The San Diego Tracking Team’s Junior Naturalist Program introduces children to our local environment and inspires in them an appreciation of science and the natural world. Through Junior Naturalist, children’s groups such as classes, scout groups, and home school groups from kindergarten through high school are exposed to the native habitats of San Diego County’s canyons or open-space parks. Programs can be customized to meet the interests of the group on topics such as nature and sensory awareness, ecological principles and environmental concepts, primitive skills, or even full moon hikes. This program is mobile and can be performed at locations chosen by the group.

In the Junior Naturalist Program, teachers or group leaders would be given their choice of several 2-3 hour programs, each including a discovery hike and/or relevant safety information. These program choices would include:

• Nature and sensory awareness
• Ecological principles and environmental concepts
• Primitive skills demonstrations
• Full moon hikes
• Wildlife tracking (appropriate for high school level groups)
• A customized program of this nature designed to meet the needs of the group

The Junior Naturalist Program is led by Lee Kirchhevel, long-time SDTT member and instructor of programs for both adults and children. Lee has a BS in Outdoor Education form SDSU and has worked as an Interpreter/Park Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park and at Old Town State Historic Park. He is currently employed as a Photo Caravan Guide at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Children are easily captivated by his easy-going nature and quick wit, and he has a talent for presenting even complicated material in an engaging manner. Depending on the size of the group, Lee will also have up to two assistants who have undergone special training for Junior Naturalist and passed county-required background checks.

For more information, please contact the San Diego Tracking Team or Lee Kirchhevel, (619) 589-2175 or trackerlee@cox.net.