NatureTrack

New Year’s Day was more than a week ago, but NatureTrack founder and Executive Director Sue Eisaguirre hopes people are open to perhaps adding another point to their resolutions or intentions for 2026. Namely, getting involved with her Santa Barbara nonprofit organization dedicated to making access to the outdoors equitable for all by providing cost-free field trips for K-12 students throughout the county, and offering unforgettable experiences in nature for wheelchair users of all ages.

Since NatureTrack was launched 15 years ago, the organization has created and chaperoned curriculum-based field trips for more than 50,000 students, primarily from underserved communities, who have explored local beaches and trails at no cost to the families or the schools. Over the last five years, NatureTrack added Freedom Trax, battery-powered devices that attach to manual wheelchairs so that users can traverse sand, snow, and trails on their own terms. The outings are also offered for free to anyone of any age with mobility challenges, whether those challenges are temporary or long-term.

More than 80 volunteer docents are the lifeblood of the organization as NatureTrack continues to run with only three full-time employees. Adding to that cohort of docents would not only make Eisaguirre’s heart soar with being able to serve more students and disabled, but also provide lots of well-earned benefits for the individuals who volunteer.

“It’s an opportunity to get outdoors, give back, and be a part of something meaningful,” she said. “It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s so rewarding to make a difference in students’ lives, children’s lives, and lives of people who have physical mobility issues.”

To be sure, NatureTrack is running smoothly, providing the field trips to students that are the backbone of the organization. NatureTrack’s benefactors number more than 100 every school year, covering some 70 schools over the course of the nonprofit’s tenure. But there are also 15 schools on the waiting list – representing about 800 kids – who are waiting for their turn to venture out into nature as part of a class. More volunteers would mean more trips.

“We are starting to run concurrent field trips, but it’s based on having enough volunteers so that we can maintain our ratio of five students to one volunteer/docent,” Eisaguirre said. “The good news is that we had 25 new volunteers sign up this year, including 18 college students. But we just always need more.” 

The Freedom Trax program is also motoring along, having expanded last year to provide weekly trips to the beach for 10 assisted-living homes and senior centers. A grant allowed NatureTrack to purchase an ADA-compliant van to provide transportation for the homes that do not have their own, saving the nonprofit from having to charter a bus. Nine new homes are also coming on board this year. As the ratio for these trips is just two-to-one, more volunteers means more trips. 

NatureTrack also lends Freedom Trax to individuals to explore on their own, both locally and on excursions out of town. 

“We had clients go to Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and Pismo Beach last year,” Eisaguirre said. “And Ms. Wheelchair California Aly Corvin, who lives in town, borrowed one and took it up the coast to Washington State and then on to Michigan for the national competition where she was first runner-up.”

Eisaguirre stressed that volunteering with NatureTrack is a cinch, as the organization runs ongoing training and there are no requirements beyond a desire to get involved. 

“You don’t have to be a naturalist,” she said. “It’s just about sharing their enthusiasm for nature with the students to pique the curiosity to learn. We want everyone to notice nature, to wonder about what they’re seeing, and maybe what it reminds them of, so when they’re back in the classroom the recall goes up because they’ve got that mental picture. It’s very simple.”

NatureTrack also offers optional free monthly docent classes that range from natural history information to CPR training. The classes also teach about journaling prompts, which are a part of every field trip. The idea is that the docents feel completely prepared and at ease. Nobody has to lead a trip until they’re comfortable. 

“They can assist for as long as they want, even if that’s all they want to do,” Eisaguirre said. “We do what we can to take away any fear so they see how it works and that it’s enjoyable. Once you have that experience of seeing the expressions on the kids’ faces with something as simple as doing leaf rubbings, you’re hooked.” 

Even then, there’s no obligation, no minimum number of days or set hours, as volunteers only schedule trips for times they want. A volunteer can’t let us down. We expect them to only do it when it works for them.”

The bottom line, though, is making a difference for both the students and yourself, Eisaguirre said. 

“Just being outdoors, in nature, helping other people have that experience and learn is a great benefit.”  

Visit www.naturetrack.org