Making Outdoor Field Trips More Accessible

Budget cuts can devastate elementary schools, but NatureTrack founder Sue Eisaguirre is keeping students' spirits high with her passion project that encourages kids to explore the outdoors.

Before founding the nonprofit that takes kids on field trips, she was working at the University of California, Santa Barbara leading outreach to elementary schools for the Sedgwick Reserve education programs. It's there that Eisaguirre noticed field trips were the first to go when less money was trickling into school transportation funds.

"My husband saw my frustration when we weren't reaching more students and said to me, 'Why don't you do this on your own?'" Eisaguirre said.

Kellogg Elementary's fourth grade class got an up-close look at the native sea life found along the Goleta coast.

In 2011, she did just that. Taking matters into her own hands, she built a network of volunteers and began offering free field trips to local Santa Barbara County K-12 schools. The organization curates each excursion to align with classroom curriculum and aims to enhance kid's interests in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) by bringing their textbooks to life.

"Losing outdoor field trips at that age means missing out on opportunities to foster a lifelong relationship and appreciation for nature," Eisaguirre said. "And there's no better place to learn about something like erosion than standing at the side of a creek bed."

Within the first year, they managed to take 600 students on outdoor experiences. Now, with the help of Edison International, they impact the lives of 5,000 students a year and have provided over 39,000 outdoor experiences to date - with demand continuing to grow.

Fourth grader Catherine Beck explored the beaches where the Chumash people lived.

Edison International has partnered with the nonprofit since 2016, supporting its mission with more than $55,000 in grant funding.

With this support, the nonprofit has increased the number of trips offered and transferred nine schools from the wait-list this year - allowing more than 400 more students to explore the outdoors.

Alex Esparza, SCE's principal manager of Corporate Philanthropy and Community Engagement, expressed Edison's commitment to appreciating the inherent splendor of California's natural landscape.

"NatureTrack aligns with these ideals by ensuring all students, regardless of their background, economic status or physical abilities, have the opportunity to experience this. We are honored to support the educational and exploratory journeys of students."

Docents at Dos Pueblos Ranch teach kids how abalone farming protects the area.

On a recent field trip to Dos Pueblos Ranch in Goleta, California, fourth grade student Catherine Beck and her classmates were transported back in time. They explored the historical coastline that was once home to the Chumash people, got an up-close look at abalone farming and replicated ancient practices using native plants.

"You get to use your imagination to put yourself in the Chumash people's shoes at that time," Beck said. "I love to see things being created, like the bracelets we made today. It started as a plant and turned into something new."

With guidance from docents, NatureTrack is designed so curiosity has no limits, even for those with disabilities. Its extended wheelchair program, Freedom Trax, provides off-road motorized devices so no student is denied the chance to venture the outdoors.

With NatureTrack, there are no bounds to a kid's curiosity. "And another plus, there's no beeping cars," said Beck.

For more information on Edison International's commitment to giving back, visit edison.com/community