Our Story

Three decades ago…

Two educators launched Acorn Naturalists out of their garage. It began with a few curricula, field guides, and a handful of puppets. Today, Acorn Naturalists is proud to be a woman-owned, independent company that distributes resources to educators around the world. When you support Acorn Naturalists, you are supporting a small business dedicated to nature connection, nature conservation, and knowledge.

During the 1990s, educators of all kinds needed more support. Many did not have access to resources for their lessons involving environmental and outdoor education. Acorn Naturalists launched to expand the impact, consistency, and quality of nature-based learning. Check out our Welcome Video for a little more on our story!

Our two co-founders created a place for people to find educational tools, nature-focused activities, field equipment, and more.

“We wanted to create an ethical company that people could depend on for new ideas, resources, and inspiration.”

-Jenny, co-founder

All of our products are centered around outdoor education, exploration, nature inquiry, and hands-on learning. We believe that curiosity drives people to learn more about their connection to nature, as well as develop a deeper love for science, knowledge, and “the wild” within all of us.

Today, our two founders are deeply involved. They help design new tools and resources for our customers around the world.

We will release more about “the Acorn story” this year. Our upcoming blog posts will feature stories and interviews from the early days. Stay tuned.

We appreciate your business and are grateful for our loyal customer base!

What We Offer…

Acorn Naturalists provides resources and nature-orientated activities that connect people with the natural world.

The activities and tools we offer are inquiry-oriented. Many of our kits complement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). We also design resources based on key concepts from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and STEAM (A for Art) curricula.

When you shop with us, you are supporting a small and woman-owned business. With your support, we can continue to design new resources and educational materials.

We always welcome your ideas for new educational tools and resources!

Awards We’ve Received…

People have celebrated Acorn Naturalists since its inception in the 1990s for its early incorporation of “green programs.” More recently, the League of Conservation awarded Acorn Naturalists with the Orange County Environmental Business of the Year Award.

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) honored the company with their award for Outstanding Service to Environmental Education.

The co-founders also received the Howard Bell Award for Outstanding Achievements and Contributions as Leaders in the Field of Environmental Education. The Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education gives this award to influential change-makers.

As a small, independent business, we wear those badges with pride.  

What’s The Acorn Group?

The Acorn Group is our sister company. It specializes in interpretive planning and design, media for trails and playscapes, visitor studies, and master plans.

The Acorn Group is also recognized for its excellence, having received design awards from The National Association for Interpretation (NAI), Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

To stay connected to Acorn Naturalists, our story, and our new educational tools, follow us on our socials @acornnaturalists! We look forward to connecting and hearing about your explorations in science and nature.