Laura & Shawn Sears

Laura and Shawn Sears founded a free residential outdoor education program called Vida Verde Nature Education in 2001. Since then, the three-day, nonprofit, outdoor education camp has positively impacted 11,000 inner- city students ages 10–12 who come from under-resourced schools and have no access to outdoor learning programs. During the school year,  fifth graders camp for two nights in Northern California and participate in many activities, such as milking goats, walking silently through the forest, and harvesting vegetables from the organic garden, which is used to prepare their dinner. Students also visit the coastline exploring sea life along the shore and splashing in the ocean. This hands-on science education and team-building program is life changing for the children. These outdoor experiences provide low- income students with an introduction to the wonders of nature, as well as a respite from their daily routines. Laura Sears says, “Camp is magic.”

Funded by a club member of Little Garden Club of Columbus, Zone X, in honor of a club member of Hancock Park Garden Club, Zone XII