WildPlaces - Stewardship in the Southern Sierra

Ongoing Events

Barry — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:57:03 +0000

Here is a list of our upcoming events. Check back often as we add more!

Weekly River Stewardship Events
Come out and join us on the River! We'll be going out on the Tule River once a week to educate on all sorts of water related and stewardship topics.
Río Limpio Update
Nature Enthusiasts Wanted
Mini Grant Program

Mini Grant Program

Barry — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:43:12 +0000

Tulare county youth in Porterville and Strathmore areas are invited to apply for our mini grant program. Youth in the program may apply for one of four “mini-grants” of up to $250 each, to fund youth-driven service projects in their home communities.

Projects with environmental themes would be given preference, but projects addressing critical social or scholastic needs will also be considered. Instructors and parents, please share and motivate the youth! Contact anne@wildplaces.net for more information or to apply.

This program empowers young people to become agents of social change, and will have a positive “ripple effect” in their community. In addition, students may be able to improve their grades and/or meet their community service requirements by participating in the projects. It is also a great career and resume building experience!

Nature Enthusiasts Wanted

Barry — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:41:51 +0000

Shoutout to all nature enthusiasts who would like to lead a walk, or nature scavenger hunt in the upcoming months. Please contact emily@wildplaces.net if you are interested in volunteering a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday to educate the community!

Education Outreach, Camp Nelson

Barry — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:41:02 +0000

Margaret Towfiq, WildPlaces Office Manager and Camp Nelson resident donated a two day booth at the Mountain Festival, in Camp Nelson to WildPlaces for education outreach.

The event went great! We held a fish printing station paired with ecology concepts and fish education. We talked a lot about the importance of keeping our rivers and waterways clean and healthy for all life. It stimulated a lot of little minds and drew the parents and older siblings into our good community work. We passed out many Río Limpio bumper stickers designed by the local Multimedia Technology Academy at Monache High School and enjoyed conversation with all sorts of people!

Check out some awesome coverage of the event on our youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/WildPlaces93265

HUGE THANK YOU to Margaret Towfiq for providing the booth and support throughout the weekend!!! You are awesome, Margaret. Also, big thanks to volunteers Richard Fortson and David Dempsey for helping to set up and station the booth.

Look out for our next big education outreach event at the Apple Festival! Come out to help set up the WildPlaces booth, help out with an education station, or share knowledge with the community.

Río Limpio Update

Barry — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:38:08 +0000

Friday education outreach and bag dispenser filling on the Tule River is turning out to be a big success! We’ve been going out on the River once a week to educate on all sorts of water related and stewardship topics and talk to the river users about their river experiences and how we can work together to achieve common goals. If you would like to share an interesting bit of knowledge with the public please contact us. Or if you’d just like to join us for the afternoon and then jump in the river afterwards the help would be much appreciated. Please contact emily@wildplaces.net.

Education outreach focus point: Pledge signing sheet where river users pledge “To keep my river trash-free, graffiti-free and safe for you and me”

September 25th is National Public Lands Day and is our next and last Tule River clean-up and education outreach event! We want to target the youth, and specifically local high schools for this event; high school students, teachers, mentors, and friends please help us reach out to high school students and staff for our final event. Email emily@wildplaces.net to volunteer or for more information.

Immersed in the Wild/Blister Rust Survey Golden Trout Wilderness Trip 8/1-6/2010

Barry — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:28:51 +0000

What an amazing trip we had from 8/1-6/10!

The Golden Trout Wilderness at Maggie Lakes is a most amazing feature in our southern Sierra. We are so proud to be an advocate for its protection, education and outreach.

The IW/WildPlaces’ youth participates and adult educators were amazing. We covered 25 plots wherein we recorded data reflecting White Pine Blister Rust, plot site data, vegetation coverage, down woody material, stumps and downed logs, and more. The degree of science, endurance, outdoor education, service learning and fun was outstanding!

The WildPlaces camp at middle Maggie Lake was very organized, safe, with a high fun-factor, and everyone feeling included and useful. After miles of walking and thousands of feet elevation changes, we covered miles of forest and safely accessed places where most people will never see.

We cannot express the importance of this work wherein regular folks (high school students!) engaged in activities that will lead to a better understanding of forest trends, climate change and invasive species migration plus an overall appreciation of our National Forest lands.

Survey location site: Golden Trout Wilderness, Maggie Lakes

Effects of Blister Rust on Native White Pines (see red coloring)

Granite Hills High School Students Surveying the Plot Sites

Photo of Participants

Weekly River Stewardship Events

Barry — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:33:36 +0000

Come out and join us on the River!

We’ll be going out on the Tule River once a week to educate on all sorts of water related and stewardship topics.

If you would like to share an interesting bit of knowledge with the public please contact us. Or if you’d just like to join us for the afternoon and then jump in the river afterwards the help would be much appreciated.

Please contact Emily: emily@wildplaces.net.

PRESS RELEASE: Membership – It’s Time to Renew or Join WildPlaces

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:07:54 +0000

Are you a WildPlaces Member???

Please Renew your Membership today. Our members are critical for WildPlaces’ continued programs and events. We would love to receive every one’s membership cards from last year’s membership drive. We need your support to make 2010 a great year for stewardship in the Southern Sierra! Send your membership card and Sponsor-A-Sequoia card in today or join online at www.wildplaces.net. Thank you to everyone who has already renewed or joined this year.

Become a Newsletter Sponsor

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:04:18 +0000

How do I become a sponsor of WildPlace’s monthly newsletter?

Do you need publicity for your business? WildPlaces wants to help promote your company/cause by adding a link to your website on this great e-newsletter. We reach a few hundred people every month, and we want to continue our outreach….but we need a little help from our friends. Donate and we will add you as a sponsor….its so easy. Call us at (559) 539-5263, or email info@wildplaces.net to find out more.

Calls to Action

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:01:42 +0000

Media Outlets: The Río Limpio program has been working with Proyecto Campesino, a Spanish broadcast news station, to promote the upcoming Clean Water Challenge and the Río Limpio and Immersed in the Wild programs. We are also broadcasting general water information and the great need for local and global stewardship. If you have any educational ideas to promote please contact us and we may be able to fit you in on some air time!

NEEDED: If you have any creative community building ideas to share with the youngsters of Springville School’s Green Club please contact Peter Gerritsma, artandsoul@gotsky.com, 559 539 2417. Read more…

SHOUT OUT: Please call us at WildPlaces if are you familiar with gardening and would like to check-up on/weed the community nursery.

Fundraising: S.H.A.R.E.S. CARD: Pick one up at the WildPlaces office and use when you shop at Save Mart, Smart food, Food Maxx, Lucky. 3% of your purchase will go to WildPlaces!!

Fundraising: Please contact us if you have any educational or creative ways to get the word out and raise funding and awareness of all our awesome projects!! Contact us if you would like to head a mini-fundraising project this summer. A possible idea…ice cream social at Springville Park once a month during the summer season: share ice cream cones, inspiring community igniting ideas, and get more people involved with WildPlaces!!