Welcome, Jake!

Jake Dickmann

Jake Dickmann

We have a new AmeriCorps member starting this month. Please join us in welcoming Jake Dickmann to the Shasta Land Trust as our latest Conservation Associate! Jake just made the trek out to northern California from his home state of Wisconsin. Jake will be responsible for the environmental education program and will lead the sixth annual edition of “Family Day” (a free event for families and kids),  present environmental educational lessons to local after-school programs and at large public events and SLT events. He'll also recruit and train volunteers to play a larger role in monitoring properties protected by SLT conservation easements and participate in restoration and clean-up efforts. 

Jake grew up in a small town about an hour north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was lucky enough to live only five minutes from his grandparents farm. He spent countless hours hunting, fishing, and exploring the woods and streams, which sparked his interest in conservation and exploring the great outdoors! 

He recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a major in biology and an emphasis in ecology. While at UW Oshkosh he competed in collegiate track and field in his favorite event, the pole vault! In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, running, and eating good food. He's excited to meet new people and to live and work in northern California.

Meet Terry Thomas, Board Member

Terry Thomas

Terry Thomas

Terry Thomas recently joined Shasta Land Trust’s board of directors. Terry hails from Michigan but moved with his family to southern California, where he spent most of his youth. After forming an environmental consulting company, Terry worked on a major project in the northstate and fell in love with the Redding area. After a 2 ½ year sabbatical with the Peace Corps, Terry and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Redding. Terry recently retired from his environmental consulting company and spends his time fly fishing, hiking, and kayaking throughout the northstate.

Terry says, "My wife, Marilyn, and I moved to Redding, in part, because we appreciate the natural beauty and amazing opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in the North State. The ranch lands and undeveloped open space in the area are unique in California and to the extent practical, deserves to be retained in its existing condition. The Shasta Land Trust provided us with the opportunity to work with other like-minded individuals to conserve some of these important properties for the benefit of future generations."

Please join us in welcoming Terry to the board of directors.

Landowner Success Story

Sandy DuBose at her Parkville Ranch

Sandy DuBose at her Parkville Ranch

Sandy Dubose, owner of the beautiful Parkville Ranch, will be featured in an upcoming video success story through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Sandy, who donated an easement on her ranch last December to the Shasta Land Trust, has been actively working with NRCS throughout the years on numerous conservation projects to improve agricultural productivity as well habitat and water quality.  NRCS recently sent in their video crew to interview Sandy, her farm manager, our friends with the local NRCS, and Shasta Land Trust. The conservation easement we hold on the property leverages all the great work done by Sandy and NRCS by ensuring that the property is forever protected. We're grateful to Sandy for creating a legacy of conservation on the Parkville Ranch. Stay tuned for the release of the video sometime this winter.

The NRCS film crew interviews Sandy about the habitat work she's done over the years

The NRCS film crew interviews Sandy about the habitat work she's done over the years

Jenna Brazil from NRCS talks about the oak woodlands on Sandy's property

Jenna Brazil from NRCS talks about the oak woodlands on Sandy's property

Thank You, Volunteers!

A big Thank You to all the volunteers who pitched in on the annual Great Sierra River Cleanup, held Saturday, September 20th at the Lillian Nelson Nature Preserve in Redding. Over 45 volunteers helped clean up and remove trash and invasive plant species from Churn Creek and Boulder Creek. 

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Cileo

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Cileo

Photo courtesy of Casey Dick

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

Photo courtesy of Casey Dick

Photo courtesy of Casey Dick

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Cileo

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Cileo

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

Photo courtesy of Casey Dick

Photo courtesy of Casey Dick

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

Photo courtesy of Casey Dick

Photo courtesy of Casey Dick

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Cileo

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Cileo

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

Photo courtesy of Sheila Darvell

McCloud Bike-toberfest

From our friends at Great Shasta Rail Trail Association and McCloud Chamber of Commerce:

Bike-toberfest, the annual celebration of the fall beauty of historic McCloud and the forests that surround it, returns Saturday, October 11, 2014.  Offering rides for both mountain and road bikes with fall colors and Mt Shasta views, as well as a Main Street festival featuring Cyclo-cross races, this year’s event promises to be the best yet.

The McCloud Chamber of Commerce and its partner the new non-profit Great Shasta Rail Trail Association invite bike riders and their friends and family to make plans for a wonderful weekend.  The rides that are offered this year are:

McCloud Dam Road Bike Ride - 30 miles (2-3hrs). Moderate to Difficult. This picturesque ”rolling hills” ride begins on Main Street, McCloud, through town onto Squaw Valley Road. The total ascent is 2,139 feet, with a maximum of 3,376 ft. and 6 category climbs.  Hilly ride takes you through meadows, aspen trees, above McCloud Lake to the Dam.  The return ride has a spectacular view of Mt Shasta and fall colors.  Full service Rest Stop at the Boat Launch and SAG wagon available.

The Great Shasta Marathon Mountain Bike Ride - 30 miles (4 hrs) Moderate to Difficult.  All riders meet at 8 am registration on Main Street, McCloud. Promptly at 8:30 am, riders will be bused to Algoma Campsite with bikes following in trailer. The first 13 miles are on moderate somewhat technical single track on the McCloud River Trail. Full service Rest Stop at Lakin Dam, then on to Bigelow Meadow Road, crossing Highway 89 to connect to the Great Shasta Rail Trail returning to Main Street, McCloud.

McCloud Scenic Road Bike Short Ride-12.5 miles (1-2hrs) Easy to Moderate. The ride begins on Main Street, McCloud continues through town onto Squaw Valley Road. The ride out turns around at Rest Stop at Friday’s RV Resort is a gradual downhill. The return ride is a gradual uphill to downtown with one more difficult climb near town. Rest Stop with food, water and SAG wagon provided.

McCloud Mountain Bike Short Ride-12 miles (1-2 hrs) Easy to Moderate. This ride begins on Main Street through town, crossing Pilgrim Creek Road and onto Great Shasta Rail Trail. Rest stop and turn-around at Mud Creek Bridge returning to Main Street, McCloud.

Registration begins at 8 am the day of the event, but participants are encouraged to sign up through RacePlanner or send in advanced registration forms.  Maps of the rides, as well as registration forms and links, are available at the web site:  www.mccloudchamber.com/bike-tober.  The afternoon will feature Cyclo-cross Races, organized by the Ride-On-Race Series, as well as music, booths, food, wine and beer.

More information about the Great Shasta Rail Trail is available at:  www.greatshastarailtrail.org.  Lodging information can be found at:  www.mccloudchamber.com

Great Sierra River Cleanup

Great Sierra River Cleanup

Saturday, September 20, 2014 8:30am-noon 

Churn Creek and Boulder Creek in Redding, CA


Schedule

8:30 Meet @ the Lillian Nelson Nature Preserve

8:30 - 8:45 Sign in and welcome

8:45 Carpool to cleanup sites

9:00 - 12:00 Clean up those creeks!

12:15 Lunch provided @ the Lillian Nelson Nature Preserve


GreatSierraRiver2014.jpg

Every September, more than 3,000 people band together and descend on creeks, rivers, lakes and beaches across the state. Their goal? To remove tons of garbage from California’s waterways in the Great Sierra River Cleanup. Shasta Land Trust has been a part of the state-wide effort since its beginning in 2009. This year we’re carrying on the tradition, to keep the places we love clear of trash. The 2014 cleanup will focus on portions of Churn Creek and Boulder Creek where they run through downtown Redding.

We need as many people as possible to get their hands in the water during the cleanup, and there are plenty of other ways you can help with the event, too—from delivering lunch for volunteers to photographing the event or helping promote it in local media.

This is a kid-friendly event (children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult), so bring along friends and family!

Please register online here to join the biggest state-wide river cleanup effort of the year! Email Max Odland or call 530.241.7886 for more information.

Please note that all participants need to sign a liability waiver before participating, and participants under 18 will need a parent/guardian to sign on their behalf.

Waiver

Welcome, Angela Radford!

Shasta Land Trust is excited to announce that we have hired Angela Radford as our new part-time development coordinator. Angela will be focused on building our fundraising capacity and coordinating our major donor and membership programs.

Angela is a South Lake Tahoe native with major roots in the Placerville area. Growing up, Angela's family took many hikes around the area and it was through those experiences where she fell in love with the land. Her college career took her to Southern California where she met and fell in love with her now husband of 8 years. She experienced a different kind of natural beauty, the big blue Pacific Ocean, but still had a longing to be back 'home' amongst the trees, lakes, and rivers.  

Shortly after college, Angela and David moved to the Bay Area where they both pursued their careers and Angela went on to graduate school at Santa Clara University. They spent a lot of time in the Bay Area and eventually had their daughter, Paige, in 2012. Having a child changed Angela, but it also pointed her toward the things that are most important in her life. She wanted Paige to be surrounded by natural beauty and experience what it is like to go hiking in her own back yard and know of the beauty and intricacies of nature. In the early part of 2014 the couple moved to Redding where David took a position at Simpson University. Angela helped settle the family and eventually started looking for a part time job. When she came across the Shasta Land Trust it was as if she had found her second home. What she felt about the land was put into words and actions by the Shasta Land Trust.

Angela is excited about the opportunity to work with SLT, to live in and experience all that Shasta County has to offer, and to make new roots here in Redding. When she is not at work or chasing after a toddler, Angela enjoys playing tennis, she loves to cook and entertain, and of course a day not spent outside exploring is a day wasted! 

Welcome, Angela!

Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) Host Site

AmeriCorps.jpg

Shasta Land Trust is excited to announce that we have been selected as a Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) Host Site for 2014-2015. Since 2009, SLT has enjoyed working with AmeriCorps members through the SNAP program. Our AmeriCorps members have become like family to us and serve as key conservation staff for our organization.

Do you love the Sierra? Want to help restore and protect the Range of Light while gaining valuable environmental professional experience?

Apply today to become a Member of the 2014 - 2015 Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) and serve with the Shasta Land Trust.

Shasta Land Trust and SNAP are seeking enthusiastic, conservation-minded people to commit to a 11 months of service and protecting Sierra natural resources and working to create sustainable communities. During the year, SNAP members serving at Shasta Land Trust will gain skills and technical training, mentor with outstanding environmental leaders and receive an education award at the successful completion of service.

Deadline for applying is August 1st. Interviews will begin in mid-August.

Responsibilities & Projects:

Members will serve full-time, from November 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015. Projects & responsibilities will vary depending on service positions but, will be based on watershed restoration and assessment, watershed education and outreach, and volunteer recruitment and management. For more detailed service descriptions, please visit http://sierranevadaalliance.com/programs/sierra-nevada-americorps-partnership/join/.

 Applicant Requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
  • Must have a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED (higher education degrees are highly recommended).
  • Must be a minimum of 18 years or older.
  • Must not have a criminal history that precludes the applicant's ability to serve as an AmeriCorps member.

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Monthly stipend of $1,254 per month
  • Standard health insurance
  • Up to 340 hours of technical, ecological and skills-development training throughout the year.
  • AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,550 will be granted upon completion of the program for use on existing qualified student loans or future higher education expenses.

How to Apply:

  1. Download the SNAP Member Application Packet with detailed application instructions here:http://sierranevadaalliance.com/programs/sierra-nevada-americorps-partnership/join
  2. Fill out the online SNAP Member application here.
  3. Email your resume and a 1-page cover letter stating your interest in the SNAP Member position and your best qualifications for the position to lynn@sierranevadaalliance.org. Be sure to title your email subject, "SNAP Application 2014-2015".

Deadline to Apply: August 1, 2014!

Shasta Land Trust Welcomes New Executive Director

The Shasta Land Trust (SLT), a non-profit land conservation organization located in Redding, California, announced today that it has hired Anne Murphy as its new executive director, effective April 14, 2014. Ms. Murphy will lead the land trust’s activities in conserving the beauty, character, and diversity of significant lands in far northern CA through conservation easements, environmental education, and outreach to the community.

Speaking on behalf of the Shasta Land Trust Board of Directors, John Stokes, chairman, commented, “The Shasta Land Trust is a highly successful conservation organization that is nationally accredited and recognized for its successful projects. When Ben Miles, our previous director, chose to move on, we conducted a nationwide search for a new director. We successfully recruited Anne Murphy, an experienced leader from the land trust community to lead our organization into the future. Anne will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the Trust.”

Anne.jpg

Ms. Murphy comes to SLT with 16 years of experience working with land trusts throughout the country. Anne also serves as a commissioner with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and is a board member with American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts. She is a consultant and online expert for the Land Trust Alliance and has authored several case study guides on strategic conservation planning. Prior to joining SLT, Anne worked with the Minnesota Land Trust (MN), Western Reserve Land Conservancy (OH), and Little Traverse Conservancy (MI).

Ms. Murphy is originally from northern Michigan and graduated with honors from Alma College with bachelor’s degrees in biology and piano performance. She has a graduate certification in geographic information systems (GIS) from Cleveland State University in Ohio. She recently moved to Redding and enjoys kayaking, sailboat racing, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and yoga. She is eager to take in all the outdoor recreational opportunities the area has to offer.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Shasta Land Trust and look forward to getting to know the local community and the unique and beautiful landscapes of Shasta County. It’s an exciting time for the Land Trust and I plan to utilize my skills and experience to lead the organization forward to continued success in area land conservation,“ says Murphy.

Shasta Land Trust was founded in 1998. Its mission is to conserve the beauty, character, and diversity of significant lands in far northern California. SLT works with willing landowners to conserve important properties in the northstate that have unique open space, habitat, agricultural, watershed, recreational, and scenic values. For more information on Shasta Land Trust, call 530.241.7886.