and cormorants.

Elephant Seal Colony - This short stretch of sandy shoreline hosts a colony of hundreds of Elephant Seals every winter, between December and February. The seals spend the entire period of time on the beach; making all aspects of their lives and social organization visible.

At KEEP Cambria Pines we are guests and visitors to the state parklands along the central coast. Every effort is made to minimize our impact on the trails and habitats we visit, and to maximize our enjoyment and learning.

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