The Natural Science Collaborative has been conducting learning activities in our
community for 16 years. In 1995, Donna Klarin, at the time a Desert Sands Unified School District
teacher, and founder of the Children's Discovery Museum, also organized the Natural
Science Collaborative. The idea was to form a networking group of environmental and
natural science educators to share science related resources, programs and activities
with each other and the community.
The Natural Science Collaborative meets monthly to exchange information and to
discuss ways to support, promote, implement natural science education and activities
with our schools and community. Our outreach activities and contributions to the
community have included the following:









~donating books to school libraries









~awarding student scholarship









~providing classrooms with computer equipment








~providing classroom field trips









~presenting nature related seminars and workshops









~providing an array of enrichment activities for








students that encompasses all subject area









~organizing science fair workshops open to








all students preparing science fair projects









~members serve as classroom consultants









~members serve as classroom presenters









~members serve as resources to the schools and









~providing natural science resource guides to








educators, tourists and the community









~holding Educators Festivals to disseminate








natural science information to teachers









~organizing three California Desert Nature Festivals









~developing multi-media presentations with guides









~presenting awards to community members who have








promoted environmentalism and conservation of our desert













~disseminating current information between natural







science agencies, schools, organizations and businesses

and more!
These activities have varied from year to year depending on our resources and community need. We have been an adventurous and experimental group; always with the goal of bringing an awareness of the beauty of nature and the urgency of conserving of our natural resources.

Joanna Stark NSC - Director, Fred Saunders-Executive Director, Animal Samaritans, Jennifer Nathan-Animal Samaritans,Mike Chedester-The Living Desert, Tracy Albrecht-SRSJNM/BLM, Rob Howard-MSJSP, Caroline Conway-Wildlands Conservancy, Dennis Schimer-San Jacinto NHA, Shelley Kibby-Idllywild Nature Center, Michelle Hedgecock-Caliso Learning, Jennifer Futterman-CREEC, Kathleen Flemming-USGBC.
Meet a Few of Our NSC Members
ABOUT THE NATURAL SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE