COMMUNITY NATURE CONNECTION

WILDFIRE FIRE RESILIENCY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTCNC STAFF FACILITATED THE WILDFIRE RESILIENCY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT AGREEMENT #3810-GF-2384. THE GRANT CONSISTED OF 7 TASKS. FIVE OF THE SEVEN TASKS WERE COMPLETED WITHIN THE REPORTING PERIOD. TWO REMAINING WORKSHOPS FOR TASK 5 WILL BE COMPLETED IN FALL FY25-26.TASK 1 - IMPLEMENTATION OF OUTDOOR COASTAL ACCESS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE THE SMMC WILDFIRE GRANT SUPPORTED TASK 1: THE OUTDOOR AND COASTAL ACCESS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (OCALI) PROGRAM. WITHIN THIS TASK, OCALI ENGAGED TWO COHORTS WITH A TOTAL OF 26 YOUTH COMMUNITY LEADERS (HIGH SCHOOL (15-18) AGE AND TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH (18-21)) THROUGH A 10-WEEK EXTENDED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN NELA AND VISTA HERMOSA. PARTICIPANTS OF THE OCALI PROGRAM ENGAGED IN CORE CURRICULUM OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOPICS LIKE INTERSECTIONALITY, RED-LINING, WILDFIRE EDUCATION AND RESILIENCY, WERE SHARED DURING BOTH COHORTS. NORTHEAST YOUTH MET AT ELYRIA CANYON PARK MET EVERY SATURDAY IN-PERSON AND ALTERNATED FRIDAY EVENINGS VIRTUALLY FOR 12 WEEKS. FOR NELA TRANSITIONAL AGED-YOUTH WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE AKUUTET LEARNING NURSERY AT ELYRIA CANYON TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION OF NATIVE PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND PROPAGATION. THE CLOSELY CONNECTED RELATIONSHIPS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT THE NURSERY HAS CULTIVATED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS OFFERED A RICH OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH INTERNS TO NETWORK LOCAL LEADERS. NEARBY ACCESS TO THE GREEN SPACE CORRIDORS, SUCH AS ELEPHANT HILL AND RAINBOW CANYON, WERE INCLUDED IN THE CURRICULUM PLANS TO INTRODUCE INTERNS TO THE NICHE ENVIRONMENTAL ACCESS EFFORTS IN THE AREA. GUEST SPEAKERS FROM THE HONEY BLOCK AND NATIVES 4 NATURE AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHARED CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND LOCAL HISTORY. THE NELA COHORT CAMPED AT HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK IN SANTA CRUZ, CA. THIS CAMPING TRIP INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT. THE VISTA HERMOSA PARK HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH COHORT FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL ACCESS TO OUTDOOR LOCATIONS THROUGH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THE COHORT MET AT VISTA HERMOSA NATURAL PARK EVERY FRIDAY EVENING AND ALTERNATING SATURDAYS FOR 12 WEEKS. YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY MAPPING, BUILT A CORSI-ROSENTHAL AIR PURIFIER BOX, DEBATED THE IMPACT OF MICROPLASTICS, AND PLANNED OUT THEIR COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT. FIELD TRIPS TO THE SANTA MONICA PIER FOR CA COASTAL CLEAN UP DAY, TO KING GILLETTE RANCH, TO LOCAL RESOURCE SITES LIKE UNIDAD PARK, PATTON STREET PARK AND ECHO PARK LIBRARY, AND TO THE OCTAVIA LAB AT THE LA CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY INFLUENCED THE GROUP'S DECISION ON THE COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT. ADDITIONALLY, YOUTH ENJOYED AN OVERNIGHT CAMPING EXPERIENCE AT LEO CARRILLO STATE BEACH. A FINAL REPORT, WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 2025.TASK 2 - IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGING NATURALIST 1.0CNC PROGRAM STAFF LAUNCHED THE 6 WEEK EMERGING NATURALISTS 1.0 PROGRAM AT VISTA HERMOSA PARK WHICH TOOK PLACE FROM MARCH 8TH - APRIL 12TH, 2025. PROGRAM COORDINATORS JOVI NIETO AND JAVIER RODRIGUEZ IMPLEMENTED WEEKLY SATURDAY IN-PERSON SESSIONS WHICH INCLUDED A PARENT/GUARDIAN ORIENTATION, RESTORATION WORKDAYS AT VISTA HERMOSA PARK, AND FIELD TRIPS TO THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS AND BEACHES. AT VISTA HERMOSA, PARTICIPANTS COLLABORATED WITH MRCA STAFF TO RESTORE AND CLEAN UP THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE PARK ON TOLUCA ST. EARNING SKILLS OF WEEDING, TRIMMING, AND WORKING WITH HAND TOOLS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM'S BUILT-IN FIELD TRIPS, PARTICIPANTS GOT TO EXPLORE BOTH LOCAL AND DISTANT GREEN SPACES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE VISITED A LOCAL COMMUNITY GARDEN AT UNIDAD PARK, WHERE STUDENTS MET WITH DIANA CAMPOS-JIMENEZ OF THE LA NEIGHBORHOOD LAND TRUST TO LEARN ABOUT COMMUNITY GARDENS/GARDENING, SEED STARTING, GARDEN MAINTENANCE, AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT HERBS/PRODUCE THAT GROW BEST IN OUR LOCAL MICROCLIMATE. ON OUR TRIP TO THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS, STUDENTS GOT TO VISIT KING GILLETTE RANCH WHERE THEY COULD APPLY THE OUTDOOR SKILLS THEY HAD BEEN LEARNING ABOUT TO HIKING THE GILLETTE RANCH LOOP TRAIL AND OBSERVING THE LOCAL FLORA AND FAUNA UP CLOSE. STUDENTS EXPLORED THE SAMO FUND NATIVE PLANT NURSERY AND LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL HISTORY OF LA. STUDENTS ALSO GOT TO VISIT ELYRIA CANYON PARK FOR A DAY FILLED WITH LEARNING ABOUT NATIVE PLANT RESTORATION AND FIRE ECOLOGY. ON APRIL 12, PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE INVITED TO ATTEND THE FINAL CULMINATION CELEBRATION FIELD TRIP TO CABRILLO BEACH AND MARINE AQUARIUM.TASK 3 - IMPLEMENTATION OF 12 CONTINUING CONNECTIONS PROGRAM EVENTSCNC STAFF COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO FACILITATE 12 CONTINUING CONNECTIONS ALUMNI COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH THEMES OF WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, NATIVE PLANTS, AND CAREER PATHWAYS. GUEST SPEAKERS AND PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED USC'S LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE COURSE, THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TEST PLOT, HEIDI LUCERO, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE ACJACHEMEN NATION, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES, MOUNTAINS RECREATION & CONSERVATION AUTHORITY, MUJERES DE LA TIERRA, AND ROOTS IN MOTION. A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS WERE DELIVERED WHICH INCLUDED CAREER WORKSHOPS, VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, NURSERY WORKDAYS AT CNC'S AKUUTET LEARNING NURSERY, AND PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS AROUND WILDFIRE RESILIENCE AND NATIVE PLANT RESTORATION.TASK 4 - IMPLEMENTATION OF CALIFORNIA NATURALIST PROGRAMCNC STAFF FACILITATED ONLINE AND IN PERSON SESSIONS FOR THE 10 WEEK CALIFORNIA NATURALIST COURSE. THE 10 WEEK COURSE BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 4 AND RAN THROUGH NOVEMBER 6, 2024. WEEKLY VIRTUAL CLASSES WERE HELD ON TOPICS OF INTERPRETATION, COMMUNITY SCIENCE, GEOLOGY, WATER, PLANTS, FORESTS, ANIMALS, AND CLIMATE ISSUES. TWO IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS WERE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 AT LEWIS MACADAMS PARK ON THE THEME OF URBAN ECOLOGY AND OCTOBER 11, 2024 ON THE THEME OF FIRE ECOLOGY AT ELYRIA CANYON PARK. 25 NATURALIST-IN-TRAINING PARTICIPATED IN THE FALL 2025 COURSE THROUGH WEEKLY VIRTUAL SESSIONS, 2 IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS, PARTICIPATION IN A CLASS COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECT: CELEBRATE URBAN BIRDS, CONTRIBUTION TO A CLASS INATURALIST PROJECT, AND COMPLETION AND PRESENTATION OF A STEWARDSHIP PROJECT. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED WITH CNC INSTRUCTORS AND GUEST SPEAKERS, LEARNED FROM ONE ANOTHER IN DISCUSSION GROUPS, KEPT A NATURE JOURNAL PRACTICE AND COMPLETED PREP WORK AND WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS. ON MAY 9TH, STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE URBAN ECOLOGY FIELD TRIP WAS AT LEWIS MACADAMS RIVERFRONT PARK LEARNING FROM GUEST SPEAKERS FROM FRIENDS OF THE LA RIVER AND FEMINIST BIRD CLUB AND PRACTICING USING TOOLS FOR BIRD AND PLANT IDENTIFICATION SUCH AS MERLIN, EBIRD, AND INATIRALIST WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE UNIQUE NOVEL ECOSYSTEM AS WELL AS THE HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER. ON MAY 30TH, STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SECOND OF 2 IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS. ON JUNE 25TH, THE FINAL CLASS OF THE COURSE WAS HELD DURING WHICH PARTICIPANTS PRESENTED THEIR FINAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS. A PARTICIPANT SURVEY WAS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED AS AN EVALUATIVE METHOD TO ASSESS PROGRAM IMPACTS, PARTICIPANTS KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCES GAINED THROUGH THE PROGRAM. ANALYSIS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL REPORT.TASK 5 - IMPLEMENTATION OF 12 ALN/ELYRIA CANYON PUBLIC PROGRAMSCNC HOSTED 12 COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS FOR A TOTAL OF 202 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT ELYRIA CANYON PARK. ALL WORKSHOPS ADDRESSED WILDFIRE AND FIRE ISSUES SUCH AS: FIRE RESILIENCE, FIRE AWARENESS, AND FIRE SAFETY, AND INCLUDED TOPIC AREAS ON RECREATING SAFELY DURING FIRE SEASON, FIRE PREPAREDNESS, LANDSCAPING FOR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, CLIMATE REALITY AND SOLUTIONS, AND CULTURAL BURNING. THE WORKSHOPS INCLUDED GUEST SPEAKERS FROM PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS, HANDS-ON STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AND BONDING. PROGRAM INFORMATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL REPORT.TASK 6 - IMPLEMENTATION OF 12 VISTA HERMOSA PUBLIC PROGRAMSCNC STAFF HOSTED A TOTAL OF 12 WILDFIRE EDUCATION AND CAMPFIRES AS OF JUNE 13TH. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED 3 PARTICIPANTS FROM THE GIRLS OUTSIDE: EMERGING NATURALIST PROGRAM AND THEIR FRIENDS, AS WELL AS WITH TWELVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. PARTICIPANTS AND PARK VISITORS MADE SMORES AND DISCUSSED FIRE RESILIENCE TACTICS AND STRATEGIES AROUND A BONFIRE. THIS EVENT WAS A PUBLIC PROGRAM OPEN TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES. COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR HAVING ACCESS TO THE PARK, OPEN SPACE, AND CNC PROGRAMS DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.TASK 7 - GRANTS MANAGEMENT AND REPORTINGCNC DIRECTORS REVIEWED STAFF LABOR HOURS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO ENSURE THE TIME AND EXPENDITURES CODED TO THE PROJECTS WERE WITHIN BUDGET. WORK ON BUDGETING AND PLANNING FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25 & 25-26. REVIEW EXPENDITURES. REPORTS AND INVOICES WERE SUBMITTED ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD. THE GRANT WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR AND WRAP UP IN OCTOBER 2025. TWO REMAINING WORKSHOPS WILL TAKE PLACE FROM JULY-OCTOBER 2025. A FINAL REPORT AND INVOICE WILL BE SENT TO THE FUNDER. VOL