Delphinus School of Natural History is a unique, regional, outdoor science program in San Luis Obispo for elementary and middle school students.  Our programs are engaging, interactive, and student driven, which fosters self-expression.  

Our explorations and adventures engage all the senses, and allow each explorer to create personal relationships with nature, based on their own interests.

Although we fully embrace the tenets of the "Natural Cycle of Learning", our camps are often unstructured, but have a scientific undertone that informs and instructs in ways that encourage individual investigation.

 Our explorations facilitate retention of scientific knowledge; as related to natural processes among plants and animals, and promote further exploration.

We firmly believe that students who develop a deep personal relationship with nature become environmental stewards of nature, instead of casual observers of nature. 

John L. Sanders

Founder/Director

My career as an outdoor educator began while I was a graduate marine at UC Santa Cruz. I designed a summer residential science program for 6th-8th-grade students from Monterey County. In collaboration with UCSC' Dean of Summer School, KTEH, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Superintendent of Schools for Monterey County, the UCSC Summer Science Program was born.

While cruising Monterey Bay on a whale-watching trip, my students and I witnessed a group of Orcas attacking a Grey whale and her calf.  No textbook or video could have had a similar impact on the students, nor could they have ignited student interest the way this experience had. It was also when I became committed to experiential, outdoor education.

From 2002 to 2021, I taught outdoor science as a Naturalist/Outdoor Science Educator with the Kern Environmental Education Program (Camp KEEP). During that time, I interacted with thousands of 5th, 6th, and 7th graders from Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey Counties. 

I founded Delphinus School of Natural History in 2011 as a regional, Summer Science-Exploration program for elementary and middle school students from 1st-6th grade. We now also incorporate camps for local schools, older students, adults, and interns. Our programs focus on nature awareness, promote environmental stewardship, and offer instruction in Natural History, Animal Behavior, Estuary Science, Coastal Geology, and Freshwater Ecosystems.

Awards

Lead Naturalist

Richard “Octopus” Hernandez has been leading students on nature hikes since 2017. He has been a lifelong student of biological sciences, especially when it comes to marine ecosystems. Mr. Octopus grew up on the Central Coast, and is personally and professionally acquainted with many local species of marine birds, invertebrates, and fish. He began his career as a research assistant for a local environmental consulting firm, where he was regularly assigned to intertidal and subtidal biological surveys. Mr. Hernandez earned his BS in environmental science in 2017, which allowed him to be a part of local outdoor programs such as Camp KEEP, Rancho el Chorro, and Delphinus School of Natural History. Richard has been the Lead Naturalist for Delphinus School since 2021 and has made it a personal mission to increase environmental literacy among youth to promote behaviors that help protect our fragile ocean ecosystems.