Promoting education, preservation & restoration of the natural & cultural resources of Russian River area State Parks
Promoting Preservation through Education and Stewardship in Russian River and Sonoma Coast State Parks
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods (Stewards) is a non-profit organization that partners with the Russian River Sector of California State Parks. The sector includes Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve (outside Guerneville), Austin Creek State Recreation Area,Sonoma Coast State Park (from Bodega Bay to Jenner) and includes the Willow Creek watershed. The State Parks Volunteers in Parks program depends on Stewards to provide funding for educational and interpretive activities, for resource management projects, and to assist in the development of interpretive facilities.
The State Parks of Sonoma County's coast and Russian River valley are rich in natural and cultural history, biological diversity and distinctive geology. Our mission is to promote education, preservation and restoration of the natural and cultural resources of Russian River area State Parks through interpretation and public stewardship. We do this (with the help of over 300 volunteers) by providing park visitors of all ages with a variety of programs and opportunities to experience and explore these exceptional parks.
In addition, Stewards plays an important advocacy role for California State Parks. For decades, California's park system, the nation's largest, has been under funded. This has lead to serious understaffing and a $1.2 billion deferred maintenance backlog. In May 2008, the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed our entire state parks system on the list of the top 11 most endangered historic places. Stewards routinely advocates for the needs of our State Park treasures, ensuring they will be open and available for public enjoyment for generations to come.
Join us in supporting Proposition 21, a measure on the November 2, 2010 ballot to Save our State Parks.
Full Moon Hikes Austin Creek SRA and
Sonoma Coast SP
Stewards in association with CA State Parks are proud to offer Full Moon Hikes! Bring your favorite local legend or ghost story, and a sense of adventure! We will be doing a moderate/strenuous 3-4 mile hike, lasting approximately 3 hours depending on stops. Constellation spotting, wildlife sightings with black lights, storytelling, and the beauty of our State Parks by the light of the moon will be the focus of our hikes. Come enjoy this unique opportunity to explore the trails after dark! Dress in layers, wear good hiking shoes and bring a small flashlight just in case. No dogs and no drugs/alcohol! Please leave valuables at home or carry them with you. All hikes will start ½ hour after official sunset. These hikes are not for inexperienced hikers-you must be in good physical condition!
Hikes at Sonoma Coast SP will meet and park at the Shell Beach Parking Lot - See map
Saturday, September 18, 2010, Meet 7:45pm
Saturday, October 23, 2010, Meet 7:00pm
Saturday, November 20, 2010, Meet 5:30pm
Annual Old Grove Festival - 2010 DATES - SEPTEMBER 24 & 25, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands: Friday, September 24, gates open at 5:00 pm Russian River Revue: September 25, gates open at 11:30 pm Ledward Kaapana: Saturday, September 25, gates open at 5:00 pm
Proposition 21 Update - It's been awhile since I've done an update on the Proposition 21 campaign and we definitely want to keep this issue in the forefront of your minds. It's going to take all of us working hard to pass this vital ballot measure for the survival of our State Parks. Read more about ways that you can help...
The Governor's May Budget Revision - Restored funding for State Parks - May 16, 2010
This week the Governor included $140 million in funding for State Parks in his May revise however he is proposing drastic cuts in social service programs. This means that legislators will have a huge challenge before them as they work to pass a budget this summer. The funding for State Parks is at 2008-2009 levels, which are a fraction of what State Parks used to receive.
Stewards offers special educational programs to help students and the public learn about a redwood grove's complex web of life, discover the wonders of coastal tide pools and engage in watershed field studies. In addition to studying a wide variety of flora and fauna, we help you explore the history of the Native Americans and other cultural groups who dwelled here.
Our School Group Education Programs serve over 5,000 school children a year. Stewards provides manuals and learning aids to teachers to support their curriculum goals. On-site field trips led by State Parks Volunteer Docents and Staff give students a hands-on opportunity to:
Investigate the wonders of the interdial zone
Learn about watershed values by participating in creek assessment projects
Explore the ecology of an old-growth redwood forest
Stewards' Public Education Programs are staffed by State Parks Volunteer Docents and Staff. They give generously of their time to share their love of nature, knowledge and information, as well as stewardship values. These programs include:
The natural resources in our parks have been impacted by past land use practices and are in need of continuing restoration to
bring them back to health.
Stewards has raised over $600,000 in funds
through donations and grants to support
resource management projects. We develop partnerships with other private
and public organizations. Our volunteer stewardship programs include:
Additional trail and restoration projects occurring as needed
State Parks Visitor Centers
Stewards supports the California State Park Visitor Centers in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and at the Sonoma Coast State Park in Jenner. State Parks volunteers operate nature stores at both locations. Our long-term goals include the renovation and
expansion of current facilities and the development
of a new facilities at Armstrong Redwoods and the Sonoma Coast State Park.
