Students learn about the importance of wildlife corridors.

Each fall, hundreds of seventh grade students at Santiago Charter Middle School participate in a unique environmental education program at Limestone Canyon to learn about the wonders of nature that exist right in their own backyard.

Begun in 1998, "Exploring Ecosystems at Limestone Canyon" is a hands-on science program that teaches the students about four ecosystems that exist in the canyon, along with the plants, animals and insects they support. At Santiago Charter Middle School, the program has been embraced by more than just science teachers, students and parents. Art and writing teachers have also incorporated the program into their lesson plans.

In addition to bringing lessons to life for students, the program helps students gain an appreciation for the sensitive natural resources on The Irvine Ranch^®. Limestone Canyon is located on The Irvine Ranch, and is part of the 50,000 acres of open space - more than half of the historic 93,000-acre ranch. These valuable lands have been set aside forever as parks, open space and for recreational uses, and stretch from the coast in Laguna Beach to the Cleveland National Forest. It never will be developed.

This fun and innovative educational program is sponsored by The Irvine Company in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, Santiago Charter Middle School, Irvine Unified School District, Orange County Department of Education, and the University of California, Irvine.

For additional information, please view the Limestone Canyon Field Guide.

If you would like to visit Limestone Canyon, please visit www.irvineranchwildlands.org.

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