Sempervirens Fund

After my wife of 55 years died, our family and friends dedicated a redwood in her memory. What else can I say about the beautiful redwoods?

My family loves Castle Rock State park and we learned that Sempervirens partners with the Park. We've been impressed by the facilities developed by Sempervirens for Castle Rock and by the educational family programing they have provided.

My name is Liz and I'm from Poland.I live in Chicago for almost 20 years now. Seeing Giant Sequoias was always a dream of mine,and once I finally was in their presence I cried. Those majestic beings are breathtaking and their presence creates home for so many other species. Protecting those trees is a duty of all Americans since Sequoias and Redwoods only grow in North America.Please protect them for all of humanity! I was so happy once I found Sempervirens Fund ! They actually have results and it makes me feel less hopeless when I think about dissapearing forest.

A camping trip to Big Basin in the Santa Cruz mountains marked the first time our family explored a redwood forest. Our three children, ages eleven, eight and five had taken hiking trips with us throughout California's national parks but here we were in a fragrant forest of trees that stretched their red barked trunks straight up to the sky. It was a new experience. We were all captivated by their magnificance. More than any other forest we had visited, these forest giants, the coast redwoods known as sequoia sempervirens, seemed to be an expression of nature's grand mission.
One evening, at twilight, our family gathered 'round the campfire site with other fellow campers for a sing-along led by the ranger. We raised our voices in the soft mountain air along with others, the children laughed at the funny words and reveled in the joyful friendship surrounding us. But after a few songs, I was drawn again to the redwoods nearby, especially the family of trees just beyond the campfire. I broke away from the singers and found a place to stand in the giant tree's ancient circle. I felt sheltered by the tall trunks now smoothly rounded together. I was surrounded in a protective embrace. I looked up into their branches. The wonder of reddish bark and wood still standing over thousands of of years seemed to be giving me a deeper message. I was touched by their ability to multiply and stand shoulder to shoulder. Had Nature created a tree that would stand as a living symbol, a model for humans to imitate, to stand and survive? Was this circle of trees a revelation? Were they showing a deeper message, the importance of family?

A friend worked with Sempervirens Fund to name a redwood tree in my husband’s honor shortly he passed away. I had never heard of Sempervirens Fund before, but quickly became a donor, too. Now, I’m a Redwood Ranger! Thank you, Sempervirens Fund. A great organization filled with great people!

I have been a donor and now a volunteer since 2001. Sempervirens Fund does very important work in preserving and taking care of local forests around the local urban area of Silicon Valley. In addition to this, the areas they help to protect (Big Basin Park, Little Basin Park, Butano Park, Castle Rock Park, and others) are wonderful recreation areas for many people. Within 1-2 hours, we can be camping in the redwoods or climbing rocks. What a privilege!

Also, the staff here are wonderful and caring in their work. It is really worthwhile for me to volunteer at SVF.

I lived up on Glenwood Drive for many years, and love the peace and serenity of the redwoods. I first became aware of Sempervirens Fund with their Lompico carbon project. I’ve moved to Campbell now, but wholeheartedly support the work of Sempervirens Fund, both as a donor and volunteer. The new Robert C. Kirkwood Entrance at Castle Rock State Park is amazing! Great work, Sempervirens Fund!

Sempervirens Fund is one of the oldest nonprofits in the history of environmental activism. Founded in 1900, it has been actively working to preserve the redwoods and other ecosystems in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We wholeheartedly support their work and encourage you to do so as well.

Sempervirens Fund is a primary reason why the south bay area still has such amazing redwood forests. They are dedicated professionals who care deeply about what they do, and do it well. They have long term sustainable plans in place that they communicate well to their supporters so that we feel like we are truly engaged in helping preserve the Santa Cruz redwoods.

Redwood trees play an important role in the ecosystem of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Sempervirens Fund has been doing a great job of protecting them for the last 118 years. Inspiring others through their mission and commitment to providing access and recreational
opportunity in this unique part of the world.

Sempervirens Fund is perhaps one of my all-time favorite non-profits. Great mission, friendly staff, and they just get things done. My family volunteers at their annual picnics every year. My dad isn't very mobile anymore, but this event is something he looks forward to. It's October and he is already talking about how he wishes it were summer so he can pour the beer. I thank the staff for accommodating my dad. They make him feel welcome and valued. How can I not love that? Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

I've been a Sempervirens Fund board member for the past 24+ years because I strongly believe in the wildlands preservation that it accomplishes in our Santa Cruz Mountains. If you live in the greater Bay Area and donate, you will see the results!

Nick Wyckoff

Sempervirens Fund helped me find the perfect redwood grove in Big Basin State Park to dedicate to my mother. Such a genuine, caring, and passionate staff committed to an important cause!

Sempervirens Fund enables the preservation of acres upon acres of redwood forest. While much of it is left in a wilderness state, in the last decade they have evolved to have a more active relationship with land that will be used for state parks. They intervened in 2012 to help keep Castle Rock State Park open in the face of state wide cuts. And they continue to work to upgrade Castle Rock with the new entrance that is in progress.

I have donated to Sempervirens Fund as a Redwood Ranger monthly donor for several years now. I am consistently impressed by all the behind-the-scenes work that Sempervirens Fund does to protect redwoods and other wildlife in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They often partner with other, larger organizations with more name recognition, providing their intensive local expertise while not demanding the credit. I am proud to support them.

I have been a Trustee and supporter of Sempervirens Fund for over fifteen years. I am very proud of what this organization has accomplished, not just for the many mission focused initiatives it has successfully completed but also for the way it has gone about its business. The Board and staff of Sempervirens Fund serve, for me, as the model of an effective, efficient and well governed non-profit organization.

My family camped at Big Basin every year when I was growing up. Now I take my nieces and nephews to introduce a new generation to these magnificent trees. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who had the foresight to protect them. It would be an absolute shame for our country to lose such treasures.

The Sempervirens Fund has been active in protecting land, educating people of all ages, as a model for many other conservation organizations and providing a beautiful and wonderful forest and open space experience for local people and those from around the world. There management, staff and volunteers are excellent and provide an unusually fine opportunity for many to learn and enjoy the forests.

By providing camp sites in Big Basin State Park they started a backpacking tradition for my son and I 35 years ago. Sempervirens is at the top of my list of charities for its aggressive pursuit of public lands and responsible logging.

One of the greats. They have a clear vision and concrete goals, and a plan to achieve those fairly specific goals, so one can be assured of progress and clarity as the process unfolds.

Sempervirens Fund does work that lasts for generations. I give to the trees monthly as a Redwood Ranger because I KNOW that an overwhelming amount of my support goes towards programs that preserve, protect, and connect vital ecosystems in Northern California.

If you met me, you'd never guess that I've never went on a hike until I was in my 20's (I'm a lover of nature) and my very first hike was at Big Basin. One of the first thoughts that ran across my mind was, "Wow. This is what I've been missing?!" All this in my own backyard (i.e. w/in a 30 mile radius) and to know that a place like this was that close made it that much more special. When I found out there was an organization that has a mission to protect places like Big Basin and the redwoods, it gave me a very comforting feeling. I truly hope Sempervirens will continue to protect these places and the wildlife that cannot protect themselves. Thank you Sempervirens!

Sempervirens is an amazing organization that protects the Coastal Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They are responsible for starting some of the best parks in the area such as Big Basin and Castle Rock. These parks and many others that Sempervirens has started not only protect these gigantic majestic trees, but also provide the community with a place to hike, camp, and enjoy nature. Even after protecting all these areas, they are continually working to protect more, both for the better of the environment as well as provide more areas for the public.

For me, Semper Virens protects the essential parts of our fabulous coastal forests. These huge and beautiful trees provide for every other living member of nature's bounty. I consider the soil, the water and the air to be the living warp and weft of the great fabric we call nature. These redwoods clean the air and water and hold the soil in place in addition to enriching their components. They provide an anchor for the flora and fauna that decorate this carpet of life and give us a gift of peacefulness and beauty that turns our prosaic existence into joyful bliss. The noblest response we can muster is to support this cause with our gifts and energies. To this end Semper Virens is the perfect vehicle of action.

I've always had a special place in my heart for the redwoods of the coast range in Northern California. The Sempervirens Fund helps protect and preserve this precious resource for our kids and their kids someday. I've been particularly impressed with what Sempervirens has done over the years with Big Basin State Park. I'm an HP employee, and was glad to see Little Basin (which used to be a getaway for HP employees) move into the public domain, with help from the Sempervirens Fund and POST. Keep up the good work!

The Sempervirens Fund has greatly contributed to the creation and expansion of many of the State Parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They developed a regional, science-based plan to guide their work to further expand and connect existing protected lands, in order to protect redwood forests, conserve biodiversity and wildlife connectivity, and create more opportunities for compatible public uses of the land in this important bioregion. Sempervirens Fund staff are hard working, dedicated, and innovative; the organization is highly collaborative, and works effectively with diverse groups including local, state, and federal agencies, other conservation organizations, private landowners, and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band of Ohlone/Costanoan Indians--the native people of the region. I look forward to witnessing the next era of conservation in this region, which I call home.

I love going hiking in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was amazing to
encounter the beautiful redwoods in Big Basin. And I learned how
Sempervirens Fund was instrumental in protecting these trees back then
and how they continue to protect more of them today. It's such an
important mission and they undertake it with great dedication. I highly
recommend them as a place to donate or volunteer.