Earth Inspired

connect- educate - motivate

Our mission is to provide experiences that educate and motivate individuals to build a positive connection to science and their environment, promoting sustainability and a wise use of natural resources.

connect- educate - motivate

Who

We are a collective of California Central Coast biologists, science nerds, educators, nature lovers and environmental enthusiasts.

What

We inspire people of all ages to enjoy and understand science, nature, and how these subjects impact our community and the world.

How

We provide hands-on, educational programs and community activities.

Our

Earth Inspired provides entertaining, engaging and informative experiences that touch people’s hearts and minds, to connect, educate and motivate.

Field

Mobile Microscope Lab
Re-vegetation and restoration projects
Natural History Tours

Lab

Weird Science Saturday
Interactive Lecture and Slideshow (evenings and weekends)
Microscope Mysteries

Ecotainment

Science Fair Resource
School Science Night Support
Immersive Storytelling Experience

Recent

Earth Inspired facilitates engaging activities that touch people’s hearts and minds, to motivate understanding and change through active learning.

ALPS – Adobe Springs

April – Earth Inspired collaborated with the Atascadero Land Preservation Society (ALPS) to provide field trips on two separate days to Adobe Springs. This unique five-acre parcel of undeveloped oak woodland houses a natural artesian spring that has flowed for hundreds of years. Students learned how the spring affects the wildlife, plants, and ecology of the preserve; plus found out about the rich historical legacy of the area. Earth Inspired members helped supervise the event, educate and guide students through the preserve.

Camp KEEP - Laptops

August – Earth Inspired facilitated the donation of two HP laptops to the Kern Environmental Education Program (KEEP) in Los Osos. Each year KEEP provides over 4,000 students the opportunity to learn about the natural world, and their connection to it. These laptops are being utilized to provide workstations for naturalist staff, present educational programs, and allow students to research/record data.

ECOSLO - Cleanup Day

September – Earth Inspired board members were site captains for the 2019 ECOSLO Creeks to Coast Cleanup Day. Our 22 volunteers removed 18.75 pounds of trash and 5 pounds of recyclables from Shell Beach, South Palisades Park and its coastline. We loved seeing the community come out to make a beautiful spot even more lovely.

About

With decades of educational experience and environmental leadership, we provide an avenue for community engagement, fostering a deeper understanding of science and environmental responsibility.

Mike di Milo

Mike di Milo has lived on the central coast since the late 1970s. He graduated with a bachelor of science in Natural Resources Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Since then Mike has taught environmental education, owned a business in downtown San Luis Obispo, and has served as a board member of several local non-profit organizations. When not working he enjoys live music and visiting the many local scenic parts of our county. Mike looks forward to promoting environmental literacy and interest in science through Earth Inspired.

Dean Thompson

Dean Thompson is an outdoor science educator who was trained as a wildlife biologist as well as a classroom teacher. Initially working as a field biologist, Dean slowly gravitated to education, and for the last 34 years has worked as an outdoor science school instructor at Camp KEEP in Montana de Oro State Park. Winner of the Howard Bell Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions in the area of outdoor education, he has led naturalist and storytelling workshops throughout the state, as well as natural history tours along the central coast. Dean’s skill as a professional storyteller makes his tours and presentations both entertaining and educational. Dean truly feels it is an honor to claim Naturalist as his job title.

Nicole Dale

Nicole has lived in and loved the central coast since 2003. She is a naturalist at KEEP-Ocean in Montaña de Oro S.P. and former Assistant Education Director at Ranch Alegre Outdoor School in Santa Barbara. Nicole received her BS in Zoology and Communications from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is the 2007 Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE) Educator of the Year. In her free time she enjoys running up mountains and exploring the rocky intertidal. She is passionate about using nature as a classroom to inspire curiosity, stewardship and wonder.