Vida Verde Nature Education

What Vida Verde Nature Education does

Vida Verde Nature Education is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 that promotes educational equity by providing free, overnight environmental learning experiences to students from historically marginalized communities. Its primary offering is the Core 4th-6th Grade Program — a three-day, two-night overnight camping experience for classes from schools where 85% or more of students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch and where no existing overnight environmental education access is available. Programming spans nature hikes in the redwoods, tidepool and beach exploration, goat milking and cheese making, night-time trust walks, and organic farm tours, with associated sites including the headquarters at 3540 La Honda Road in San Gregorio, plus Optimist Youth Camp, Pescadero State Beach, and Sam MacDonald County Park. A supplementary portfolio extends engagement beyond the core cohort through the Summer Leadership Project (SLP) for high school-aged alumni, recurring Teen and Family Programs (weekend walks), and the annual Fall Family Farm Day.

The organization operates a dedicated 23-acre educational farm property in San Gregorio, purchased in 2015 on Ramaytuch Ohlone land, and added staff housing in 2018 to support eight full-time staff. The Education Barn construction, already underway, is intended to cement a multi-decade 'Home for Educational Equity' vision. Programs are delivered via direct school and teacher partnerships and community referrals; no technology platform mediates the offering, and the website functions primarily as a content and donor-acquisition surface.

Vida Verde is funded entirely through donations, grants, and charitable contributions — credit card gifts, checks, stock, corporate giving, in-kind gifts, and wills/trusts. Programs are delivered at no charge to qualifying schools and families; the Summer Leadership Project charges a nominal $20 fee to teen participants. The organization served over 1,000 low-income youth in the 2024/25 fiscal year and is led by Executive Director Shawn Sears, with Development (Romy Colombatto), Events/Administration (Harmony Ma), and Office Management (Paula Alves) functions, supplemented by seasonal instructors hired annually for summer programs.

Name

Vida Verde Nature Education

Legal name

Vida Verde Nature Education

Website

https://vveducation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vida Verde Nature Education is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, three-day overnight environmental learning programs for 4th-6th grade students from Bay Area low-income schools (85%+ free/reduced lunch), operating from its own 23-acre farm in San Gregorio and funded entirely through donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAAAOAA

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development)

SECONDARYEDAMALAB

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

SECONDARYEDALAIAG

Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Athletics, Recreation & Fitness

SECONDARYTHAAAGAK

Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Outdoor learning programs
• Overnight school camping
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Farm-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

San Gregorio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a nonprofit organization, Vida Verde is funded entirely through donations, grants, and charitable contributions. Programs are provided completely free to qualifying schools and students. The organization accepts credit card gifts, checks, stock donations, corporate giving, and in-kind donations. Wills and trusts can also name Vida Verde as a beneficiary.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Vida Verde Nature Education provides free, three-day, two-night overnight environmental learning experiences at its 23-acre educational farm in San Gregorio, California. The core program serves 4th-6th grade classes from schools where 85% or more of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, with activities including redwood hikes, goat milking and cheese making, tidepool and beach exploration, night-time trust walks, and organic farm tours. Supplementary programs include a week-long Summer Leadership Project for high school alumni and seasonal family engagement events.

Product overview

Vida Verde Nature Education offers a portfolio of free overnight environmental learning programs. The core offering is the Core 4th-6th Grade Program, a three-day, two-night camping experience at the organization's 23-acre farm property in San Gregorio, California. This is supplemented by the Summer Leadership Project (SLP), a five-day camping trip for high school-aged alumni. The Teen and Family Programs extend this work with seasonal events including Weekend Family Events and Fall Family Farm Day. The programs emphasize outdoor education, organic farming, leadership development, and environmental stewardship for students from historically marginalized communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core 4th-6th Grade Program A three-day, two-night overnight environmental learning experience at Vida Verde's 23-acre farm in San Gregorio, California. Provided free of charge to qualifying 4th-6th grade classes from schools where 85%+ of students are on free/reduced lunch and that lack existing overnight environmental education opportunities. Activities include nature hikes in the redwoods, goat milking and cheese making, tidepool and beach exploration, night-time hike and trust walk, and organic farm tours.
• Summer Leadership Project (SLP) A five-day, four-night camping trip for high school-aged Vida Verde alumni and their peers, focused on leadership development, farm projects, redwood hikes, Pacific coast exploration, and advocacy presentations. Charges a nominal $20 fee per teen and accepts direct applications from families.
• Teen and Family Programs A program category of seasonal events designed to build on experiences youth have during the 4th-6th grade program, including weekend family walks at Bay Area parks, Fall Family Farm Day, and ongoing activities throughout the year.
• Fall Family Farm Day A free community gathering at Vida Verde's 23-acre farm where families can milk goats, pick apples, and enjoy nature. Typically held the weekend before or after Halloween.
• Weekend Family Events

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vidaverdenatureeducation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vida Verde Nature Education