Construction has begun on a new $21 million environmental education center at Rancho Soñado, signaling the return of the Orange County Department of Education’s (OCDE) Inside the Outdoors program to its long-standing home in the Santa Ana Mountains. The groundbreaking event, attended by approximately 50 people, marked a significant step in rebuilding the site, which was largely destroyed by the Bond Fire in December 2020.
Nearly six years ago, the Bond Fire swept through Rancho Soñado with speed and intensity, destroying two of its three structures, including a residence. The blaze prevented an animal evacuation team from reaching the site, resulting in the loss of many of the program’s animal ambassadors. The land itself now offers a visible reminder of recovery, with vegetation returned across the property and surrounding hills.
Inside the Outdoors operations manager Stephanie Smith, who knew Rancho Soñado for nearly 20 years and once lived on the property, described the day as carrying both joy and loss. She noted that the site is more than an office; it speaks to the identity and purpose of Inside the Outdoors. Smith also expressed anticipation for sharing the property again with students, educators, and community members, stating the spot “deserves to have people learn from it.”
County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean called the groundbreaking a milestone moment. He acknowledged the devastation of the Bond Fire but affirmed, "something important survived: the mission." Dr. Bean noted that before the fire, Rancho Soñado provided over 100,000 students with opportunities for science education outside traditional classrooms. Inside the Outdoors has continued its work since the fire, serving students in classrooms and various field settings across Orange County.
The new Rancho Soñado Education Center will integrate the landscape into its curriculum through indoor and outdoor spaces designed for hands-on environmental learning. Key features of the $21 million project include new classroom and administrative spaces, a multipurpose building dedicated to environmental science, an outdoor dining pavilion, and a large covered learning area. Additionally, four teaching pavilions will be situated along trails across the site, which will also host a 133-seat amphitheater for programs and gatherings.
Improvements to the rebuilt campus will enhance accessibility and movement, with expanded parking, accessible spaces, and upgrades to the access road for school buses, students, and emergency vehicles. Native and drought-tolerant landscaping will ensure the center remains consistent with its natural environment. The design also incorporates lessons learned from the 2020 fire, with buildings constructed using noncombustible materials such as concrete block, steel, and metal roofing. Fire-safety features will include interior sprinklers, exterior systems designed to wet the ground around Base Camp on high-risk days, and a new on-site fire hydrant.
Orange County Board of Education President Tim Shaw reflected on the importance of outdoor experiences for students in an urban county and recalled the heartbreak of seeing video of the site after the fire. He expressed confidence that the program would return "better than ever." Dr. Ken L. Williams, a trustee who lives a few miles from the property and has served on the board for nearly three decades, underscored the board’s long-standing connection and responsibility for the approximately 110-acre site. Rancho Soñado was conveyed to the board in the early 2000s with the intent of preservation and use for outdoor education, becoming the official home for Inside the Outdoors in 2006.
Inside the Outdoors Outreach Manager Yarib Dheming, who has taught along the site’s trails for more than 20 years, described Rancho Soñado as a deeply personal place, often evoking the student response, "This is the best field trip ever." He emphasized that the rebuilt site will function as a "living laboratory" for students to investigate environmental questions directly, also supporting educator learning and community partnerships.
C.W. Driver is serving as the construction partner for the project, with tBP/Architecture leading the design efforts. Construction is expected to continue through December 2027. The Orange County Board of Education approved the necessary construction agreements in September, following years of coordination around environmental permitting and other site challenges. While Stephanie Smith will not return as a resident caretaker, she anticipates sharing the property again with students, educators, and community members.
