Mission: The Southern California Mountains Foundation is a non-profit that is passionate about our mission and community. We strive to: Support youth development through conservation initiatives integrating environmental education, training, and hands-on service projects; Protect our natural resources through adult and family-led programming; and Provide interpretive services that focus on outdoor recreation, responsible use, and stewardship of our natural environment.
We achieve our mission by raising money, organizing critical volunteer resources, and creating and managing programs focused on health, stewardship, and sustainability of our Southern California mountains and urban “forests”.
Over the past 30 years, the use of national forests has increased while funding has dramatically declined. The Mountains Foundation works to bridge that gap and add value to our local mountains through the visitor experience. It takes the efforts of our staff and more than 700 trained volunteers to support that work.
For the past 20 years, the organization has made a critical difference, executing volunteer programs that donated 1.5 million hours of service valued at $32,685,000.00.
Results: Together, this past year we have: Protected/restored 400 acres of public lands, Staffed and maintained 7 historic fire lookouts, Donated 21,645 hours of volunteer service to public lands, Maintained and built 39 miles of multi use trails, Diverted 196 tons of recyclables from landfills, and Hired, trained and introduced 134 opportunity youth to jobs in conservation.
The Big Bear Discovery Center, one of six programs, within the Southern California Mountains Foundation is a non-profit that I can easily support. They have a large volunteer base for staffing which translates to more dollars spent on actual programs. The Discovery Center programs are designed to educate not only children, but adults about our forests and the natural environment. They also do wonderful things to keep our forests alive and healthy through their reforestation programs. The Discovery Center is frequently the first stop for visitors to the area as it provides a good overview of the area with displays of the animal life, geology and natural history. There are trails just outside the center, maps available for additional explorations and activities for children. Donors can directly support by giving cash or indirectly by participating in tours or attending events.
I've been both a volunteer and a donor for this foundation and they do so much good -- for both the forests and mountains of Southern California and for our children. As the volunteer arm for one of the busiest forests in the nation, the San Bernardino National Forest, they run the popular Big Bear Discovery Center and educate thousands of kids and adults about our natural world. Their AmeriCorp Urban Conservation Corps provide dozens of at-risk young adults the skills and education to be productive members of society. I strongly support them.
smiggins 11/27/2012
Thank you, Linda! You are very much appreciated by all of us at the Mountains Foundation!