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We are currently booking schools for 2027! Our Spring calendar is almost full!
Our Mission
Our Mission
We will develop within students an environmental ethic and respect for the world in which we live through a hands-on approach to learning in the natural environment.
We will develop within students an environmental ethic and respect for the world in which we live through a hands-on approach to learning in the natural environment.
Our Goals
Our Goals
To provide students an opportunity to experience coastal ecology.
To instill the value of conserving natural resources.
To promote the preservation of unique lands and the protection of their resources for future generations.
To encourage an appreciation of and respect for the diversity of living things.
To encourage personal responsibility for stewardship of the natural world.
Our History & Impact
Our History & Impact
PEEC has been providing hands-on environmental education since 1976, serving students from Mendocino County and communities throughout California. The program began when the Marine Biology Department at Sierra College, near Sacramento, brought sixth- and seventh-grade students to the tide pools of the Mendocino coast for an immersive, hands-on learning experience.
After just two weeks, it became clear that there was a much greater need and enthusiasm for the program. With more schools eager to participate, a nonprofit organization was established to expand the opportunity. Today, PEEC serves more than 500 students each year through residential and local environmental education programs.
Students have traveled from schools across California—including Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Placer, Glenn, Monterey, Alameda, and El Dorado counties—to participate in our residential programs at MacKerricher State Park. Through three- to five-day comparative ecology programs for students in grades 4–8, and local day trips for local students, participants explore the diverse ecosystems of the Mendocino coast while developing a deeper understanding of the natural world.
At PEEC, students learn in small groups of 10–20 students, each led by a trained naturalist. Using the local tide pools, forests, beaches, and coastal environment as their classroom, our naturalists teach students about natural history, ecology, and environmental ethics. These experiences encourage curiosity, connection, and a lasting sense of responsibility for the places they visit.
Creating Access & Supporting Our Community
Creating Access & Supporting Our Community
PEEC is committed to making environmental education accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds. Over the years, grants, donations, and fundraisers have helped students from low-income communities participate in PEEC programs and experience the Mendocino coast firsthand.
Our programs also contribute directly to the local economy. Schools visiting from outside Mendocino County bring valuable revenue to local businesses and organizations. Program fees support our local state parks, the C.V. Starr Community Center, grocery and hardware stores, and other community businesses. PEEC also provides employment for local residents, including our naturalists, kitchen staff, and executive staff.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Stewards
Inspiring the Next Generation of Stewards
The impact of a PEEC experience extends far beyond the days students spend on the coast. Through exploration, discovery, and meaningful connections with nature, students develop a deeper appreciation for the parklands and ecosystems they have visited.
Many return home as stewards and ambassadors for our coastal ecosystems, sharing what they have learned with their families, communities, and future generations. Some return to PEEC years later as teachers, chaperones, or program leaders, thus continuing a cycle of learning, stewardship, and connection that began with their own experience at PEEC!
PEEC is located within MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg, California, on the beautiful Mendocino coast of California.
PEEC is located within MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg, California, on the beautiful Mendocino coast of California.
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