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Nature Center

A gazebo, a pathway, a white house, trees, and information signs in a sunny park setting.

6968 Camarillo Springs Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012

Hours: Open daily from 7am- dusk unless closed for a special event. For further information contact us at 805-482-1996 or csr@pvrpd.org.

The Nature Center is the hub for our Outdoor Education programming at Camarillo Grove Park. We serve over 400 residents a year who attend our Outdoor Education classes with a range of 50-80 students from local schools who utilize the program. Through guided nature hikes and educational classes, we provide opportunities for our families to connect and learn about the natural habitat, local wildlife, and the ecosystem within their community

Amenities:

  • Interpretive signage along the walking paths that provides information about our local ecosystems, flora, and fauna
  • An interactive water table
  • Teaching deck for programs or sit and enjoy the sounds of nature and the beauty surrounding you
  • Nature-based play equipment
  • Native gardens with braille signs
  • Hiking Trail
  • Nature Education Building

 

Hiking Trail 

The trail is are open to everyone. It features an upper trail, lower trail, switchbacks, sitting areas, viewpoints, and interpretive signs.  Dogs are allowed on the trail, but please be considerate of others and keep your dog leashed at all times when using the trails.

The lower loop is an easier gently sloping trail with oak trees, sage, volcanic rock formations, and more. The upper loop is a moderate hike, over 1 mile in length, with an approximate 600-foot vertical differential.

Hiking Trail Map

 

To view current session guided hikes, visit our registration page here.

Nature Education Building 

The Nature Education Building was funded and built in April 2024 by our nonprofit Foundation. From 2017-2024,  $65,000 was raised to support the District with building the Nature Education Building. The building plays a vital role in providing environmental and nature education to the community through and average of 36 classes and hikes combined annually. 

It is home to taxidermy animals, fossils, castings of animals footprints and scat, skull replicas, and visual instructional aids. It is only open during District outdoor programming and scheduled field trips.  It stores our educational items that used during programming to educate  the community about our local surroundings. 

Partners

The Foundation partnered with organizations to help support our cause. The Foundation received a $1,000 environmental grant from Amber's Light Lions Club to help purchase two display cases for the taxidermy animals.  Lauterbach & Associates Architects Inc. partnered with us on blueprints, plans and the permit process. B&B Do-It Center donated $1,500 of supplies to help with construction and finishing touches. Visit Camarillo sponsored multiple fundraiser events throughout the 7 years which helped us raise more funds for the project.

 

To view current session offerings, visit our registration page here.

 

 

May contain: plant, tree, tree trunk, architecture, building, countryside, hut, nature, outdoors, rural, shelter, garden, arbour, cottage, house, and housing
Wooden pergola surrounded by plants and trees under a clear blue sky.
An educational outdoor display titled "Animal Trackers" featuring buttons to press for animal sounds.
A wooden, hexagonal climbing structure for children in a playground with wood chips on the ground.
An educational sign about ringtails and raccoons with images and information, positioned outdoors near animal enclosures.
A wooden playground tunnel and balance beam with a woodchip ground cover inside a fenced area.
A park bench and an educational sign about rabbits amid wildflowers.
Children and adults around a water trough, possibly doing a water-related activity, in an outdoor setting with onlookers in the background.
A group of people and a child in a garden with raised beds and a large tree overhead.
People at an outdoor gathering with a water feature and educational setup.
Aerial view of agricultural fields with rows of crops, greenhouses, and a road winding through.
A hilly landscape with a road sign, lush greenery, and mountains in the background.
A family of four walking on a sunny nature trail with hills in the background.
A scenic hiking trail with lush greenery, mountains in the background, and people walking.
A winding trail through hills and shrubs at sunset.
Hiker with backpack reading an informational sign about geology near a rock outcrop.
A white house with a porch and detached garage, set against a hilly backdrop with overcast skies.
A tan shed with black doors, concrete ramp, and a backdrop of greenery on a hillside.
A beige shed with black-trimmed double doors, a vent, outdoor lamps, on a concrete pad with nature in the background.
Room with animal displays, cabinets, a flat-screen TV, and various exhibits.
A taxidermied brown bear on display with a sign inviting people to touch it gently.
A display of taxidermied animals, including a fox, bat, badger, and porcupine, mounted inside a glass case.
A glass display with taxidermied animals, animal skulls, and a bird model; sign encouraging photo sharing.
A collection of animal skulls, educational posters of butterflies and leaf shapes, and brochures on a table.
May contain: wood
Room with displays of skulls, feathers, taxidermy bird, TV, and educational posters.
May contain: plant, tree, tree trunk, architecture, building, countryside, hut, nature, outdoors, rural, shelter, garden, arbour, cottage, house, and housing
Wooden pergola surrounded by plants and trees under a clear blue sky.
An educational outdoor display titled "Animal Trackers" featuring buttons to press for animal sounds.
A wooden, hexagonal climbing structure for children in a playground with wood chips on the ground.
An educational sign about ringtails and raccoons with images and information, positioned outdoors near animal enclosures.
A wooden playground tunnel and balance beam with a woodchip ground cover inside a fenced area.
A park bench and an educational sign about rabbits amid wildflowers.
Children and adults around a water trough, possibly doing a water-related activity, in an outdoor setting with onlookers in the background.
A group of people and a child in a garden with raised beds and a large tree overhead.
People at an outdoor gathering with a water feature and educational setup.
Aerial view of agricultural fields with rows of crops, greenhouses, and a road winding through.
A hilly landscape with a road sign, lush greenery, and mountains in the background.
A family of four walking on a sunny nature trail with hills in the background.
A scenic hiking trail with lush greenery, mountains in the background, and people walking.
A winding trail through hills and shrubs at sunset.
Hiker with backpack reading an informational sign about geology near a rock outcrop.
A white house with a porch and detached garage, set against a hilly backdrop with overcast skies.
A tan shed with black doors, concrete ramp, and a backdrop of greenery on a hillside.
A beige shed with black-trimmed double doors, a vent, outdoor lamps, on a concrete pad with nature in the background.
Room with animal displays, cabinets, a flat-screen TV, and various exhibits.
A taxidermied brown bear on display with a sign inviting people to touch it gently.
A display of taxidermied animals, including a fox, bat, badger, and porcupine, mounted inside a glass case.
A glass display with taxidermied animals, animal skulls, and a bird model; sign encouraging photo sharing.
A collection of animal skulls, educational posters of butterflies and leaf shapes, and brochures on a table.
May contain: wood
Room with displays of skulls, feathers, taxidermy bird, TV, and educational posters.