Two Upcoming Workshops at the Environmental Nature Center
The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach is offering two engaging workshops this month designed to connect the community with food, nature and the local landscape.
Outdoor Cooking with Chef Corso
March 24 | 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Chef Corso, a classically trained chef and host of the Outdoor Eats TV series, will lead a lively cooking workshop focused on preparing great meals outdoors using simple gear and fresh ingredients.
During the demonstration, Corso will cover camp stove basics, smart meal planning and grocery strategies that make outdoor cooking easier and more enjoyable. Guests will watch several trail-tested recipes come together and enjoy tastings along the way.
The workshop is ideal for day hikers, backpackers, RV travelers and car campers looking to improve their outdoor cooking skills.
Corso is the creator of Outdoor Eats, where he teaches people how to prepare memorable meals outside using straightforward techniques and fresh ingredients. Through his television series, cookbooks and workshops across the country, he has helped thousands of outdoor enthusiasts upgrade their trail meals.
Cost is $22.50 for ENC members and $25 for nonmembers. Reservations and more information, here.
Belonging to Place: Why Native Plants Matter with Mike Evans
March 29 | 1 to 2 p.m.
Renowned California native plant horticulturist Mike Evans will open the Environmental Nature Center’s 2026 Native Plant Workshop Series with a thoughtful look at the role native plants play in Southern California landscapes.
Evans, founder of Tree of Life Nursery, will explore how gardening with native plants connects people more deeply to the places where they live. Drawing on more than four decades of horticultural experience, he will discuss how local landscapes function and why working with nature rather than against it leads to healthier and more resilient gardens.
The class also looks at the broader idea of belonging, asking what it means for both plants and people to be rooted in a place shaped by climate, soil and time.
The workshop is presented in partnership with the California Native Horticulture Foundation and reflects a shared commitment to expanding place based ecological education in Orange County.
Reservations and more information, here.
Environmental Nature Center is at 1601 E. 16th Street, Newport Beach. 949.645.8489
