Santa Monica Mountains Fund

THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS FUND (THE FUND) WORKS TO PROTECT AND ENCOURAGE APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA. THE FUND ACHIEVES THIS BY SUPPORTING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) EFFORTS IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WILDLIFE RESEARCH AND PROTECTION, TRAILS AND HABITAT RESTORATION AND OUTREACH, STEWARDSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY.

TRAILS AND HABITAT RESTORATION: THE FUND SUPPORTS PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT PRESERVE THE SMMNRA FOR ALL TO EXPLORE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. IN NOVEMBER 2018, THE WOOLSEY FIRE RIPPED THROUGH THE SMMNRA DECIMATING 88% OF THE LAND. THE FUND HAS RAISED OVER $500,000 TO HELP REBUILD PARAMOUNT RANCH. THE FUND HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE NPS TO SUPPORT RESTORATION, RECOVERY AND MAINTENANCE OF THE HISTORICAL ROUTES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, INCLUDING RAISING MONEY FOR BRIDGE REPAIR ON THE BACKBONE TRAIL, AND HIRING A TRAIL CREW THAT CLEARED OR MAINTAINED OVER 25 MILES OF TRAILS IN 2021. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE REVITALIZATION OF THE NATIVE PLANT NURSERY AT RANCHO SIERRA VISTA AND HAS SUPPORTED UPGRADES TO THIS OPERATION. NEW EQUIPMENT IS ENSURING THAT HEALTHY PLANTS CAN NOW BE PRODUCED TO SUPPORT HABITAT RESTORATION THROUGHOUT THE MOUNTAINS. IN 2021, THE NURSERY GREW OVER 50,000 PLANTS THAT WERE USED FOR RESTORATION PURPOSES, CONTINUED TO GROW THE SEED BANK, HELD ITS FIRST ANNUAL MONARCH AND MILKWEED CONFERENCE TO SUPPORT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AND INVOLVED HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS IN THESE PROJECTS.

EDUCATION: THE FUND FACILITATES STRATEGIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CURRENT AND FUTURE SMMNRA STEWARDS OF ALL AGES BY FUNDING PROGRAMMING, TRANSPORTATION, AND ENDOWMENTS. EACH YEAR NEARLY 20,000 4TH GRADERS ARRIVE IN THE SMMNRA TO ENJOY A DAY IN THE PARK TO LEARN ABOUT PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FAMILIES ARRIVE FOR DIVERSE, CULTURAL GUIDED PARK ADVENTURES. IN THE SUMMER, THE SANTA MONICA (SAMO) YOUTH PROGRAM BRINGS COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE SMMNRA FOR A YOUTH MENTORING JOURNEY WITH NPS RANGERS. ALSO, THE FUND EMPLOYS SAMO YOUTH ALUMNI AS JUNIOR LEADERS TO SUPPORT THE SAMO YOUTH PROGRAM AND IN SOME CASES, COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE PROMOTED TO YEAR-LONG MENTORSHIP EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH NPS LEADERSHIP. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS OFFER SUMMER WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO OUTSTANDING YOUNG STUDENTS, EXPOSING THEM TO THE PARKS MISSION AND CAREER POSSIBILITIES. DESPITE THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, THE FUND HELPED NPS TO CREATE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES IN NATURE FOR MORE THAN 20,000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TALK WITH RANGERS ONLINE IN REAL TIME.

WILDLIFE RESEARCH AND PROTECTION: IN ADDITION TO STUDENT INTERNS SUPPORTING WILDLIFE RESEARCH, THE FUND SUPPORTS THE NPS' WILDLIFE RESEARCH PROGRAM BY DONATING FUNDS TO SUPPORT STAFFING OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT AND PROVIDE SATELLITE COLLARS SO THAT THE BIOLOGISTS CAN TRACK AND UNDERSTAND THE MOVEMENT OF BIG CATS. THE FUND ALSO SUPPORTS THE RESEARCH WORK RELEVANT TO THE WILDLIFE CROSSING AT LIBERTY CANYON. FINALLY, THE FUND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE #BREAKTHEPOISONCHAIN CAMPAIGN BY HIGHLIGHTING THE RISKS OF RODENTICIDE TO WILDLIFE AND PETS.