The Conservancy has been a very effective organization with land acquisition, habitat preservation, community outreach and educational, recreational programs, and working closely with the San Dieguito River Park. Over the past four months, $1,500,000 has been raised in order to complete our signature project of the 71 mile Coast to Crest Trail. This is a wonderful legacy that will be enjoyed by many future generations! I am very proud to be part of the effort.
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I've been associated with the SDRVC for over 10 years. In its over 30 years of existence the SDRVC has had a tremendous impact on supporting conservation in the San Dieguito River Watershed and helping to grow the San Dieguito River Park. The SDRVC's top notch programs include Exploring Your Sense of Place and various conservation, educational and recreational activities. The SDRVC is the major partner with the Park in providing financial and general public support to complete the Coast To Crest Trail. I'm excited to continue being a part of this great organization and invite others to support the SDRVC.
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy plays a vital role in acquiring and preserving critical land areas throughout the River Valley for current and future generation's use. One of their primary goals is completion of the Coast to Crest trail, a 71 mile continuous trail from Volcan Mountain to the coast in Del Mar. The Exploring our Sense of Place educational hiking program is truly unique and very popular, often hiking in areas not accessible to the public. I'm impressed how such a leanly staffed organization accomplishes so much.
I appreciate the Conservancy's efforts to protect our beautiful watershed and preserve habitats for native species. Great people doing great work!
I love this organization. Conservation, education, hikes, Coast to Crest Trail. There's something for everyone.
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The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy (SDRVC) is a great organization. It protects the biologically important San Dieguito River valley while educating the public.
I especially like the Exploring your Sense of Place (ESP) program. It is an educational hiking program which covers the park from Volcan mountain near Julian to the San Dieguito lagoon by Del Mar.
The San Dieguito River Valley Land Conservancy is doing fantastic and important work to preserve the natural environment and protect wildlife. I fully support their valiant efforts, and am in awe of their commitment and inspiring results!
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy has taken the lead in developing the Coast to Crest Trail. With the Coast to Crest Trail Challenge, the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy has made more accessible the incredible diversity of the region. I became a member of the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy because of the Coast to Crest Trail and am delighted to support their mission.
The San Dieguito River Valley Land Conservancy is great! I found out about it through the Coast to Crest trail challenge. All of the hikes in the challenge were great. I got to see different parts of San Diego County that I hadn't seen or hadn't visited in a while. The trails were marked clearly and neatly maintained. It was a really great experience. Really recommend it for new and experienced hikers!!
I have been following the work this group does for a few years now and am very impressed with what they have delivered to many outdoor enthusiasts in the region. I personally have participated in a number of their trail challenges, and if I had more time, would participate with their many volunteer opportunities.
They do a great job, are well-organized and serve a great public need.
The San Deiguito River Park has created one of the best community trail systems in the country. The trails vary from difficult mountain hikes to leisurely flat beach walks and everything in between. The trails are well maintained with adequate trail head parking. The organization also provides detailed trail maps with descriptions to aid the first time hikers. Be sure to check out these trails. The best in San Diego County.
I became aquatinted with the SDRVC because if their annual hiking challenge. They are located near my hometown of Escondido, CA so it was pretty easy to gather a group of friends and go hiking. When I started reading their newsletter I found what a great job they do for educating school age young people about environmental stewardship. The sponsor regular educational activities, which are helpful in getting people out to enjoy nature.
I just love this organization. I have participated on many of their volunteer events, walking events, and fund raising events. I love what they have done to improve the watershed and enjoy the hiking trails that they have created. I also have learned so much about the native plants from their staff. Keep up the great work.
I was amazed at the work that the San Dieguito River Valley Land Conservancy has put
into the trail system. I keep discovering new trails that I had no idea were in North County.
I love the River challenge each year. I hope they can complete the trail system from Julian all the way to the coast. So glad that this open space wasn't sold off for more development.
Great outreach and service to the community! Love the Coast to Crest Challenge!
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My wife and I have been participants and now volunteers of the Experience our Sense of Place hiking/educational program. We've also participated on a number of other SDRVC organized hikes. Now, I am a new board member of the SDRVC and am excited to contribute to their many worthwhile efforts.
SDRVC plays an essential role in preserving the San Dieguito watershed, from the top of Volcan Mountain to the San Dieguito lagoon at Del Mar. It provides education in the watershed by by partnering with local schools, bringing young students into the watershed for citizen science. It promotes recreation and appreciation for wildlife by helping develop public trails and by leading informative hikes and events in the watershed. My hat is off to this meaningful and hard working organization.
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SDRVC continues to do great things to preserve, protect and promote the natural and cultural resources of the San Dieguito River Valley. Trish Boaz, Executive Director, heads a small devoted staff to build partnerships and accomplish the mission. Their efforts include, among other things, bringing students into the watershed to experience nature and conduct science; removing invasive species, restoring natural habitat, and reducing threat of wildfire; hosting docent-led hikes in the watershed; helping to complete the Coast to Crest trail, a 70 miles trail from Volcan Mountain (near Julian) to San Dieguito Lagoon in Del Mar. The Conservancy is guided by a strong Board and Advisory Board of dedicated volunteers who believe in and contribute substantially to the mission of the Conservancy. The Conservancy embodies the essence of an effective and efficient non-profit that is making a difference.
This organization is among the best conservancy groups I know, in terms of both the importance of its programmatic efforts and the effective use of its funding. It does an excellent job in engaging the public around conservation issues and getting people out into the field to experience nature. I have been a member and supporter for many years and will continue.
i first saw San Dieguito river conservancy last year doing a five hike challenge and signed up to do this as i attended these hikes that are lead by some of their group they explained all that they where doing to help save some of the land and trails ,cleanning up non native plants and improveing the trail systems i am waiting for the next hiking challenge to get here thanks for all that you do
Trish and the SDRVC team put on amazing programs that encourage people of all ages to get out and explore some of our most beautiful area resources. We've lived in SD County for 35 years and although I'm a very avid hiker, I've had a number of new and exciting experiences through the Coast to Crest Challenge! Get out there and explore through their hikes and other local programs - you won't regret it!
-Discovering new spaces
-Feelin’ the adrenaline rush as your lungs acclimate to altitude changes
- Living free knowing that for a moment all stress is left at home as you hike and explore the out-of-doors
Thanks to the San Dieguito River Valley Land Conservancy I experienced all this and more. As an avid hiker that loves to seek out challenges, I found a new love for the natural and somewhat wild environment that makes up San Diego County. I traversed areas I never knew existed while sharing precious moments with friends and family. The SDRVC has hikes for all levels in that you can meander along a beautiful yet “easy” trail or for those like me that like to exert and sweat; combine multiple hikes into one moderate and complete in one day!
The SDRVC provides so many opportunities to enjoy God’s creation. In the process I am able to take a break from the chaos that surrounds my daily life and breathe and soak in my own little bit of heaven. I am so glad I found you SDRVC!
Amazing organization that doesn't just work on conserving land, they get people out in nature. My family takes part in their hiking challenges, where they come up with five fun hikes to complete over a period of time, have us send in selfies, and reward those who complete the hikes with fun prizes. With the amazing San Diego weather, this organization gets people out and appreciating the small bites of nature that are still here.
The SDRC does a really great job of furthering their cause and bringing it to the public's attention! By hosting hiking challenges, they motivate people/hikers to explore the lands that they are trying to preserve and help. When hikers (many of whom live by the "Leave No Trace" ethic) fall in love with the trails and land, they are more likely to help give back to preserve it for wildlife and future generations and will fight to keep the land available for the public. Win-win!
My family got started with San Dieguito River program by taking their hiking challenge. Three of us finished the challenge but had many family join us. We are so excited to start the second challenge, I believe we will have many more finished this time. Everyone got excited about the different hikes and locations that if we had not done the challenge we would not known about them. Is great Family Time and fantastic for our health. Thank you for providing so many adventures for our family and friends.
Back in the day, 2001 and 2002 to be exact, I had the pleasure of working with the whole team to produce a video called A Walk in the Park. From Chris Khoury on down, each participant gave generously of their time and talent - and the story of the River Park was made known to audiences all over the region. That "let's do it" attitude is one of the many qualities that makes the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy an exceptional nonprofit. And thanks to that kind of effort and expertise, we ALL profit from it!
Wonderful work being doen to open and promote respectful access to the outdoors and hiking in San Diego
sdrvc 08/02/2018
GREAT photo... thanks for the review!
This is a wonderful organization dedicated to preserving, maintaining and improving the land within the San Dieguito River Valley area. They also are dedicated to increasing awareness to local residents of the trails within this region.
San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy has a impressive scope and reach for an organization its size. They have a dedicated community of donors, volunteers, board members, and staff who are committed to conserving and enhancing the natural and cultural resources of the San Dieguito watershed. I appreciate the variety of events and educational opportunities, such as Watershed Explorers, which connects youth to watershed through field trips. Their restoration efforts have improved special places and habitats throughout the length of the watershed on lands with every type of ownership. Their work advancing the Coast to Crest trail has help create a priceless community asset. They are able to stay lean and efficient by partnering with other organizations and agencies who are ready to get things done. Great people, great causes.
We have lived in San Diego for 46 years. Just about every year we have visited Anza Borrego, driving through Escondido, Ramona, Santa Ysabel, and Julian. I am sorry to say that we never explored the regions bordering this route until we joined the San Dieguito River Valley Land Conservancy two years ago. Retirement from UCSD opened up free time to serve the community in other ways, and the conservancy provided a most welcome opportunity for me, as it represents the perfect combination of education, conservation and recreation.
A small group of people had the foresight several decades ago to protect at least one major river valley in Southern California from unrestricted development, to preserve some of the original landscape of the area, and to link the preservation with the dream of constructing a continuous hiking path from the ocean entry to the source of the San Dieguito River. Large sections are now completed and provide wonderful opportunities for recreation and hiking. It links up with the Pacific Crest Trail in the east and some shorter trails in the coastal area from the Torrey Pines State Park to San Elijo Lagoon. The trails provide access for thousands of people to the undeveloped scenic areas of San Dieguito County to enjoy its fauna and the incredible richness of the vegetation in different zones from the ocean to the mountains.
In addition to preserving and maintaining the watershed landscape, the Conservancy devotes a major effort promoting and encouraging citizens of all ages, ambitious hikers as well as casual walkers to get out on the tails within the River Park. Maps and trail guides assist and inform the individual hikers, and a large number of organized outings with leaders/guides and docents represent opportunities for a more in-depth exploration of the geology, the human history (Native Americans), bird populations, native plants, the threat of invasive species, and much more. The most elaborate of these undertakings is the annual “Exploring Your Sense of Place” program (ESP) which was a long overdue eye-opener for us.
Educational outreach programs supported and administered by the Conservancy are targeted at students of all ages to awake an interest in nature and its preservation. Some years ago a Sierra Club publication of photographs by Eliot Porter placed on the cover a quotation from Thoreau: “In Wildness is the Preservation of the World”. The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy is a most laudable and admirable organization to pursue this worthy goal at a local level. It complements and supports the efforts of the local appointed officials and provides a multi-laned bridge between the public and the administration.
Three cheers for the SDRVLC!!! Great strides continue to be made toward achieving the goal of a 70 mile Coast to Crest Trail from the beach in Del Mar to the top of Vulcan Mountain near Julian. In addition to acquiring lands, the Conservancy completes trails, restores habitats and is involved with educational programs. For example it offers the Exploring Sense of Place program which gives adults the opportunity to become acquainted with the various ecosystems within the watershed of the San Dieguito River. I took the course and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves the outdoors.
The primary role of this land conservancy is to buy key parcels within the San Dieguito river watershed to preserve open space. It's largest purchase was Bernardo Mountain, seen on the west as you cross Lake Hodges on 1-15, south of Escondido. It has expanded its role by assisting the Park with funds for trails, bridges and buildings. It has excellent leadership in Peter Shapiro, President and Trish Boaz, Executive Director.
Loved the SDRVLC Sense of Place course that took us to a different part of the park each month. Have enjoyed many hikes with friends in this beautiful area. SDRVLC does a great job growing and maintaining this open land resource for us all to enjoy.
I strongly believe in what the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy is doing to preserve rapidly vanishing open space in the San Dieguito River watershed against all kinds of difficult obstacles. Living right next to the watershed, I can see direct hand the damage land development has done and is doing that impacts in a very negative way the natural beauty and wildlife of the area. When we have out of town guests, I like to hike the trails near Lake Hodges to show them there still is some open space near our sprawling San Diego metropolis. And the trail from the beach to the mountains demonstrates our diversity in landscapes and wildlife in the area.
My wife and I were attracted to the Conservancy through its Exploring our Sense of Place outdoor education/hiking program. We were hooked! Great leadership attracts good people as active members, yet the San Dieguito River Park seems to be San Diego County's best kept secret. The Conservancy's outreach program has really taken off in the past few years with its Citizen Science (elementary and high school age) program and the new Watershed Explorers program, where kids who would likely never climb a mountain or learn about a chaparral "forest" get a chance to learn that there's a lot to like about being outdoors. The Conservancy's most exciting project has to be the Coast to Crest Trail through the San Dieguito River Park--70 miles (when completed) of contiguous hiking/biking and horse back riding opportunities from sea level to 5,000 feet on a mountain peak 50 miles inland. The excitement surrounding the Coast to Crest Trail is contagious. Can't wait for it all to connect up!
The San Dieguito River Valley Land Conservancy is an ambitious project to protect the environment and construct a 70-mile trail from Del Mar to Volcan Mountain (the "coast-to-crest trail"). I am one of 1300 conservancy members and I am proud of the progress made to date in partnership with the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority, landowners, citizens, and government agencies in an effort to preserve and protect our natural resources while respecting the rights of private property. Given the latest research on the healing power of nature (Time Magazine, 2016, Vol. 188, No. 4, pp. 24-26), every concerned citizens should support projects like the ones promoted by the conservancy to secure the future health of our planet and its people.
I appreciate this organization's commitment and tenacity to preserve outdoor space in our backyards for current and future generations to enjoy. There is nothing quite like nature to calm, yet reinvigorate your soul. There is also a sense of responsibility to educate and inspire the public about conservation. I have benefited so much by being a member of this group over the years.
Another great year of producing top notch education, conservation and recreation projects in support of the San Dieguito River Park and the entire watershed. Successes include: Citizen Science, Watershed Explorers and Exploring Your Sense of Place educational programs; Crest Canyon and Fairbanks Ranch restoration; and River Path Del Mar extension and Pamo Valley trail segment of the Coast to Crest Trail. Plus, Exec Treks and many other special hikes and events!
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An exceptional group of volunteers dedicated to the support and enhancement of the San Dieguito River Park and the important and ecologically varied San Dieguito River Valley watershed. The Conservancy leads many activities to promote the conservation, education and recreational aspects of the river valley like the Citizen Science program and invasive species management projects. It raises funds to plan and implement major projects such as the "Birdwing" Outdoor Classroom, now used by thousands of school children each year, as well as the continued expansion of the Coast to Crest Trail.
The SDRVC has lived up to its mission to conserve, restore, educate and connect people and land through helping to realize a 55 mile stretch of trail from the mountains to the ocean.
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy is a great asset to our community as they help preserve the natural open spaces in the San Dieguito River watershed. For 30 years with the help of an amazing group of local volunteers they have restored habitat, led guided hikes, and educated youth about the local environment . Given the tremendous amount of growth and change in our region, it is important to have a group like this protecting our natural habitat for us and generations to come.
This non-profit has the grand vision of creating a 55 mile trail from ocean to mountains in San Diego County, to provide access to the nature within the watershed while protecting its resources. There are regular programs for everyone and volunteer opportunities which engage the community to help achieve it's goals. Visible progress is made every year.
I support the San Duiguito River Valley Concervancy 300%! With the goal of preserving and maintaining Nature from the coast to Vulcan Mt. In Julian, SDRVC has provided a very much needed Natural environment for ALL people to use and enjoy! When I am out riding my horse on the SDRVC trails, it warms my heart to see so many families out walking, hiking and biking together. And it costs them nothing, so all people get to enjoy and teach their children to appreciate nature. As a horse enthusiast, it saddens me that the state & county keep closing access to trails in SD county. It is reassuring to know that we will always be able to ride and enjoy nature from the coast to the mountains!
In rapidly urbanizing north San Diego county, the Conservancy has brilliantly combined public education, land purchases and outdoor activities to effect a magnificent 50 + mile green river corridor and save an entire watershed forever. Their leaders are dedicated and smart and the gift they have given the San Diego area is priceless.
SDRVC is a great group of people with more than one great mission: to preserve the river's watershed habitat from the headwaters to the sea; to provide educational as well as recreational opportunities all along the river valley for all ages; to foster awareness of our shared responsibility of caring for our precious natural environment.
San Diego is blessed to have our magnificent, indigenous landscape and a community that knows the value of protecting it for future generations. I appreciate all the hard work that goes into protecting space for everyone to enjoy. Thank you!
I had a terrific opportunity to see some of the work being done by the Conservancy and to meet some of the professionals they have enlisted to help keep the region in tact. I was also offered the opportunity to participate in helping to identify plants for codification and tracking and was just immensely impressed with the work being done and attempted!
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy is dedicated to preserving the natural open spaces in the San Dieguito River watershed, completing the 70-mile Coast to Crest Trail and educating future stewards of the environment of the importance of a thriving ecosystem. Recently, the Conservancy assisted in brokering an agreement with the California Coastal Commission that resulted in saving 600 feet of the San Dieguito Lagoon boardwalk from being removed. It also obtained the majority of the Birdwing Open Air Classroom at the San Dieguito Lagoon from its supporters and several private foundations and donors.
sdrvc 08/02/2018
Thank you Henrietta!