Fort Ross Conservancy

Programs: The fort ross conservancy has been a state park cooperating association since 1976important current projects include:1. Fort ross festival - a one-day event celebrating the heritage and diversity of fort ross with an emphasis on the russian, alaskans and kashaya cultures that came together to establish fort ross colony in 1812. Activities included crafts, music, and food from each of the represented groups. Over 1,500 people participated and enjoyed specific interpretation, historical re-enactments, and demonstrated and participatory crafts. This festival was funded in part by a grant from the chevron partners. 2. Fort ross dialogue - fort ross conservancy hosts fort ross dialogue which addresses two distinct themes: building institutions, with special reference to the us-russia bilateral presidential commission and its exchange/culture and energy/environment working groups; and strengthening the cooperative pacific dimension of us-russian relations dating back to the russian-american company and its southernmost california settlement in the 19th century. The fr dialogue is supported in part by grants from the chevron partners. 3. Stanford us russian forum - stanford us-russian forum (surf) is designed to offer the surf participants an educational and pleasant experience in learning the historical significance of fort ross in us russian relationships. These are highly successful undergraduate students who are immersed in the field of us-russian relations. Frc provides them with a meaningful experience at fort ross with the aim that they carry this memory forward into the their professional careers. This program was funded by a grant from renova fort ross foundation. 4. Russian language interpreter - fort ross receives many visitors who are russian speakers, and fort ross conservancy has focused on how to serve this demographic. Frc provides a guide who is both bilingual and well versed in fort ross history. This is made possible through a grant from renova fort ross foundation. 5. Fort ross state park interpreter programs - for many years frc has supported the fr interpretation staff through donations. Frc has been the sole supporter of weekend and summer interpretation and the only source of funding outside of fees from the environmental living program (elp). Frc has established the frc youth scholarship fund to support qualified students to attend education programs such as elp at the fort. 6. Acquisition and organization of the fort ross library and archives. This library contains 30 albums of archaically-preserved historic photographs and almost 3,000 titles in the reference and circulating library. 7. Exhibits, displays and wayside panels are produced for the park to incorporate updated research as it becomes available. 8. Frc produces books and brochures about the cultural and natural history of fort ross and salt point, and produces a twice-yearly historical newsletter distrbuted to over 400 paying members.