LandPaths RSS Feed - Happenings Blog

About to Be...Bohemia Ecological Preserve!

info@landpaths.org — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:03:00 PST

An innovative approach to keeping wild land wild while providing public access has come to fruition with LandPaths, the Sonoma Land Trust and private landowners teaming up to create a new 554-acre nature preserve at Bohemia Ranch.

"This is truly an "it takes a village" effort like none LandPaths has seen to date" says Craig Anderson, LandPaths Executive Director. "And while this village helped LandPaths make a promise to steward the land with the public for generations...this promise will be fulfilled only with the help of the good people of our community."

Beginning this month, you will have an opportunity to (re)discover Bohemia and help us fulfill the promise via guided hikes and volunteer stewardship projects. Part of that promise is respecting the sensitive habitat, surrounding private property owners land AND being patient with LandPaths as we work to find means to provide access to the land in the safest and most creative ways possible. Thank you! Here's how you can get involved...

NOTE: Due to demand for these tours, many are already full. But don't fret, we'll be adding more dates soon!

In the meantime, if you are on Facebook, you can follow Bohemia Preserve here.

Explore Bohemia Preserve, Guided hiking tours

Lend a Hand at Bohemia Preserve

Contact us for more details...

Ways to Give to LandPaths

info@landpaths.org — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:15:00 PST

There are more than a dozen ways to Give To LandPaths. Check out this list to find one that fits you!

I would be happy to discuss any of these giving options with you. Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your support!

~Jean Marquardt, Development Director at LandPaths. jean@landpaths.org or 707-544-7284 x 24.

1. Credit card / check - You can donate easily by clicking Donate Now.

2. IRA contribution- Name LandPaths as owner or beneficiary.

3. Will or Living Trust - Name LandPaths in your will or living trust with the suggested following language:

"I give to LandPaths all or _____% of my estate, or the sum of $________ to be used by LandPaths."
Your will can include outright gift of cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, personal property, or a specific percentage of your estate. Consult your attorney to design your estate plan.

4. Planned estate gifts - Include LandPaths in your will or living trust with tax benefits during your lifetime or an income stream for you. These can include life income gifts and charitable trusts that will benefit of LandPaths while also advancing your own financial and personal objectives. Your estate planning attorney can guide you to the best financial decision for these gifts.

5. Real Estate - Gifts of real estate can help by providing income or cash to LandPaths.

6. Stocks or Bonds - Contact your stock broker to make a gift to LandPaths. A highly appreciated stock gift could give you significant tax advantages.

7. Memorial or Honorary Gifts - Leave a lasting legacy by make a special gift to honor someone or in memory of a loved one. Include in your gift the name of the person that you would like to honor.

8. In-Kind-Donation - art, books, vehicles or other personal property.

9. Gift of life insurance - By assigning ownership on a life insurance policy to LandPaths, premiums are tax-deductible as well as the value of the policy.

10. Retirement assets - Name LandPaths to limit taxes to be paid by your heirs (70% or more). These gifts to LandPaths are tax free.

11. Annual Fund - Every Fall we mail our annual letter including a giving envelope to request your contribution to our annual fund for general support or for your favorite LandPaths project.

12. Endowments/Scholarships - Establish an endowment for LandPaths. A large gift to LandPaths as an endowment will benefit LandPaths forever.

13. Naming Opportunities - Leave a legacy to LandPaths by naming a project of LandPaths. LandPaths will work with you for naming a trail, a barn or a bench on a LandPaths property.

14. Volunteering - LandPaths relies on "People Power" to leverage our limited budget. To get involved as a volunteer, please contact us.

LandPaths is a 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.

I would be happy to discuss any of these giving options with you. Please do not hesitate to contact me, Jean Marquardt, Development Director at LandPaths. jean@landpaths.org or 707-544-7284 x 24. Thank you.

Hope for 2012! Support Health, Land, and Youth

info@landpaths.org — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:56:00 PST

hope for 2012

Support Health, Land, and Youth

Contribute to LandPaths 2012 Challenge

You may ask why LandPaths should be on the top of my giving list.

Simply put: Because LandPaths has a dramatic positive impact on health, the land, and our youth.

• Health- LandPaths'Bayer Farm, an urban farm and community garden in Santa Rosa, engages people in growing and healthy eating. LandPaths works with health care providers to prescribe walking and a guide to nearby parkland to promote active lifestyles. LandPaths offers over 100 free hikes and fun events on 6,000 acres of parkland in Sonoma County - the majority of those acres open to public use because of LandPaths.

• Environment - Our land conservation and stewardship projects result in cleaner air and water and lessen the impacts of global climate chaos. Our work with biologists, naturalists, agriculture and wildlife experts and volunteers help curtail negative ecological impacts.

• Youth - Our school-year outdoor nature classroom (In Our Own Backyard) and summer camp (Owl Camp) give students scientific education and experience to equip them for their future as citizens and informed voters. Over 80% of our students are low-income and with budget cuts, students need the outdoor nature education provided by LandPaths even more. Studies show that student academic achievement improves with outdoor classrooms and promote positive well-being in our youth. LandPaths provides these educational programs as well as scholarships. We hear from teachers that In Our Own Backyard is the only science that many students experience.

Support LandPaths Today!

We understand that the quality of our future is dependent on connecting land and people - that powerful positive change is possible when all people forge a personal connection to the land and through the land to each other. Our mission is to"foster a love of the land" by connecting people with nature.

Contribute to LandPaths and you help keep our community active and healthy. Your support protects land and educates youth who will successfully adapt to the future.

LandPaths provides connections with our programs and to our parklands in:

• West Sonoma County - Willow Creek, Bohemia Ranch, Carrington Ranch, Grove of the Old Trees
• Santa Rosa area - Bayer Farm, Taylor Mountain, Ranchero Mark West
• North Sonoma County - Riddell Preserve, Healdsburg Ridge Preserve, Cooley Ranch.

Your contribution will keep our land and our community healthy. With LandPaths, we can all nurture our community, our FUTURE and ourselves by taking a walk, spending time in the garden or forests, breaking bread together after a fruitful workday, sitting by a pond and listening to the birds and the sounds of our communities. We connect with nature and we invite you to join us.

Help us, help our land. Give generously to LandPaths.
Thank you.

Craig Anderson
Executive Director

P.S. Evolution of Parks. LandPaths is leading by example. Willow Creek and Bayer Farm are successful models to counteract park closures. LandPaths is working to keep parks open and with your support we will keep parkland open to the public. And, the phone just rang last week requesting our help and approach at keeping open another priceless State Park in our community.

www.LandPaths.org

Colaborando con LandPaths - ?Apoye a Nuestros Programas!

info@landpaths.org — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:30:00 PST

Colaborando con LandPaths - ¡Apoye a Nuestros Programas!

Cada año LandPaths se dedica a crear oportunidades para acercar a la gente a la tierra - através de programas educacionales, paseos y excursiones diversas y divertidas, oportunidades para voluntarios, eventos comunitarios, administración medioambiental, un jardín comunitario y ¡mucho más! La gran mayoría de nuestros programas son gratis, y ¡los realizamos através de la generosidad de personas como USTED!

¡Agradecemos mucho su colaboración!

Para hacer una donación por cheque, favor de mandársela a:

LandPaths
PO Box 4648
Santa Rosa CA 95402

Para hacerlo con su tarjeta de crédito llámenos al 707-544-7284 x11 y ¡todo lo podemos procesar aquí en la oficina!

O si prefiere, puede procesarla usted solo en el Internet, pero la información es en ingles:

Hacer una Donación a LandPaths

Como sea, lo agradecemos MUCHO y hasta el 31 de diciembre su donación se doble por la generosidad de un donante quien nos dono ¡50 MIL dólares para animar a la gente a hacer donaciones! Por cada dólar que recibimos de ustedes el donante nos donará otro dólar, hasta $50 mil. Que WOW. Haga su donación hoy para asegurar que se doble de esta manera y ¡GRACIAS!

Welcome Jean! LandPaths Hires Development Director

info@landpaths.org — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:54:00 PST

LandPaths is happy to announce a new position and the hiring of Jean F. Marquardt as Director of Development. Jean returns to Sonoma County after a 15-year career of nonprofit development in New Mexico at the Taos Center for the Arts and Santa Fe Indian Market. She was the former executive director at the Sonoma County Bar Association. She has over 30 years of fundraising in major gifts, planned giving and corporate giving.

"I am totally enthralled with the mission of LandPaths as I see it as the bridge between our connection to the land and our personal and civic growth," states Jean. The mission of LandPaths is "to foster a love of the land in Sonoma County". By providing access to public lands and educational programs for our community and youth, LandPaths creates ways for people to experience the beauty in Sonoma County.

Our work involves stewardship activities, education, outings, hikes and ecological research. By hiring a development director, LandPaths will seek support for youth nature education programs, Bayer Farm, stewardship and public outings to benefit all people in our community.

For more information, contact Jean at (707) 544-7284 x 24 or jean@landpaths.org.

River Hero David M. Yearsley: A personal reflection

info@landpaths.org — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:21:00 PST

The first time I met David Yearsley he was pulling up to the Petaluma Marina - otherwise known as a collection of docks, weathered but loved watercraft of all sizes and a boat ramp squeezed practically beneath Highway 101's expanse over the Petaluma River - in a green motor launch with a hand outstretched. In the other he cradled a pipe that clearly fit his hand well.

"You must be Craig, or is it Greg, from LandPaths?" I was the relatively new (4 years in the job at that point) Director of LandPaths, and he part of the Riverkeepers Alliance, a national coalition inspired in part by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and his work on the Hudson. The handshake was made, from boat up towards dock, and LandPaths had met the Petaluma Riverkeeper. I knew from the outset that I was clearly the visitor and he was going to size me up as whether I would be friend or foe!

Over the next few years "Dave" and LandPaths convened a number of river cleanups, explorations of the river channel proper and the side backwaters - or sloughs as they are more accurately defined - from the hulls of kayaks and canoes. Dave simply intuited that the dozens of folks under LandPaths' leadership coming to explore the land their tax dollars had protected by way of our County's Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District weren't there to motor or even sail, as fun as those things could be, but to apply sweat to paddle and propel themselves through his dominions.

As we got to know each other, paddling from the Marina oftentimes or Papa's Taverna off Lakeville Highway on other occasions, I got to know the Dave by knowing the river. Not flashy but substantive, a varied landscape of shiny cruisers and sunken wrecks, spartina grass choking some channels (which volunteers pulled out from their kayaks) and great expanses of wide, Mississippi style muddy water where a "flying boat" landed once next to a group of us. In his thigh-high mud boots, jeans and felt green shami shirts he was the real deal. I took to referring to him as a "marsh monkey" the way he adroitly hopped from boat to mud to tule patch while often dragging a kayak or even paddler who had gotten stuck in the mire.

Along with his wonderful wife Betty, Dave interpreted, cleaned up and advocated for the Petaluma River like no one in recent memory. Picnics were laid out, "string music" was most often made and great plans were unveiled for McNear Peninsula, a fallen barn here or a small cabin on piers lost in the folds of the sloughs.

Not long after we met, and the same year we crossed paths in Yosemite at a music festival and ended up playing late into the night, Dave had dropped a favorite pipe in some tall grass near the edge of the river on one particular river cleanup. While car batteries, auto tires and small hillocks of Styrofoam were being offloaded into a dumpster by kayakers - yes kayakers with full sized auto tires strapped to their decks that had been extricated from the muck at low tide - Dave turned his back on the spot he had lost his pipe and gave it up for lost. As my dear wife, Lee, knows I loathe giving up on lost items that are within a few steps and alluding capture owing to camouflage or diminishing daylight.

"Where'd you lose it" I asked after Dave had lamented his hopeless effort. "Oh, back over here..." he paced over twenty feet away as if rationalizing a chance to look one last time. I took an interest in this effort and told him we had to do it, as we searched on our knees. With the sound of large items being tossed into the dumpster from the trash cleanup efforts earlier in the day we crawled in our mud boots through the grass at Alman Marsh in what was only a 30 square foot area. "Is this it?" I asked with a wry smile as I raised a beautiful wood and hand-polished-to-glass-smoothness pipe aloft from my kneeling position. Dave lit up, "that's it!"

While the past several years have afforded me increasingly less time to be out with my fellow community members in the field and on flotillas with Dave and Betty on their beloved, "Petaloo," I have watched their efforts with great interest at McNear Peninsula (the barn to be renamed in Dave's honor) and up and down the river. So it was with sadness that I heard earlier this year of Dave's health turn with a cancer that came on with a tide that simply refused to turn and ebb.

DMY passed away on Labor Day, and a beautiful ‘sacred fire' was lit for him and tended by hundreds of friends day and night over the course of the next four days after he died at dawn. All this took place by the river, and mutual friend and musician Andy Rogers and I were fortunate to attend the final evening's fire in order to play a few tunes in Dave's honor with some other fine friends and musicians that loved Dave the father, grandfather, husband, brother, keeper of the river and its subtle beauties so easy to overlook. The tunes were a mix of joy and melancholy, and if spirits dwell a time in this earth it's unlikely that the marsh monkey himself wasn't there mixed with the marine layer chill as strains of Guthrie and Prine, Leadbelly and Alvin drifted with the smoke out over the River.

Dave's lesson in life, like his straight-forward acoustic music and passion for the river - at least per my recollection - is quite simple, it's finding that place that you connect with (some of us refer to it as a "sense of place") and allowing it to shape you as you shape it. Dave did this for the benefit of the river as a wild ecosystem and as a place for people to celebrate and to "come down home to." Unlike his favored pipe, Dave of the Petaluma River won't be coming our way again now that we've lost him. Finding that place to make our stand, to advocate for, to dig our heels in and treat with respect and share with others, however, is something we can - and should all - take from the example of Dave's life.

For more reflections on David Yearsley, visit Friends of the Petaluma River webpage

Craig Anderson
LandPaths Executive Director

Position Announcement - LandPaths Communications and Outreach Coordinator

info@landpaths.org — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:43:00 PST

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT | Printable PDF here

Communications and Outreach Coordinator

Position Summary

LandPaths is seeking a self-motivated, energetic, and creative individual who excels in a fast- paced creative environment and thinks both strategically and logistically. The Communications Coordinator provides assistance with many communication and outreach efforts for the organization. Reporting to the Communications Director and working closely with the Development Director and other senior staff, the Communications Coordinator will assist with structuring and implementing an integrated community engagement and public relations program.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Overall:
• Enhance and improve public understanding of LandPaths' mission, programs, and impact-telling our story.
• Work with staff to further develop a comprehensive communication and outreach program that effectively communicates LandPaths' mission, goals, and impact to new markets and diverse audiences.

Online Communication:
• Coordinate weekly eNews schedule and develop workflow schedule for gathering content from program directors.
• Grow LandPaths social media presence.
• Solicit content from program directors and assist in developing content that highlight the accomplishments and major events related to program activities.
• Oversee content for www.LandPaths.org, including blogs and online Outings Calendar.
• Develop video as a technique for telling LandPaths story.
• Integrate technologies that can be used to effectively share stories, videos, presentations, photos and other content.

Collateral Materials & Media:
• Help create and maintain print and digital portfolios of organization and individual program materials and media.
• Consult on content and design of collateral materials.
• Assist with press releases and community relations as needed.

Qualifications:
• Excellent organization, writing and oral communication skills.
• Bilingual / bicultural desirable.
• Minimum three years experience in visual media and/or communications.
• Strong skills and experience with digital media and the internet, knowledge of content management and integrated systems.
• Demonstrated graphic skills including photography and videography.
• Proficiency with desktop publishing/page layout/photo/video editing software highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience; minimum 10 hours per week.

To Apply: Interested applicants should send a BRIEF AND SPECIFIC cover letter and resume, by Friday., Sept. 30, 2011 to: LandPaths ~ attn Jonathan - jonathan@LandPaths.org

About LandPaths
LandPaths is a Sonoma County-based nonprofit organization "dedicated to fostering a love of the land through public access, stewardship and environmental education programs" (our mission) on preserved lands. LandPaths staff and volunteers work with public agencies, community groups, individuals and other nonprofits in order to accomplish this mission. LandPaths includes 15 staff, 6 board members and scores of core volunteers. More info at www.LandPaths.org.

REI helps power LandPaths' People Powered Parks

info@landpaths.org — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:12:00 PST

For the second year running, REI Santa Rosa will support LandPaths' People Powered Parks initiative!

This is not just an opportunity to run a few programs -- this is an investment in the future of local parks. LandPaths' People Powered Parks is a model to steward local parks (a City and State Park in this case) and fulfill our mission - connecting people with the land. People Powered Parks (P3) brings the park visitor closer to land through hands-on stewardship. P3 also helps keep parks open by sharing the responsibility for parks with the community.

In addition to park stewardship, we will increase collaboration among volunteer leaders at Bayer Farm and Willow Creek. Though these parks are very different, they both offer opportunities to connect with the land, plenty of cross-project pollinating problem-solving, and community-building.

We invite you to come along as well! Bayer Farm hosts a workday on August 27^th in partnership with REI Santa Rosa to work on the winter gardens and begin the creation of a native/drought-resistant planting area (which is a project, incidentally, led by two of our park-powering people from Roseland, super-volunteer Gary Balcerak and Eagle Scout Taylor!) REI staff will be there helping and giving out volunteer goodies. Snacks are provided, and it is all-ages appropriate, so come on over and help Power this Park with us!

REI will also help LandPaths celebrate National Public Lands Day with a big trail upgrade extravaganza on Sept. 24. If you like to bike, hike or horseback ride, put this one on your calendar now!

With all this People Power and outdoor stewardship fun, it is definitely going to be a great year at LandPaths! Thanks REI!

And a special thanks to the City of Santa Rosa (owners of Bayer Farm) and California State Parks (owners of Willow Creek addition to Sonoma Coast State Park) for working with us on this innovative approach to public access, community engagement, and land stewardship.

LandPaths Director sings with US Senator Stabenow

info@landpaths.org — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:34:00 PST

The folk-roots-Americana band Cahoots that I play with provided entertainment at a local food summit in Marin County late Sunday afternoon, August 14. The event "in support of locally sourced and healthy school lunches & community gardens" focused on more urban gardens and legislation mandating school lunches of locally-sourced produce.

United States Senator and Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture Debbie Stabenow was a large part of the event and at the end of our set she approached the stage and told us of her singing in coffee houses as a young woman - to which I invited her up to the stage to sing "Teach Your Children Well" with us. As you can see, she did! A rousing rendition with Senator Stabenow on harmony vocal had the crowd on their feet. A nod of appreciation to community change agents for good Susie Tompkins Buell, Quincey and Dan Imhoff who made this all happen.

~Craig, LandPaths executive director

For more information on Senator Debbie Stabenow you can visit her website at: http://stabenow.senate.gov/

Molsberry Market joins eScrip!

info@landpaths.org — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 9:52:00 PST

Here's a super easy way to help LandPaths, support local business, and get your grocery shopping done at the same time! Molsberry Market has joined the eScrip program - a terrific program that allows shoppers to designate a percentage of each purchase to LandPaths (or other non-profit). Oliver's Market has been a long-time partner with LandPaths through eScrip and we are excited that Molsberry Market will offer another opportunity for customers to support LandPaths. Visit Molsberry Market or Oliver's Market to get your Community Card and let them know you'd like to support LandPaths.

Owl Camp a Big Hoot!

info@landpaths.org — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:55:00 PST

What an amazing summer for Owl Camp! We’re back from three packed weeks of laughter, creativity, & outdoor adventure. This was the second year for LandPaths nature based summer camp and it just keeps getting better.

“This was the greatest day ever!” ~Ella Elk age 6

We hiked to the top of “Buzzard’s Roost” exploring under rocks and logs, finding critters along the way. We learned how to make walking sticks & birdhouses with volunteer Richard “Mapache” Baril, bows & arrows, gourd rattles and dream-catchers. And what would camp be without fort building in the redwoods? We had some budding architects at camp this year.

“I hope I’m not sick during Owl Camp! Can we do four weeks next year?” ~Mushroom-Bear Jack, age 6

Each Wednesday was garden day. With the help of our wonderful volunteer, Mountain-lion Megan, the campers harvested & cooked their own snack from our organic garden. And of course, the weed pulling races were a blast!

“How do I become an Owl Camp counselor-in-training?” ~Brent age 10

Canoe day was a big favorite for all the kids. Many of the campers had never been in boats before and fell in love with the pond. The highlights included canoe races, hundreds of beautifully colored dragonflies, and an otter sighting.

“This is swimtastic!” ~Riley Redwood age 7

A new addition to Owl Camp this year was a weekly visit from the Bird Rescue Center. We met a Great-Horned owl named Jazz, a Red-tailed hawk named Star, a Barn Owl, and a screech owl with attitude. By the end of week three, those campers who had seen the birds before were experts, hands shooting into the air to answer the other camper's questions. Thank you Bird Rescue Center for visiting camp this year!

A special thanks to:
Tina Hannon, J. Cochran , Nancy & Bob Aita , John Dolinsek & Kathy Kent, The Sunrise Rotary club, Patrick Emery, Gary Abreim, Wendy Born, Susan Head, Alicia Nourse, Iris Moore, Erin Moilanen, Patricia Currie, and Kay Ashbrook for donating to our Owl Camp Scholarship Fund allowing for many kids to attend camp - some for the first time!

“Thank you for helping us come to camp. I liked swimming in the creek and canoeing in the pond. I made a dream-catcher and found turkey & goose feathers.” ~Love, Dani age 5

Thank you to the amazing volunteers who came to play with us at camp: Matt “Madrone” Lopez, Richard “Mapache” Baril, Randy “Raccoon” Urry, “Tall Dude” Jim Moir, “Lizard” Liz Landreth, Lani "Leaf", Samantha “Salamander”, “Mountain Lion” Megan Wilson, Wendy Quintana, Kathy “Caterpillar” Laffan, “Jurassic” John Branscome, and Jim Weathers for his beautiful photographs!

And thank you to all of the parents & friends who donated crafting supplies, Linda & Tom Hauk for loaning us canoes, The Sunrise Rotary Club for the gift of compost, and Jim & Betty Doerksen for sharing your amazing land with us!

Again, thank you to everyone who made Owl Camp such an amazing experience this year! We're already looking forward to next year - hope you are too!
-Justin, Bree, Meg, Heather and the rest of the LandPaths crew

p.s. Camp sessions filled up fast this year. If you'd like to be the first to know about Own Camp 2012 (and lots of other fun LandPaths activities), sign up for our weekly eNews here.

Totally Truckin Thursdays

info@landpaths.org — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:16:00 PST

Every Thursday in August, Fork Catering (along with a few others) have food trucks placed at O’Reilly Media’s parking lot in Sebastopol from 11:30 - 2:30 PM. 10% of the proceeds from the food sales go to a different non-profit organization. LandPaths has been chosen to be the lucky recipient each Thursday during the month of August. Each Thursday, we’ll put the donations toward a different program:

Thursday, August 4^th - The Grove of Old Trees;

Thursday, August 11^th - Bayer Farm

Thursday, August 18^th – IooBY

Thursday, August 25^th – Willow Creek

More info:

http://sebastopol.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2011/05/news/food-truck-gathering-finds-new-home/

Hot Bands, Cold Beer & Creekside fun: Fall Festival at Ranchero Mark West, 7125 St. Helena Road, Santa Rosa

info@landpaths.org — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:27:00 PST

Wanna have some fun on Oct. 22nd?

Celebrate changing seasons & the return of 27 native coho, listen to some great music, & learn how LandPaths is working to make the beautiful Ranchero Mark West accessible to Sonoma County forever.

WHERE: Ranchero Mark West, 7125 St. Helena Road just northeast of Santa Rosa (map and directions below)

Five smokin' hot live bands playing jazz, rock, bluegrass & more, easy creek & redwood hikes, fly fishing demos, tons of fun "LandPaths style" kids activities, Lagunitas beer, Barefoot wine, local food & much more.

Suggested donation: $20 adults ($5 kids over 7) - no one turned away for lack of funds.

Food and drinks available for purchase

RSVPs appreciated: outings@LandPaths.org or on our Facebook event pag e.

Performing On The Historic Barn Stage:

- Doug Lipton Trio
- Kunkel & Harris
- Mighty Chiplings
- Sweet Vintage Duo
- Cahoots

Fun For The Whole Family:

- Fly Fishing Demos led by Russian River Fly Fishers
- Hiking Tours
- Kids activities
- Food Trucks (Rosso's Pizzeria; Chicago Style Hot Dogs Ultimate Souvlaki; Foxy Cupcakes)
- Local libations by Lagunitas, Barefoot, and Sungo

WHERE: 7125 St. Helena Rd, Santa Rosa

Special Thanks to our Title Sponsor CALPINE

Backyard Adventure - Crane Creek Regional Park

info@landpaths.org — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 8:49:00 PST

Tucked away in the hills just east of Sonoma State University is a 128 acre regional park that’s perfect for a quick afternoon escape. My wife and I headed out the other day for a quick afternoon hike. Getting to Crane Creek was easy as we travelled Petaluma Hill Road south past SSU and followed the signs to the park.

When we arrived we headed to the picnic tables to enjoy our lunch before heading out to check out the park. It was here that I had my only negative experience with the park. Within seconds of sitting down I felt something crawling up my leg. When I looked down I found a large tick climbing my calf. I quickly removed it and moved up onto the table to finish lunch. Happily it was the only tick we came across while we were out there though we heard from others on the trail they had all run into them as well.

After lunch we headed out into the park for our short hike. We decided to take the Fiddleneck trail and quickly found ourselves overlooking the south Santa Rosa plain. The park sits above the plain in the rolling hills so as you crest a hill it often opens to a spectacular view of the plain. On days like when we were there, you could also see the fog starting to fall over the hills in the distance filling in the valley below. It was because of that fog that a cool breeze chilled the air slightly but once we were hiking it was a refreshing feel.

From our view of the plain we descended into an oak grassland. The trail was well defined but the grass on either side has grown up waist high and changed to that California gold color I’ve come to love. We stopped briefly to watch a raptor hover above the adjacent field awaiting the small movement of the grass as a rodent moved through. We watched as he abruptly dropped from the sky and hit the ground only to come up empty and start the process over again.

There were still a few wildflowers growing along the sides of the trail but nothing compared to what the peak season is supposed to be like. We followed the Fiddleneck Trail to the Northern Loop cut off and through an old stand of Oak Trees. We then crossed a dried creek bed and headed up to the base of a hill where an ocean of grass swayed. You could watch as the breeze hit one end of the field and slowly pushed its way across to the other side.

We headed up the hill and to our best view of the hike. Sunset Trail overlook would be the perfect place to watch the sunset. It rises above the rest of the park and offers the best views west out onto Rohnert Park and north to Santa Rosa or south back across the park. We paused for a view at the top to enjoy the view with another couple and their large German Shepherd (yes dogs are allowed here). After our pause we headed back down the trail and finished our circuit around the park and to the car. All told it took us about an hour and was just over 2 miles.

If you are in the Rohnert Park area and need a quick connection with the land this is a great spot to head to. Oh, and I almost forgot, for those disc golfers out there it also offers a full 18 hole course. I’ve never tried the sport before so I can’t say what kind of difficulty it is, but the scenery doesn’t get much better. So head on out and enjoy Crane Creek Regional Park.

Backyard Adventures are a series of posts written by LandPaths to encourage Sonoma County residents to explore their own backyards.

Inside E Street visits Bayer Farm

info@landpaths.org — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:07:00 PST

Hot on the heals of last weeks updates on Bayer Farm we got an email this morning about a AARP/KQED program that features the great work being done. Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown talks about the actions the county is taking to transition health from a focus on sickness and disease to wellness and health.

You can jump to about 4:45 into the video to see the Sonoma County specific portion which features Bayer Farm. We want to thank the "Inside E Street" crew for coming out and showing how a focus on community and health can create amazing places.

Volunteer Spotlight - Ivan Chang

info@landpaths.org — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:56:00 PST

    Ivan Chang is an indispensable volunteer for us here at LandPaths, and we appreciate all the ways in which he embraces and enhances our mission and community! In the video below you have the opportunity to see him in action as the lead coordinator for the Summer Free Lunch Program, held at Bayer Farm throughout the summer in partnership with the Redwood Empire Food Bank and St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Services Department. In it he talks about how he came to LandPaths, his interest in volunteering and his future goals, and also highlights some of the great aspects of this incredible program that is held five days a week all summer long at Bayer Farm!

    What there isn’t room to highlight in the video is all of the other ways in which Ivan supports LandPaths and the community by getting involved and – in the mark of a true leader – bringing others in to get involved as well. It has been a true pleasure to work with this dynamic young man. He doesn’t just volunteer, he brings others to volunteer with him. He doesn’t just show up, he pitches in. And he never is content to sit on his laurels, but is always looking for the next experience or challenge to tackle. His volunteer work with LandPaths is extensive, ranging from coordinating teens on projects at Bayer Farm to serving on the Bayer Farm Park Planning Steering Committee, from helping with outreach and day-of logistics for Spanish-language Taylor Mountain Permit Orientations to helping to lead a campout in the pouring rain, and always with a sense of humor. He is currently taking a week off of work to attend a National Leadership Training held by Gamaliel International, a community organizing foundation that we at LandPaths are affiliated with as part of the North Bay Organizing Project, in order to expand his skills and effectiveness at community organizing even further.

    We could not be more proud of this incredible volunteer, or more thrilled to have our work be one of his outlets for building a stronger community! Thank you Ivan, for your help, your wisdom, your wit and your time. Your impact on LandPaths, and the community at large, is significant and valued tremendously!

   El joven Ivan Chang es un voluntario indispensable para nosotros aquí en LandPaths, y ¡le agradecemos por todas las maneras en que sus acciones personifican y aumentan nuestra misión y comunidad! En el video que sale abajo, usted tiene la oportunidad de verlo en acción como el coordinador principal para el Programa de Almuerzos Gratis del Verano, que se realiza en Bayer Farm durante todo el verano, en sociedad con el Redwood Empire Food Bank y St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Services Department. En el video Ivan habla sobre como llegó a nosotros en LandPaths, su interés en el voluntariado y sus metas futuras y también destaca algunas de los aspectos claves de este programa increíble que ¡toma lugar en Bayer Farm cinco días de la semana por todo el verano!

    Lo que no alcanza a incluir en el video son todas las otras maneras en que Ivan apoya a LandPaths y a la comunidad a través de involucrarse y – como hace un verdadero líder – llevar a otros para poder involucrarse también. Ha sido un verdadero placer a trabajar con este joven dinámico. No sólo se hace voluntario, lleva otros a ayudar también. No sólo llega, pero es siempre echando una mano. Y él nunca se siente satisfecho con lo que ya ha hecho, más bien es siempre en busca de la próxima experiencia o reto para enfrentar. Sus trabajos voluntarios con LandPaths son extensos, extendiendo de ayudando a jóvenes con proyectos en Bayer Farm a sirviendo en la mesa directiva para la planificación del parque, de apoyando con el alcance y realización de una orientación para Taylor Mountain en español a ayudando con un campamento en la plena lluvia, y siempre con un sentido de humor. Actualmente está tomando un descanso de su trabajo por una semana entera para asistir a un Entrenamiento de Liderazgo Nacional con Gamaliel Internacional, una fundación que se dedica a la organización de comunidades, y con quienes estamos afiliados a través del Proyecto Organizativo del Norte de la Bahia, para poder amplificar aun más sus habilidades y potencial para organizar en la comunidad.

    No podríamos sentir más orgullo de este voluntario increíble, o sentir más entusiasmados a que nuestro trabajo sirve como manera para que él pueda construir una comunidad más fuerte. Gracias Ivan, por tu apoyo, tu sabiduría, tu humor y tu tiempo. ¡Tu impacto en LandPaths, y en toda la comunidad, es significante y de gran valor!

Summer at Bayer and Partnerships Galore!

info@landpaths.org — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 9:12:00 PST

It is summer again at Bayer Farm and we are once again thrilled to have awesome volunteer-run programs in partnership with great fellow community-serving organizations!

One example is the amazing new resource installed at Bayer by the Sonoma County Free Bookmobile, a mobile library stocked full of books!! This mobile library is on a long-term loan from SCFB and is an amazing resource that is now available to our community. We hope you will visit their website http://www.sonomacountybookmobile.org/ and help them out with their new matching grant!

We agree with ED Glen Weaver who states, “We are just thrilled that the families in this low-income neighborhood will have continual access to high quality free books, and that this long-term loan of facilities will essentially double our presence in the county. It helps address one of the most serious problems created by recent cuts to education: access to literacy materials. The Free Bookmobile will continue to seek creative solutions to this problem, and we welcome your support.” Thanks Sonoma County Free Bookmobile, the kids really love their new books!!

By working in collaboration with partner organizations we are able to maximize our impact! None of it could happen, though, without the dedication of our amazing community volunteers. Although too numerous to list here individually, our volunteers are amazing people who find time to make the world a better place for themselves and their neighbors by volunteering at LandPaths’ Bayer Farm. We are so thankful for their participation and dedication to all that is positive and wonderful in the world!!

We would like to also thank partner organizations St. Joseph’s www.stjosephhealth.org/Services/Community-Outreach-Programs and Redwood Empire Food Bank www.refb.org for their work with the Free Lunch Program – we are honored to once again host the program at Bayer Farm and to amplify all of our impact by working together. The coordination and delivery of the hot lunches to the children of the Roseland neighborhood by REFB, coupled with the volunteer support and coordination offered by the Neighborhood Care Staff of St. Joseph’s, makes this program stable and effective, and allows us at LandPaths to work with volunteers to program garden and outdoor activities that offer enrichment, education, access to open space, and community building.

Here’s to another summer of community, the outdoors, gardening, fun and health!!

IOOBY Summer Scoop 2011

info@landpaths.org — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:17:00 PST

This summer IOOBY is experiencing some changes. We welcome a new staff member Jackrabbit Justin, as LandPaths Assistant Education Director. Justin hails from Arkansas, and most recently from Tennessee. He brings years of teaching about the environment to various age groups, from elementary to high school students. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and has enjoyed working with the Hispanic community in Tennessee as an interpreter. We are excited to have him join the LP team, bringing his knowledge and enthusiasm for kids and the outdoors to our beautiful county. Please welcome him to the LandPaths community.

Another change at IOOBY this summer is that Bree Bird is pregnant. Thanks right folks, I’m expecting my first baby in November. If you know me, you know I love kids and I am so excited about becoming a mom. My baby (and belly) are growing steadily and I look forward to introducing the little one to the LandPaths community in winter. My husband, baby-to-be, two joyous dogs, and I will be taking a road trip this summer to check out the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, the 50th state for yours truly to visit; then I will have been to them all! Wishing you a fantastic summer filled with outdoor adventures. –Bree Bird

IOOBY Summary 2010-11

Stewardship

IOOBY held 31 stewardship days this year. All kinds of projects were undertaken to help take care of the land. Students removed non-native plants, planted native plants, protected native tree saplings with tree protecting tubes, planted veggies and flowers at our farm, cleaned bird boxes and collected data on what they found inside, created and distributed fliers to neighbors detailing their stewardship project, created and hung up beautiful creek flags about their stewardship projects for neighbors to see.

Total results for the year from IOOBY students, parents, teachers, and volunteer stewardship include:

658 natives planted
200 farm veggies and flowers planted
140 education fliers distributed
91 Creek flags created and displayed
65 Native saplings protected
56 Bird boxes cleaned
55 Non-natives removed including fennel plants, dozens of teasel,
2 cubic yards each of lemon balm, English Ivy, and Himalayan Blackberry removed
1 cubic yard of French broom removed
1 new IOOBY staff member!

Program Highlights

Alexander Valley students pulled a cubic yard of broom, removed 20 fennel plants and roots, dug out dozens of teasel roots, and distributed over 60 fliers to the neighbors informing them of their experiences at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve.
Two classes of Brook Hill 6th graders planted 39 native riparian plants along Matanzas Creek across from their school and created more than a dozen creek flags to let neighbors know about the project.
With Windsor High’s help Cali Calemecac 6th graders planted 150 native redwood understory plants and removed two cubic yards of non-native, invasive Lemon balm at Riverfront Park.
Doyle Park planted 38 native plants, removed 2 cubic yards of English ivy, and created two dozen creek flags to let neighbors know about the project along Matanzas Creek.
Flowery planted 199 native grass plugs at Glen Oaks Ranch!
Helen Lehman cleaned out and recorded data on many of the 33 bird boxes at the Doerksen’s Ranchero Mark West. They also protected more than 35 native saplings on the property. While protecting the trees, they also took time to name them.
Hidden Valley cleaned out and recorded data on many of the 33 bird boxes at the Doerksen’s Ranchero Mark West. They also protected more than 30 native saplings on the property. While protecting the trees, they also took time to name them.
Kawana removed 35 non-native fennel plants along Colgan Creek. They also planted 8 native riparian plants and created 10 creek flags.
Lincoln 3rd graders planted 50 redwood sorrel at the Doerksen’s Ranchero Mark West.
Lincoln 4th graders removed 1 cubic yard of non-native blackberries and planted 21 native plants at Poppy Creek.
Live Oak planted 60 native plants at Ellis Creek/Petaluma Marsh.
River Montessori planted 40 native plants at Ellis Creek/Petaluma Marsh.
Roseland and Sheppard stewarded Bayer Farm, planting hundreds of veggies, flowers and native plants, tending the compost, harvesting ripe food, and creating delicious farm cooked meals. “I hauled 22 wheelbarrows full of mulch. Now I’m tired and I want to take a nap.” –Jon Jay
Steele Lane 3rd graders distributed more than 80 fliers to neighbors telling them about Poppy Creek and their planting project. They planted 23 native plants and removed 1 cubic yard of non-native blackberry. They also created 30 creek flags to share with the neighbors about their efforts to steward Poppy Creek.
SunRidge 5th graders cleaned out 23 bird boxes at the Laguna Uplands and recorded data
on what they found inside. They also created 15 creek flags to share with their school the work they did to help take care of the Laguna Uplands.

Volunteers

This year IOOBY had 516 volunteers come out on IOOBY field days. These volunteers donated more than 3,096 hours of their time to the IOOBY program, mentoring Sonoma County students about nature. This is 528 more volunteer hours for IOOBY than last year! We are so grateful to you all for your dedication to teaching students the wonders of the outdoors! We would especially like to recognize our ever dedicated volunteers: Johnny Junco, Duck Dave, Dragonfly Dave, Lizard Liz, Kathy Caterpillar, Randy Raccoon, Matt Madrone, Mary Manzanita, Peregrine Pat, Laura Flora, Cougar Kyle, Puma Pat, Mountain Lion Marta, Ginger George, Dani Dirt, Eva Evergreen, Lani Leaf and Sean Scorpion! Thank you thank you thank you!

Quotes
“Thank you for taking us to Ranchero Mark West. It was so fun I though I was going to blow up. I like the parts when we went looking for fish and other lake animals and lizards”. Your friend, Jesse, IOOBY 3rd grader

“I’m really glad I chose to join LandPaths because I was able to learn about and see a variety of habitats I would have never known about. I also think it’s really rewarding to see our new plants thriving and taking back the riparian habitat at Riverfront Park. After working with and teaching younger students, I feel a lot better about public speaking and am more comfortable giving presentations. Joining LandPaths was a very beneficial experience, and I can’t help but look after the environment more than ever.”
–Kevin Kingsnake, IOOBY high school student

‘This year in LandPaths was awesome. Working with the kids was really fun. I remember doing the same thing when I went to Cali. Coming to Riverfront Park every other Friday was soothing, even if it was pouring rain outside. I have learned a lot about the outdoors and this makes me want to travel and be outdoors all of the time. This park is beautiful!” -Tyler Tarantula, IOOBY high school student

Partners

IOOBY would like to thank our many partners, who make IOOBY possible. Partners include: the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, the Sonoma County Community Foundation, the Dean Witter Foundation, the Medtronic Foundation, the Sonoma Valley Fund, Calpine, Save the Redwoods League, donations from individual LandPaths supporters, the City of Santa Rosa Creek Stewardship Program, Sonoma County Regional Parks, Sonoma Land Trust, the City of Petaluma and the Ellis Creek Treatment Facility, STRAW of PRBO, the Laguna Foundation, the Doerksens, and all of the Sonoma County teachers and staff we work with.

Parks, People, the Promise & the Parks Alliance

info@landpaths.org — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:59:00 PST

LandPaths' View on the Ongoing Threat to Parks in Sonoma County

Parks are our most essential "commons" and we all simply cannot allow them to be closed and made off limits to our community. Period, end of story.

NEW! LandPaths has joined the newly forming Parks Alliance for Sonoma County to discuss the crisis and to work toward creative solutions at the local level.

While the issue will continue to morph over the coming months and years with budget allotments, federal mandates and possible park-funding legislation or bond measures, the essential story line that parks are going continue to be underfunded – with resulting reduced programs for our people and stewardship for the land – requires of us to come up with new paradigms that are solution-oriented and imbued with an old fashioned can-do attitude.

Why are parks so important? Right now we must all consider that a) driving farther to recreate contributes to melting our planet’s ice caps, b) our kids are increasingly obese and many would stay indoors to be hypnotized by every manner of entertainment, and most importantly, c) we know that having a connection with nature close to where we live profoundly, and in so many ways, betters us as people and aids the natural world. This happens in no small way by the choices we make because of knowing land, water, farming and the beauty and fragility of the wilds. Plus, more parks now means more places for wildness to exist and watersheds to function as watersheds providing clean water to all living things!

Please, continue to pay attention and lean into that act of participatory citizenry that makes our country, this state and in particular Sonoma County great.

LandPaths and the Promise

We are working closely on this issue with our sister nonprofits, public park and open space agencies and elected officials to advocate for fully funded parks at all levels: city, county and state. LandPaths has joined the newly forming Parks Alliance for Sonoma County to discuss the crisis and to work toward creative solutions at the local level.

It is LandPaths opinion that it’s going to take more than funding to fix parks, and that we need to not just sustain parks at their current understaffed levels…but to recreate what parks truly should be with engaging interpretive programs, school groups using them daily and as places that are safe and welcoming for people of all ages and abilities.

Ultimately, this provides an enormous opportunity for a close collaboration between public agencies and nonprofits such as LandPaths. That is, we will all have to bring our core competencies to the table - public park agencies with their land management might and know how, law enforcement and fire management and response – and nonprofits with their ability to provide programs to thousands of residents, rally the community in creative ways and to be the eyes and ears on the trail and beyond.

Since the announcements were made regarding the closure of Annadel, Jack London and Sugarloaf Ridge State Parks, I have met or spoken by phone with Santa Rosa City Parks Director Mark Richardson, three of our County supervisors, Assemblymembers Michael Allen and Jared Huffman, State Senator Noreen Evans and US Representative Lynn Woolsey’s staff. They all share the urgency of keeping our public lands open to our people and the natural systems that provide this incredible opportunity to connect with the land healthy!

Through LandPaths combined volunteer and staff sweat equity investments (aka "People Power") we have been able to actually open new parks (Willow Creek, Grove of the Old Trees and others) and we are humbled by the fact that we currently manage public use – and in many places provide land stewardship – at parks at the city, county and state level. Specifically, we work with our sister agencies in providing access and volunteer stewardship on over 6000 acres alone in Sonoma County – some of those being private lands that are funded solely by the community.

In the past 10 years in particular we have piloted the new "free permit for use in exchange for your help in stewarding." While all of us would rather these lands be fully funded and open as parks historically were, we realize that if we did not step up to provide for these people-powered-parks that a number of these parks would never have opened in the first place. We stepped in originally in 1997 to manage otherwise closed parks – and the need has continued to grow.

In fact, the 3400-acre "People Powered" Willow Creek addition to Sonoma Coast State Park – which LandPaths is proud to work closely with State Parks in managing – has never been considered for the closure list. This is because Willow Creek is supported by the local community through donations and by physical work on the land. This is the LandPaths Promise.

There is an up side to LandPaths’ style of park management: it connects people to land in ways that improve the quality of life.

We at LandPaths feel that we are doing what we can to connect our community with land by providing access for boots, bikes, horses and wheelchairs – and to do that for people in our region of all ages, ethnicities, interests and means. Thank you for your support of LandPaths and its work in our community.

Craig Anderson
Executive Director

Jonathan Glass
Field Programs Director

Here’s what you can do right now:

Support local parks by visiting them, paying entrance fees and purchasing annual local parks passes.
Find local groups like LandPaths, Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods, and other partners to get involved as a volunteer and support us financially. We put your money right to work – and locally – and leverage it mightily in doing the peoples work.
Make your voice heard with your elected officials – contact your County Board of Supervisors, your State Assemblymembers and State Senator, in addition to US House of Representative.
Stay home this weekend, invest locally in businesses in and around parks!
Support LandPaths model of "People Powered Parks"
Stay positive and constructive during the coming months and years and let us know your ideas!
Stay informed - join our enews list or find us on Facebook / Twitter.
YOU are LandPaths – which is short for “land partners through stewardship”

If you’d like to read more on the topic:

Richard Arendt’s challenge to us all in a recent editorial printed in the Press Democrat. Richard is president of the Sonoma-Petaluma State Historic Parks Association.
Fall of the Wild - New York Times opinion by Timothy Egan

Also, check out our recent press coverage of a "Cure For Closed Park Blues":

Press Democrat Close to Home
Sonoma County Gazette, January front page
Go Local Sonoma County - featured news item
LandPaths People Power - blog on our site
Pledging to Keep Annadel Open - blog on our site

Reflections on an AmeriCorps Year with LandPaths? Bayer Farm

info@landpaths.org — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:22:00 PST

By Jesse Froehlich, AmeriCorps Member 2010-2011, Conservation Corps North Bay

As the summer approaches and my AmeriCorps term with LandPaths' Bayer Farm Neighborhood Park & Gardens comes to and end, it's time to reflect and share my experiences with the greater LandPaths community.

It's been a year of learning in the garden, both for me and for the student's I've worked with! My assignment for the year was to work with LandPaths to increase the educational use of Bayer Farm.

Bayer Farm is a 6-acre gem in the heart of Roseland (southwest Santa Rosa), situated within walking distance of three schools. The farm blossoms and blooms in living color throughout the summer and fall, and boasts a stunning view of Taylor Mountain Open Space Preserve, another Sonoma County treasure that is accessible to the public because of LandPaths' programs.

With research to show that outdoor learning environments benefit students with increased amounts of physical activity, a greater ability to focus, and a heightened awareness of the wonders of nature and the value of stewardship, Bayer Farm is just screaming for students to hop across the street and visit!

Throughout the year I hosted classrooms, pre-school groups, and after-school programs at Bayer Farm to enjoy tours, planting, farm-fresh snacks, and other activities at the farm. My flagship project for the year-and the piece that will live on after my term with Bayer Farm ends-was the design and development of the Bayer Farm Independent Visit Program. This new program allows educators in the community to bring groups of kids to the farm as their own schedules permit, and chose from 20+ farm-based educational activities (all bilingual!), covering life sciences, math, arts & humanities, and observation & exploration.

In the last month of my term, I have been completing the activity packages and hosting orientation sessions to certify teachers for the Bayer Farm Independent Visit Program. I'll be excited to hear about the impacts of this program in the community!

The experience was made possible by a partnership between LandPaths and Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB). CCNB hosts 22 AmeriCorps members each year, and disseminates them (us!) to environmental agencies (public and non-profit) throughout Marin and Sonoma counties. All CCNB AmeriCorps members work in the fields of land conservation and restoration, volunteer management, and environmental education.

Help send a child to Owl Camp this summer!

info@landpaths.org — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:06:00 PST

Sponsor an Owl Camper!

"I just want to say that my kids LOVE Owl Camp...nature is the BEST way to go! Thank you so much for making this happen and the sponsorship provided has helped so much! Please extend my gratitude to LandPaths, the landowners and the sponsor. I am one thrilled parent because my kids are SO stimulated when they come home, and they sleep like champs (eat like champs too!)! Thank you, thank you, thank you."

~Parent of two Owl Campers returning this year

Help send a child to Owl Camp this summer! Donate Today!

Donate today and keep Owl Camp - and summer - for all kids!

Scholarships are offered to campers on need, and first-come, first-serve basis. Parents apply for a scholarship by filling out a simple application (available in Spanish & English.) We rarely offer complete scholarships to Owl Camp; instead we ask parents to pay the maximum possible, and offer partial scholarships for one week of camp.

Parents are asked to also assist with car-pooling and other camp logistics. This is a simple way of entering into a real collaboration with families in order to make camp a meaningful and important experience for them.

With your support we will:

• Offer 32 scholarships to Owl Campers in 2011, out of a total of 84 camper slots (38% of all campers!)

• Keep Owl Camp open and available to ALL kids in Sonoma County, regardless of social background and/or financial hurdles

• Reserve 30% of all Owl Camp slots for kids from Spanish-speaking or other minority families

• Allow Owl Campers and their families to participate in a diverse, non-segregated program that reflects ALL of the people who live in Sonoma County

Thank you for helping to keep Owl Camp open and accessible to all kids!

Please donate today.

Owl Camp is a nature-based day camp open to young people aged 5-12. Camp is located at Ranchero Mark West in Northeast Santa Rosa, off St. Helena Road-- a 120-acre preserve with a pristine creek, pond, redwood forest and miles of trails all ready for exploring. Location is about 20 minutes from downtown Santa Rosa.Activities include: storytelling, tracking, creek exploration, archery, swimming, music, keeping a nature journal, building things from nature, music, nature games, learning bird calls, hiking, canoeing, exploring redwood & salmon habitat, woodworking and organic gardening.

Help make a rich, nature-based experience available to ALL children. Please donate today! $150.00 will allow one child to experience Owl Camp and time in nature this year. Every little bit helps!

We rely on donors to help in creating a scholarship fund. This year's scholarship goal is $4800. We have already secured $3600 thanks to support from the Sunrise Rotary Club and the Tina Hannon Scholarship Fund. With your support, we can raise $1200 and meet our goal of 32 scholarships.

LandPaths granted $750,000 to Protect Public Access Legacy

info@landpaths.org — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:11:00 PST

Oakland, Calif. – The State Coastal Conservancy board approved late Thursday a $750,000 grant to LandPaths to purchase an interest in the historic Doerksen Ranch, also known as "Ranchero Mark West," in order to insure public access to the site forever.

Continuing and building on the Doerksen's legacy with public access and nature education as a community initiative is a great opportunity for us and a thrill to be a part of.
~ Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy.

Ranchero Mark West could have a future as a vineyard or a private ranch or something else – with numerous offers of $4 million plus to Jim Doerksen, 72, it could be a lot of things. Instead, Doerksen says, “I imagine kids running through these meadows and following the creek and trails for generations to come, and not having these redwoods – many I’ve planted that now tower over us – cut and the land converted into more vineyards."

LandPaths' youth education program, "In Our Own Backyard," is an example of this vision with 10 schools currently using the site and visiting it 40 times during the school year. The 122-acre ranch just outside Santa Rosa has been used for over 40 years by a broad spectrum of groups, including the Audubon and Native Plant Societies, boy and girl scout troops, professional forestry groups, Junior College, Cal State and University of California classes, hiking clubs, local high and elementary schools and LandPaths. Its proximity to Santa Rosa and a wheel-chair accessible creek-side trail, give this property access for many traditionally "under-served."

___________________________________

"Land Preserved to Educate Kids", May 26 article in the Press Democrat
Photo at left: Leandro "Leaping Frog" Valadez, 10, a third-grader at Steele Lane Elementary School, writes about the animals and plants he discovered along the creek at Rancho Mark West on Monday morning. LandPaths sponsors 10 local schools who visit the site over the year with their "In Our Own Backyard" program. Press Democrat photo by John Burgess, article by Bob Norberg.
___________________________________

"Since we first started allowing the public onto the property to hike, ride and look at everything from flowers and butterflies to mushrooms,” says Jim Doerksen, “I can safely say that over 150,000 people have hiked and enjoyed this part of the Mark West Creek valley.”

The $750,000 grant is a major milestone in the purchase process but LandPaths will be looking locally to raise the remaining $250,000 for the deal to be finalized.

“A beautiful, historic ranch with trails, creek, redwood forest, barns and meadows, and a commitment for it to be stewarded for public benefit forever all for the purchase price of 1 million dollars,” said LandPaths Executive Director Craig Anderson, “that’s a deal you embrace with the arms of a bear.”

After the Doerksens’ lifetimes the ranch will be transferred to LandPaths. The nonprofit will manage the property as a nature preserve and near-urban environmental education center for the tens of thousands of children in Sonoma County that currently have limited assess to similar facilities locally. The property is within a short distance of the Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve, a county-owned property slated for future public access that could conveivably be, together with Doerksens’ land, part of a long-distance trail connecting several parks and protected lands in the Mayacamas Mountains.

Doerksen sold the development rights away initially in 1993 to the then new Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. This additional funding ensures that the legacy of public hiking and nature education will continue. Additionally, this grant adds on theDistrict’s effort to protect the Mark West Creek watershed, and important salmon-bearing stream and one of the most bioligically diverse areas of the County.

“The Doerksens have allowed the public to use their property in a truly remarkable way,” says Amy Hutzel, Bay Program Head for the Coastal Conservancy, “and the Conservancy wants to see that continue forever. Having a partner like LandPaths that can provide for this stewardship and public use is the perfect fit.”

The purchase of a remainder interest in the property by the nonprofit LandPaths comes at an interesting time, given recent announcements of pending state park closures. “Continuing and building on the Doerksen’s legacy with public access and nature education as a community initiative is a great opportunity for us and a thrill to be a part of” says Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy.

After the vote was taken Coastal Conservancy Board Chair Douglas Bosco, a Santa Rosa attorney and former congressman from the north coast, said “the work at Bayer Farm piloted by LandPaths in connecting urban kids in meaningful ways to the land is truly extraordinary and we thank you. Ranchero Mark West and the vision for its use ensures that all of Sonoma County has access to the outdoors.”

LandPaths currently provides access to city, county and state-owned lands in Sonoma County that would otherwise be closed to public use – with more than half of the 6000 acres managed being funded by private donations, grants and business partnerships. In addition, LandPaths owns and stewards one of the only privately-owned, free and open to the public nature preserves in Sonoma County, the 35-acre Grove of Old Trees outside Occidental.

Pledging to Keep Annadel and all our Parks Open

info@landpaths.org — Tue, 17 May 2011 11:16:00 PST

Santa Rosa, CA -- When the State Parks closure list was issued on Friday, the news rippled through the outdoor community in Santa Rosa. Many local favorites were on the list including Annadel State Park, a beloved park for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians.

“After the initial shock, we knew we had to try to be a part of the solution so we started a pledge drive to see what kind of community support we have for keeping Annadel open.”

The pledge drive started late Friday afternoon garnered attention online over the weekend as people sought a way to voice their concerns over the scheduled park closure. This morning the drive received it’s 1,000 pledge.

“It’s outstanding just how quickly this drive has taken off,” said Glass. “Annadel has a strong group of supporters that don’t want to see it it shut down and this pledge gives them the opportunity to voice their support.”

The pledge that LandPaths has posted online asks people to commit to being a part of the solution to the parks closure crisis through trail monitoring, stewardship and responsible use.

“We are working with a broad coalition of partners to develop creative responses to this crisis. We believe the public will is there; we can find a way to save Annadel and our other local gems,” said Glass.

The number of pledges and the comments left on the pledge website show there is the will to keep it open. “Parks! The last symbol of democracy,” said Gary Hochman. “The poor, the rich, the weak, the strong, we all use the parks. Annadel is a regional treasure and is too precious and important to be closed.”

Commenters were also quick to offer suggestions on how to keep the park open with some volunteering to work a shift and other suggesting the park find a rich benefactor. Everyone is in agreement that open access needs to remain.

"This is one of the most popular and well used parks I have ever been in. It is in the middle of a Santa Rosa and people of all ages walk, run, bicycle and horse back ride here,” said Sally Churgel on the pledge webpage. Jeff Mitchell agreed writing “Annadel is a rare gem of a truely wild park in an urban area. It's used and loved by thousands of people every week. Please keep it open!”

“I support the petition presented by Land Paths, want to be part of the solution to keep Annadel open, and echo the sentiments of many other folks before me on this comment string,” said Shannon Sobeck. “Annadel is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle for countless individuals in our community and a major reason I live and work nearby. Let's figure this out!”

“We believe that the State should fully fund all of the parks but we will also be seeking ‘people powered’ solutions to keep them open,” said Glass. “This drive shows just how important parks are to everyone and as a community I believe we will come up with an answer.”

For those interested in pledging to be a part of the solution visit the pledge page at http://www.change.org/petitions/pledge-to-help-keep-annadel-state-park-open.

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »

Bayer Farm Independent Visit Program

info@landpaths.org — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:32:00 PST

Hello from Bayer Farm in Roseland!

The farm is beginning to bloom and liveliness in the garden will continue to increase throughout the summer and into late fall. To get the most out of this beautiful 6-acre Farm-Park in Roseland (southwest Santa Rosa), we are launching a new program for teachers and students!

LANDPATHS' BAYER FARM INDEPENDENT VISIT PROGRAM!!!

Our Independent Visit Program will give teachers access to over 20 pre-prepared farm-based activities, materials included! Our activities are bilingual, and appropriate for pre-school through high-school aged students.

Bayer Farm's activities include:

· LIFE SCIENCES: including plant anatomy and a three-part pollinator series

· MATH: estimating, ratios, geometry, graphing and more

· OBSERVATION & EXPLORATION: a variety of creative hunt-type activities

· ARTS & HUMANTITIES: because we all know nature inspires creativity!

To participate in LandPaths' Bayer Farm Independent Visit Program, teachers must RSVP to jesse@landpaths.org for one of the following orientation dates:

Tuesday, May 24, 3:30 - 5:00pm, Bayer Farm (1550 West Ave., Roseland)

Thursday, May 26, 3:30 - 5:00pm, Bayer Farm (1550 West Ave., Roseland)

Please encourage your children's teachers to get trained so that your kids can benefit from this beautiful, bountiful outdoor educational resource!

Last Chance! Donate to LandPaths' Challenge Match - Help Get More Kids Outside

info@landpaths.org — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:49:00 PST

"I had so much fun today, I brought my Grandma and Grandpa back to see the work we did to take care of the Earth!" –William, Park Side 5th-grader and Laguna Uplands restoration steward.

The Dean Witter Foundation, inspired by In Our Own Backyard's success in getting kids outside to experience, learn about, and take care of our natural environment, awarded LandPaths a $15,000 Challenge. program. We need YOUR match to meet this challenge.

Please donate today!

Thanks to those of you who have already donated! We need to meet our goal by May 15. Donate now and know that every dollar you donate will be matched. LandPaths raises $15,000 and Sonoma County students receive $30,000 toward getting outdoors and learning in and about nature.

What is LandPaths' In Our Own BackYard?

"In Our Own BackYard is an amazing program that goes beyond other top-rate environmental education opportunities I've experienced. As a teacher who has witnessed this program and the changes it's wrought in my students time and time again, I could go on and on about the benefits that this program brings into the lives of the students and teachers it touches. IOOBY is an educational, yet life-affirming, life-changing program." ~ 6th grade teacher

LandPaths In Our Own Backyard builds Sonoma County student's "nature awareness" creating a generation interested, confident and informed about nature and the environment. The program offers an in-depth experience with repeated time in nature, averaging 18-20 hours of field time per student, at the same site with the same mentors. This model, with repeated exposure and a consistent mentor is documented to have the most long-lasting impact on childrens relationship to nature.

In addition to the emphasis on nature awareness, IOOBY curriculum correlates to State and Federal science, math, language arts and physical education standards, helping to increase students' understanding of content and applied knowledge through experience. LandPaths works directly with teachers to coordinate the IOOBY curriculum with their in-class lesson plans increasing the impact and relevancy of the field experiences to classroom learning.

With your support ...

850 Sonoma County students-the majority of which come from schools serving low-income communities, where field trips are few if any, and access to the outdoors is often limited-participate in four full-day field trips throughout the school year.
LandPaths is able to provide transportation, one of the biggest hurdles for schools, for all 4 theme-based field days,
two professional ed ucators visit the classroom twice in addition to the 4 field days, establishing a "mentor-like" relationship with students,
all students participate in a hands-on stewardship project; this year 32 stewardship projects were implemented: 279 native plants planted, over 15 cubic yards of non-native invasive plants removed, 8 new cavity nesting bird boxes installed, over 60 bird boxes cleaned, more than 80 native saplings protected with tree protecting tubes, and over 200 native grass plugs planted!
professional educators and over a dozen trained volunteers maintain 4:1 student adult ratio.

What others say...

"My son and a few of his friends have already requested and made plans to go back to Healdsburg Ridge this summer to visit their sit spots!"
-Hally Swan, parent of Alexander Valley 3rd grader

"I really appreciate the quality of the instructors and the good role models they are. I wish every school day could be like this."
- parent volunteer

"Students said the experience had a measurable impact on their plans for the future. Tyler Conners, a senior at WHS, was once a Cali sixth grader who participated in the LandPaths program, which led him to select the WISE Academy when he got to high school. "I plan on moving into a career in environmental studies," he said. " ~ Windsor Times article, January 20, 2011-January 26, 2011

"Dear IOOBY,
The best field trip I ever went on was when we went hiking solo because it was so quiet and relaxing. Thank you for letting us go to Glen Oaks Ranch."
Sincerely, Daniela Daisy-IOOBY 3rd grader