This is the story of the 50 year-old Wagner Ranch Nature Area and its outdoor area programs, told by the beloved Toris Jaeger, Director of Outdoor Education for the WRNA. The area provides hands-on outdoor education programs in 5 areas: Native American Days, Pioneer Days, Rancho Days, First Thanksgiving and Animal Camp. The curriculum covers both the natural area as well as local California history, combining the natural and social sciences in a real-life classroom. Children reflect on the programs as some of the best experiences they have while in elementary school, stating, “This is where life happens.”
Filmed, edited and directed by Réka Pigniczky
Commissioned by the Orinda Union School District
Wagner Ranch Nature Area
Orinda, California
November 2020
TRT: 14 minutes