Slide Ranch connects children to nature. We cultivate healthy bodies and minds and foster future generations of environmental stewards through hands-on programs at our coastal farm and nature preserve in California. By cooking, gardening, caring for animals and exploring wilderness and the coast, we teach visitors of all ages to see the connection between their own health, a healthy food system, and a healthy environment. Slide Ranch’s 134 acre nature preserve is located along the Marin County coast, just 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. A historic dairy farm dating back to the late-1800's, Slide Ranch was established in 1970 and has been providing farm-based environmental education ever since. From its inception, Slide Ranch has focused specifically on connecting socio-economically disadvantaged communities with limited access to outdoor experiences to the transformative beauty and bounty of the West Marin coastal lands and its farming tradition. In 1976, Slide Ranch became one of the first Park Partners in the new Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Slide Ranch staff work with school teachers and program leaders to customize experiential education sessions that meet the needs, interests and abilities of their students and align with California Educational Standards. Our hands-on/minds-on approach engages students of all ages and learning styles, encouraging them to connect with their surroundings by exploring with all of their senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound. Student engagement is further assured by teaching small group sizes of eight students per Slide Ranch teacher. Whether hiking trails, exploring native plant ecosystems or tide pooling, planting or harvesting food in the garden, milking goats or feeding chickens, building compost or cooking farm-to-table, students develop and apply their knowledge of Bay Area natural history, sustainable agriculture and environmental science.