Nature Expert David Sobel Coming to Community Roots Academy

Nature expert David Sobel, a trailblazing environmental educator and author, is set to visit Laguna Niguel’s Community Roots Academy (CRA), one of Orange County’s premier K-8 public charter schools, and its affiliate Community Seedlings Preschool, a dedicated Reggio Emilio-inspired preschool in Capistrano Beach, on February 26-27. Both sessions will be private.

Sobel is a professor emeritus in the Education Department at Antioch University New England who consults and speaks widely on child development and place-based education

with schools, environmental organizations, and the National Park Service. In the last 30 years, he has authored 10 books, and more than 90 articles focused on children and nature for educators, parents, environmentalists, and school administrators.

He has been invited to discuss the importance of connecting with nature understanding that today’s pervasive nature deficit is harmful to children. As the natural connection humans have had for millennia erodes because of factors like modern technology, children face real physical and emotional peril.

Ultimately, the loss of their connection to the natural world can be socially isolating children, making them more depressed, less physically active, and less healthy. How can they become good stewards of nature without having a connection with it?

Says Sobel, “What's important is that children have an opportunity to bond with the natural world, to learn to love it and feel comfortable in it, before being asked to heal its wounds.”

Nature-based education is a core tenant of both schools. For example. CRA’s lush Discover Garden is a centerpiece of the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship.

Last year, CRA earned a silver level honor in the California Green Ribbon Schools awards program in recognition of its environmental excellence and demonstrated achievement reducing environmental impacts, improving health and wellness by promoting a healthy physical environment, and offering effective environmental and sustainability education.

The preschool focuses on nature-based learning and art education so young children can grow based upon their natural curiosity and innate ability to learn from their experiences.

“We are delighted to have David come to our campuses to talk about the importance of reconnecting with nature,” said CRA’s Executive Director of Operations & Resource Development Eve Fein. “He’s a provocative guest speaker who can help us cultivate environmental literacy and healthy futures for our students.”

Professor Sobel will also be a keynote speaker at the 2025 ECSTEM conference at Caltech earlier in February.

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