About Us

"Oh, what a sweet child is Hannah Hyde,

Oh how thoughtful, oh, how nice,

To buy a hat with a brim so wide,

It gives shade to the frogs

And the worms and the mice."

--Sun Hat, Falling Up, Shel Silverstein

Naturalist For You (NFY) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, public benefit corporation. All donations are tax-deductible.

NFY was created to connect you, the public, to the diverse natural areas in your backyard. As naturalists we possess a broad knowledge and understanding of the natural world. We are trained to observe natural processes and interpret their significance for your benefit. We are passionate about wild places and seek to share that passion with you.

We primarily conduct programs on publicly-owned land, such as the national forests, state parks, and county parks. Many of our local natural areas are vast, beautiful, and mysterious, but rarely visited by the majority of our population. We want to encourage you to explore these priceless treasures, so they are not taken for granted. Every positive experience we share in nature brings us closer to preserving it for future generations.

Our vision is to preserve the ecological integrity of our local natural areas through community outreach and stewardship. Our programs are meant to be entertaining and educational. We understand that the human and natural communities are connected. Therefore, tours are designed to avoid negative impacts, such as habitat destruction, wildlife injury, erosion, and various forms of pollution. In addition to preserving a high level of respect for our natural surroundings, your comfort and safety are our highest priorities.

Joel Robinson is the founder and head naturalist for Naturalist For You. He has guided thousands of curious individuals on professional wilderness tours since 2001. Many organizations and agencies have utilized his talents, including The Nature Conservancy, The Wildlands Conservancy, the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy, Santiago Creek Watershed Preservation & Restoration Project, Santa Ana Mountains Natural History Association, City of Santa Ana, City of Lake Forest, Orange County Department of Education, and National Forest Service. He is a Certified Interpretive Guide with the National Association for Interpretation. His vision is to connect the majority of the public to our local natural areas, so their preservation is guaranteed for future generations.

Board of Directors: Dan Spurgeon, Patrick Mitchell, Matt Shook, RJ Schwictenberg, Mike Kahle

Here is what some of our guests are saying about Naturalist For You:

"I used to leave the state for my vacations, but I realized there is so much cool stuff to do right here! Now I plan all my days off around your tour schedule." --Paul, Santa Clarita

"I haven't seen a horny toad since I was a little kid. I'm so glad I got to see one again after 30 years. On the next tour I wanna see a badger." --David, Bakersfield

"Our kids can't stop talking about the deer and the waterfall that they saw on your tour. They keep nagging us to sign up for another one." --Joanna, Los Angeles

"I was surprised to see so many different blooming flowers. I always thought Southern California was too dry to have such amazing displays. When's the next tour, so I can bring my camera?" Vicki, Irvine

Look no further. We are prepared to guide you on a memorable journey through some of the most magical and biologically diverse places on earth!

To schedule a FREE tour or for more information, please email jrobinson@naturalist-for-you.org.