Talk a Walk on the Wild Side at The Reserve

Every day, when we look out over the golden ridgelines and scenic vistas of The Ranch, we are thankful to live in a place surrounded by such natural beauty. We also know that stewardship is part of Ranch life, caring for our open spaces and the wildlife sharing them with us.

At the heart of The Ranch is The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, more than 21,000 acres of land designated to be permanent open space for wildlife and habitat protection. The rolling landscape of protected coastal sage scrub, vernal pools and oak woodlands is home to many vulnerable species, including endangered arroyo toads and coastal California gnatcatchers.

It is also a living classroom—literally. As recently profiled in an article for The Capistrano Dispatch [pdf], The Reserve hosts field trips of K-5 students from all over Southern California who come to participate in observation, exploration, discovery and hands-on learning activities that meet the emerging Next General Science Standards.

But you don’t have to be a kid or on a field trip to experience The Reserve. Every month there is a calendar of events for families and friends of the natural world. Bird and wildflower walks, even moonrise hikes to see an entirely different side of this wild realm. More information, volunteer opportunities, and a complete calendar of events is available at rmvreserve.org.