Knee High Naturalists
Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District
Creating Community Award of Excellence
During the first five years of life, connections made in the brain develop faster than any other point in life; meaning this crucial stage will set the foundation for future learning, behavior, and health. With the global pandemic of 2020, everyday experiences were suddenly removed from the family, halting the approach to child rearing and shutting down programs in the parks. The Knee High Naturalist Program takes an active approach to educating its students by utilizing a lesson plan template with a set structure for every lesson including story time, hikes with intentional observations, crafts, and a rotation of either a STEM activity, a game, or a creature feature. The program is grant funded and is supported by RivCoParks staff, volunteers and numerous County Departments all with the goal of encouraging growth, development, and creativity. Since the program’s inception, Knee High Naturalists has served over 4000 students. 