Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center

A Community Partnership 

Located on the scenic northern California coast, Elkus Ranch is an environmental education destination within the University of California Research and Extension Center (REC) system. We provide unique, hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for San Francisco Bay Area youth from preschool through high school.  

Elkus Ranch REC is a fully accessible facility that serves a wide variety of visitors, including those with special needs. This essential educational mission is proudly supported through our vital partnerships with the County of San Mateo, San Mateo Resource Conservation District, the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Bureau, and schools throughout the region.

Elkus Ranch serves as hub for San Mateo and San Francisco Counties' University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), housing programs like 4-H, Master Food Preservers, and Master Gardeners.

Program Focus & Resources

Elkus staff hosts a variety of hands-on programs during the school day for students from preschool through high school that explore food and fiber production; wild and domestic animal relationships on the ranch and surrounding open space; climate impacts via our Compost Bunker and Water Catchment system; as well as family activities on weekends throughout the year.  For complete details on all educational programs and facility rentals, explore the Elkus Ranch Programs page or view the Elkus Ranch Brochure (PDF, 573 KB)

Primary Offerings

The Ranch is available for reservation year-round and offers the following core services and rental opportunities:

Hands-on Education

Programs include Educational School Field Trips, Lunch at the Ranch (LatR), Private Tours, Birthday Parties, Seasonal Day Camps, and Overnight at the Ranch.

Accessible Facility

All learning spaces and facilities are fully accessible, ensuring unique learning experiences for all children and their adult chaperones.

Event Venue

The ranch features a Conference Center with a full commercial kitchen, available for rental for daytime retreats, meetings, workshops, weddings, and other special events. Visit the Conference Center Rentals page to learn more.

Stay Up to Date with Us

Join our email list to keep up with news and events happening at Elkus Ranch. We'll share Public Event Days, Camp Registration, and other Ranch happenings!  

Newsletters for both San Mateo & San Francisco Counties are available here.