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Education
20 years in, CIR enters a new era marked by managing the West Mesa, strengthening our internal operations, creating new docent programs, and so much more. This new era means your support is as critical as ever as we face the ever-growing challenges climate change produces. You can help us restore the natural beauty of our region now and for generations to come. Thank you for supporting Channel Islands Restoration and making our 20th year even more impactful.
We’ve been celebrating all month long, touring and walking the San Marcos Foothills to educate the public on their importance and sharing why we worked so hard to save this land from development.
The Foothills symbolize a new phase in our history. While we continue to restore native habitats, recruit volunteers, and educate communities, we are also responsible for managing the West Mesa.
Protecting these 101 acres ushers in a new dimension to our work and adds to our 20 years of restoration, education, research, and collaboration experience.
This new era is especially important on Earth Day!
For the month of April, Channel Islands Restoration is offering educational events including walks, talks and more to celebrate Earth Day (officially April 22) and show our support for environmental protection.
CIR grows native plants for habitat restoration! We grow all manner of native plants at the nursery, from purple needle grass (Stipa pulchra) to scrub oaks (Quercus berberidifolia)! After gathering seeds from the surrounding area, we are now raising native plants in our nursery. The native plants we grow will be planted in restoration sites like the San Marcos Foothills Preserve, Hammond's Meadow, Pt. Mugu, the Carpinteria Salt Marsh, and more. Habitat restoration can't happen without plants, so we need your help to grow these plants!
Join us to learn to identify our iconic state grass and the non-native grasses that are invading our local habit! This is a beautiful time of year to visit the Foothills and explore the local trails in the area with the community. Make sure to bring a walking pole to help distinguish different plants on the ground but don't worry, the ground is mostly flat and plant identification and training will be provided. No experience is necessary to volunteer, although plant knowledge is helpful!
In this exclusive webinar, Russ Bradley, Cal State University Channel Islands Director of the Santa Rosa Island Research Station will discuss this unique interdisciplinary program in Channel Islands National Park, and his team's efforts to create transformational educational and research experiences for students and the local community. The program at the SRIRS provides students, faculty, researchers, and community members with opportunities to participate in research and education via a partnership between the US National Park Service and CSU Channel Islands. Join us in learning from Russ about Santa Rosa Island, the program, and his role in facilitating these experiences.
CIR is encouraging you to go out and look for birds! This free, fun event involves discovering what bird species reside in our local area and educating ourselves about their distinct characteristics, from the microhabitats they populate to their foraging and nesting habits.
One gets the sense that Dave Edwards is a man on a conservation mission. Having volunteered with Channel Islands Restoration since 2007 and a long-time board member since 2008, Dave has contributed hundreds of hours and led dozens of trips to the islands in the name of habitat restoration, trail maintenance and invasive species control. His work ethic and charming character have contributed to his close involvement with our organization, and he has become a figure of trust in the community.
On September 23rd, 2021, Channel Islands Restoration made a triumphant return to Santa Rosa Island alongside one hundred guests! The trip, an educational expedition for supporters of our environmental nonprofit, was a major milestone that marked the renewal of in-person education and expanded opportunities for Channel Islands Restoration community members to participate once again in events with like-minded friends and supporters.
We have much to celebrate after an extraordinary 2021, a year in which our community banded together to save the West Mesa of the San Marcos Foothills from development.
The campaign’s success means that Channel Islands Restoration is now responsible for restoring the habitat of rare birds and native plants on the West Mesa. Additionally, the campaign ensures the land is available to the public forever. We take this work seriously, as we know the cultural and historical significance this land holds for our indigenous neighbors and those who recreate in the area.
Channel Islands Restoration held our highly anticipated White Mountains Educational trip during the 4th of July holiday weekend. CIR Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Diaz writes about her firsthand experience on this annual Natural History Trip.
