Philosphy
Our Philosophy
Philosphy
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy mirrors that of ancient indigenous cultures, who believed "nature awareness" involved understanding the natural cycle, and its' interconnections. Their lives were guided by what they called the "Original Instructions", which informed their interactions with the natural world.
New Page
About the Program
New Page
About the Program
Delphinus School of Natural History is a unique, regional, outdoor science program in San Luis Obispo for elementary and middle school students. Our programs are engaging, interactive, and student driven, which fosters self-expression.
Our explorations and adventures engage all the senses, and allow each explorer to create personal relationships with nature, based on their own interests.
Although we fully embrace the tenets of the "Natural Cycle of Learning", our camps are often unstructured, but have a scientific undertone that informs and instructs in ways that encourage individual investigation.
Our explorations facilitate retention of scientific knowledge; as related to natural processes among plants and animals, and promote further exploration.
We firmly believe that students who develop a deep personal relationship with nature become environmental stewards of nature, instead of casual observers of nature.
Naturalists
Meet Our Naturalists
Naturalists
Meet Our Naturalists
Derek Schultz
Artist & Naturalist
Derek is an artist and naturalist local to Los Osos, where he grew up exploring the estuary, sand dunes, coastal bluffs, and other habitats of the Estero coast. He earned his degree in Art from UC Santa Cruz, where he focused on abstract expressionist oil painting. While studying at UCSC, his love for the natural world grew as he formed friendships with many fellow students pursuing biology and related fields. After graduating, he traveled to Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, WA, where he learned the basics of outdoor education, mentoring, primitive skills, tracking & bird language, and herbalism. He has lived up and down the Pacific coast, learning the natural history of this region and furthering his craft in the visual arts. Now Derek lives in Los Osos, works as a naturalist for Camp KEEP and Delphinus School of Natural History, and creates art which highlights native California animal and plant life.
Amy Hinshaw-Zingo
Amy earned a BA in biology at Earlham College and then studied Conservation Biology at Antioch New England Graduate School. She began teaching in outdoor science schools in 2005 with LA County’s Outdoor School at Camp Hess Kramer. After relocating to the Central Coast, she began teaching with the Kern Environmental Education Program (Camp KEEP) in 2008. She’s been an integral part of Delphinus School of Natural History since 2016. Amy is particularly skilled in invertebrate marine biology.
Amber Atkinson
Amber Atkinson, a.k.a. Willow, is a graduate from San Francisco State University. She has 19 years experience in outdoor science education here on the Central Coast, exploring nature with students in SLO County from San Simeon to Arroyo Grande. She has worked as a naturalist at Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School, Camp Happy Talk, and was Lead Naturalist with Kern Environmental Education Program (Camp KEEP). She is also well versed in the NGSS protocols (Next Generation Science Standards) and the BEETLES Project and advanced teaching method for outdoor education developed by UC Berkley’s Lawrence Hall of Science. She has been a Naturalist with Delphinus School of Natural History for two years.
Our Director/Program Supervisor
Meet The Director!
Our Director/Program Supervisor
Meet The Director!
John L. Sanders
John L. Sanders
Founder/Director
My career as an outdoor educator began while I was in the graduate marine science program at UC Santa Cruz. I collaborated in the design of a summer residential science program for 6th-8th-grade students. As a result, the UC Santa Cruz Summer Science Program was initiated.
While cruising Monterey Bay on a whale-watching trip, my students and I witnessed a group of Orcas attacking a Grey whale and her calf. No textbook or video could have had a similar impact on the students, nor could they have ignited student interest the way this experience had. It was also when I became committed to experiential, outdoor education.
From 2002 to 2021, I taught outdoor science as a Naturalist/Outdoor Science Educator with the Kern Environmental Education Program (Camp KEEP). During that time, I interacted with thousands of 5th, 6th and 7th graders from Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey Counties.
In 2011, Delphinus School of Natural History was founded, as a regional, Summer Science-Exploration program for elementary and middle school students from 1st-6th grade. We now also incorporate camps for older students, adults, and interns. Our programs focus on nature awareness, promote environmental stewardship, and offer instruction in Natural History, Animal Behavior, Estuary Science, Coastal Geology, and Freshwater Ecosystems.
