The beauty of Mission San Juan Capistrano is visible year round. Read on to see what Earth Day fun makes Missing San Juan Capistrano a must-visit during the spring.
We received complimentary admission to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My 9-year-old is in the middle of her study of the missions as part of her 4th grade curriculum. She was so enthralled by seeing the things she’s learning about in the classroom in real life.
In my past career as a 4th grade teacher, Mission San Juan Capistrano was an annual field trip via the train. As a mom, I knew the ability to walk in the footsteps of the Native Americans and missionaries would add depth to the curriculum. If your child’s school doesn’t visit the mission, it’s an absolute must for SoCal kids.
Being able to visit for the 1st ever Earth Day Celebration at Mission Juan Capistrano was a lovely treat! Exploring the beauty of nature in one of the most gorgeous historical locations in Orange County was a great family outing.
Highlights from Earth Day at Mission San Juan Capistrano
Our day began with an in-depth butterfly presentation. Thankfully we say many butterflies flying around the mission during our visit. Knowing that the butterfly population is dwindling, it makes each appearance feel so precious.
There were also representatives providing information about bees. My kids have been obsessed with bees since a swarm took a break in our plum tree last spring. There were what felt like thousands living in our front yard for about a day and a half.
In addition to the butterfly and bee presentations, the gardens were open for sampling. With the garden tour stops, we learned about gourds and carrying water. The gardens were one of the kids’ top 3 favorite things!
The kids and I also were able to sample various items grown at the mission like various kinds of peas and strawberries. The kids smelled their way through the herb planter, learning how things like mint could be used.
Native American singers gifted us with song while we learned how to weave baskets. These hands-on opportunities are such a great teaching tool, but also amazing memory makers.
One of the most iconic places within the mission is the large fountain in the gorgeous courtyard. Filled with koi fish, it’s a wonderful spot to sit and reflect. During Earth Day, there were even koi fish feedings!
With the large amount of rain in Southern California this year, the wildflowers have been in a superbloom. You can skip the drive to Lake Elsinore or the poppy reserve and head to Mission San Juan Capistrano. The grounds are beautifully maintained, largely by volunteers. Poppy, of course, loved the poppies. She even received a package of seeds to bring home.
I mentioned earlier that the garden tour was a big hit with my children (aged 5, 9, and 11). Their other favorite elements were exploring the flowers and the exploring the mission. The grounds are perfect for an afternoon picnic or leisurely stroll.
Celebrating Earth Day at the mission was a wonderful combination of Californian history and the state’s modern beauty. For tickets and more information, go to Mission San Juan Capistrano.
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A beautiful way to celebrate this day of awareness and important for our land in contact with nature!
This is AWESOME. There is nothing better than celebrating this beautiful planet that we live in. Thank you for sharing!
Ill have to take the kids.
It looks very pretty. My kids love things like this. Interesting to see the Lotus in bloom, they don’t bloom here (Japan) until late June. Love write up of a fun day.
Lynda H of insaitama.com
What a lovely day you spent outdoors! Lately it has been so hot in our city that we only want to stay indoors where it’s air conditioned. Hope it gets cooler soon so that we can go out during the day.
I hope you have many amazing years to follow. What tyou are doing is truly wonderful.
This is so sweet! I think it is so important to teach our kids to be more earth conscious.
The mission is very beautiful! I’m glad that bee incident didn’t traumatize your kids. I try to teach our kids that spiders and bees and other insects can be very useful and I think it’s given them a little more respect for the bug life.
Oh, what a fun day! Looks so pretty too.
What a perfect setting for Earth Day! Clearly the kids had a wonderful time, and I make it a note to visit the next time I’m there.
It looks like all of you had a lot of fun. The flowers look amazing and it’s colors are appealing. I’d like to have a trip like this with my family.