Audubon Canyon Ranch received a $40,000 grant from the Community Foundation Sonoma County to provide Sonoma County youth with a greater range of experiences in nature and conservation action through the long-running Junior Naturalist program, where young people, ages 8–17, learn about local habitats and wildlife and help with ongoing stewardship projects and research studies.
“All children should have access to nature because nature is a healing force and connection to nature leads to caring about nature. Giving children time in nature is nourishing to their spirit. When children are given opportunities to engage in conservation action, they realize their own potential, which is very powerful,” shared Jacqueline Levy, an education program manager for Audubon Canyon Ranch. Children in marginalized communities, who have been hardest hit by both the pandemic and environmental degradation, are the focus of the grant-related efforts. The funding allows greater ability to “reach children where they are,” Levy explained, by bringing the program into neighborhood parks and providing transportation and food for others who otherwise would not be able to visit the preserves.
As a result, youth from the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance (SVMA) recently had the opportunity to join a hike at Bouverie Preserve guided by Levy and Liz Martins, another Audubon Canyon Ranch educator. “They learned that there are natural places all around them that are available to explore. They also learned ways of exploring nature, how and where to look,” said Levy. Reflecting on her time on the land with 3rd– and 4th-grade students, Brooke Finley, mentor facilitator at SVMA, shared, “What a fantastic day we had. I couldn’t tell who had more fun…the mentors or the mentees!” In the spring, middle and high school youth and their mentors will visit the Preserve for a nature photography experience.
The grant funding also provided the opportunity to partner with the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley, which runs an after-school program at Maxwell Farms Regional Park in Sonoma for children in grades K–5. Audubon Canyon Ranch educators accompanied children from three age groups on hikes of the park, introducing them to the plant communities and helping the students identify potential hazards like poison oak. Future excursions with the Club may include a hike at Bouverie Preserve, with funded transportation and meals to help break down barriers for participation.
Opportunities for teens to practice stewardship and research have been added as well. After two members of the Living with Lions team presented to the STEM students at Piner High School in Santa Rosa about mountain lions and trail cameras, students were eager to know how they could get involved. Levy was contacted by Kurt Kruger, the STEM coordinator, to find real life skill-building opportunities for his students, and she plugged the students into the ongoing trail camera research project on the Preserve. The students were trained by Kate Remsen, who coordinates the Trail Camera Project for the organization. Each month during the school year, students collect and analyze data collected from trail cameras. During the summer, students can continue with the program or help teach other Junior Naturalists to monitor the cameras.
The grant has also provided for hiring the program’s first intern, Beatrice Pizzolo, who will help with outreach and coordinating new research projects. Beatrice has already helped lead the group from the Sonoma Mentoring Alliance, led the first “Bird Day” for Junior Naturalists, and shared her knowledge of birds with visitors during the public Friends and Family Day at Bouverie Preserve. Beatrice is a former Junior Naturalist and expert birder.
“We are excited to learn from and build upon these piloted experiences,” said Levy. “The goal is to create a cohesive and inclusive educational experience, where all students are provided the opportunity to connect with nature and participate in real stewardship and research.”
Students and mentors, learning on the land.
Teens from Piner High School’s STEM club learn about phenology from Henry Inman, a resource ecologist at Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Martin Griffin Preserve.
Audubon Canyon Ranch educator Liz Martins shares insights about the flora and fauna of the Bouverie Preserve with youth and mentors from the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance.
Meet new friends and help take care of the land while you learn about wildlife habitats of the North Bay
Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Junior Naturalists program is for young people, ages 8–17, who are interested in exploring nature, land stewardship, and conservation research. Participants learn about local habitats and wildlife and help with ongoing research studies at Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen.
Each month there is a themed event, covering topics such as creek exploration, wildlife photography, planting native plants, tide pooling, and more. Junipers can also participate in the seasonal newt count study. Parent/Guardians are welcome to accompany their child during the monthly events.
Community Foundation Sonoma County is thrilled to announce a search for our next colleague, a Planned Giving Advisor! At CFSC, our team is made up of people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for investing in the promise of Sonoma County. We are deliberate, intentional, and…
Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Community Grants Program Opens for 2024 Apply Today: Applications Open March 11 - April 12 The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation’s signature fundraising event, the Sonoma County Wine Auction, has raised tens of millions of dollars for local causes, helping to address Sonoma County’s most pressing needs…
Introducing Pamela Harris, Our New CFO! We're thrilled to announce that, after an extensive search, Pamela Harris has joined Community Foundation Sonoma County as our Chief Financial Officer. Pamela brings with her a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to our mission. Pamela has devoted her career providing financial…
In December we hosted our virtual Coffee With CFSC event, with over 90 local nonprofit staff and leadership joining us. It was not only an opportunity for us to share our grantmaking plans for the year, but also an opportunity for us all to reflect and learn from each other.…
CFSC Co-Hosts Nonprofit Advocacy 101 In February, Community Foundation Sonoma County co-hosted Nonprofit Advocacy 101, in collaboration with Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, the Peter E Haas Jr. Family Fund, and the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation. Bolder Advocacy, a program of Alliance for Justice, led the event, which was
The Julia L. Grant Fund for Basic Human Needs program addresses the pressing challenge of meeting the basic needs of individuals and families in Sonoma County. This year, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the fund was expanded to provide additional resources specifically to address hunger and food
Kerri joined Linkenheimer in November 2014 with 10 years of public accounting experience. She graduated in 2004 from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and a minor in Economics. She has been practicing in public accounting since. Throughout her
Michelle has 20 years of experience as a trusted advisor to ultra-high net-worth families, providing solutions for complex wealth management issues. She was formerly the chief operating officer and chief compliance officer at Ohana Advisors where she was responsible for establishing and executing the strategic objectives of the multi-family office,…
Dale is the founder and advisor of Sustainvest Asset Management LLC. He has over 20 years experience in wealth management and financial services with a distinct commitment to sustainable investing for 15 of those years. Prior to Sustainvest, Dale was a portfolio manager specializing in ESG investment strategies and shareholder advocacy.…