SPRING 2018
TALES FROM THE TRAILS Trekking Catalina’s Wildlands
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Message from the President The Catalina Island Conservancy spent several years developing a long-term strategy and master plan—a blueprint that called for all of us to IMAGINE CATALINA at its best. Because of the generosity of our supporters and the hard work of our staff and volunteers, we can share with you many of the tangible results of this long-term strategic plan in this issue of Conservancy Times. IMAGINE CATALINA builds on the Conservancy’s work over the past 45 years and imagines how the organization can evolve and advance its expertise, experience and resources to serve the Island and a greater good beyond its shores.
Conservancy Times is a bi-annual publication of the Catalina Island Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1972 to protect and restore Catalina Island for present and future generations to experience and enjoy. One of California’s oldest land trusts, the Conservancy protects the magnificent natural and cultural heritage of Santa Catalina Island, stewarding over 42,000 acres of land and 62 miles of rugged shoreline. Just over 20 miles from the mainland, Catalina Island is home to more than 60 plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. The Conservancy operates the Airport in the Sky, the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and two nature centers. It provides 50 miles of biking trails and 165 miles of recreational roads and trails. For more information, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org
It places a priority on protecting and restoring the Island by using science-based conservation in a lived landscape. The Conservancy’s conservation staff often work with others to achieve this goal. The story in this issue about the unique collaboration to map the Island’s vegetation demonstrates the Conservancy’s commitment to modeling science-based conservation through the use of the latest technologies, including machine learning and drones. IMAGINE CATALINA also calls for training today’s and tomorrow’s stewards of the natural world through lifelong learning experiences. The Conservancy’s educational staff are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with young and old alike through a wide variety of educational programs and naturalist training. NatureWorks is the Conservancy’s innovative education program for K–12 Avalon students. This issue describes how the educational staff have developed a curriculum that meets the “next generation” of science standards, while also
BENEFACTOR MEMBERS
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Alison Wrigley Rusack, Chair Trevor Fetter Anthony F. Michaels, PhD Maria Pellegrini, PhD
Tony Budrovich President & CEO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kellie Johnson, Chair Patrick McAlister, Vice Chair Stephen Chazen, PhD, Past Chair Robert Breech Blanny Avalon Hagenah William J. Hagenah Roger Lang Calen Offield Geoffrey Claflin Rusack D. Scott Stuart Mike Sullivan Shaun Tucker
Cynthia Fogg Administrative & Government Relations Manager; Senior Executive Assistant to President/CEO Tim Kielpinski Chief Operating Officer Larry L. Lloyd Board Treasurer, Chief Finance & Business Development Officer Suzy Gardner Chief Development & Communications Officer Frank Galea Director of Conservation
creating a replicable ecological literacy program that can be used by others. IMAGINE CATALINA’s other priorities are connecting people to the land and sea through nature-based recreational opportunities and modeling sustainability in the Conservancy’s facilities, finances and operations. For far too long, Island visitors have had difficulty connecting with the Conservancy because its office is off the main path in Avalon. This will change with the completion of The Trailhead, a visitor center conveniently located near the Cabrillo Mole boat landing. The Trailhead will be the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building on Catalina, an independent designation verifying construction of a highperformance, sustainable structure. To learn more about The Trailhead, please visit page 21. Last year, in order to expand nature-based recreational opportunities, the Conservancy completed Trekking Catalina, a master trails program. This issue gives readers a glimpse into some of the experiences of hikers and campers who are enjoying Trekking Catalina’s 27 miles of new and enhanced trails. We thank you for helping us to achieve these milestones in our IMAGINE CATALINA campaign and encourage you to join us to celebrate these achievements at our 23rd Annual Conservancy Ball on April 14. We appreciate your steadfast support and friendship as we continue to envision the Island’s future and ensure that it remains the very special place we all love.
Tony Budrovich President and CEO
Kristin Howland Director of Education Michelle Badders Manager of Human Resources CONTACT US P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, CA 90704 310-510-2595 320 Golden Shore, Suite 220 Long Beach, CA 90802 562-437-8555 CatalinaConservancy.org EDITOR Laura Mecoy GRAPHIC DESIGN Robin Weisz Design
Conservancy Times is printed on Pacesetter coated paper, which is Forest Stewardship Council Certified, made from 10% post-consumer waste and elemental chlorine free. Printed using soy-based inks.
F O L LOW U S ON :
CONTENTS F E ATURES
Tales from the Trails Hikers describe their adventures on 27 miles of new and enhanced trails created through Trekking Catalina. PAGE 2
Next Generation Science The Catalina Island Conservancy’s NatureWorks program is leading the way in implementing the next generation of science standards and creating a framework other conservation organizations and schools can use. PAGE 6
Innovative Catalina Collaboration PHOTOS: LAURA MECOY
The Conservancy partners with others using the latest technology to develop vegetation maps to help protect Catalina. PAGE 10
DE PART ME NT S MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
BECOME A CONSERVANCY MEMBER Not a member of the Catalina Island Conservancy? Don’t miss out on special opportunities and adventures.
JOIN TODAY! HELP PROTECT THIS GREAT NATURAL RESOURCE. CatalinaConservancy.org 562-437-8555 ext. 1239
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Conservancy Members Share Their Thoughts CONSERVANCY CELEBRATIONS
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Your Adventure Begins Here—Celebrate at the Conservancy Ball Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show Puts the Island’s Beauty on Display CONSERVANCY NEWS
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Meet Board Member D. Scott Stuart Frank Galea Joins Conservancy as New Conservation Director Andeavor Grant Funds Education Program SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT
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The Hathaway Family Continues a Tradition of Support Donor Honor Roll
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IMAGINE CATALINA Update
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Conservancy Calendar 22
R EC R EATI O N
Tales Trails from the
Trekking Catalina Adds New Miles and More...
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The hikers trekked more than two miles along the newly developed big Springs Ridge Trail to reach the grassy shade of Little Harbor campground for a lunch stop and a chance to share their thoughts on the journey from Avalon.
brilliant, awesome, challenging. so worth it! These were just some of the rave reviews from the group that recently participated in a hike organized by the outdoor retailer REI. They had just completed one of the new and enhanced trails the Catalina Island Conservancy created last year as part of Trekking Catalina.
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New and Enhanced Trails Big Springs Connector Big Springs Ridge Cat Harbor Overlook Cottonwood Canyon Eagle’s Nest Loop Empire Quarry Laundry Trail Lobster Bay Overlook Lone Tree Trail Old West End Road Parsons Landing Patrick’s Reservoir Silver Peak Skull Ridge
These hikers came to the
New Restrooms
Island on a trip organized by
NEW TRAILS, SIGNS AND RESTROOMS
the outdoor retail chain REI,
“With new and improved trails, signs and restrooms, Trekking Catalina is making the Island a premier destination for all levels of hikers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts,” said Tony Budrovich, Conservancy president and CEO. “Whether you’re seeking a few hours in nature or a multi-day hiking and camping adventure, Trekking Catalina gives you even more opportunities to explore the interior and experience nature.” With the new and enhanced trails, the Conservancy offers more than 165 miles of trails and recreational roads to explore on the 42,000 acres of wildlands it stewards on Catalina. Trekking Catalina created 27 miles of new and enhanced trails, better access points of entry at Avalon and Two Harbors, changes to the Trans-Catalina Trail and new restroom facilities. Trekking Catalina also includes improved trailheads and signage for navigating trails, as well as interpretive enhancements. “I like the new route for the Trans-Catalina Trail,” said Scott Ammons, REI outdoor programs manager. “It was nice to cut off the miles from Renton Mine trailhead and begin at Hermit Gulch. The new mileage markers were great, and the new bathrooms are a huge improvement. The new section of trail along Big Springs Ridge, especially the single track section, was a nice improvement.”
which offers regular excursions to Catalina to tackle the 38.5mile Trans-Catalina Trail. They were among the hikers who have enjoyed the 27 miles of new and enhanced trails the Conservancy completed in 2017 as part of IMAGINE CATALINA, its long-range strategic vision and master plan. Called Trekking Catalina, the new and expanded trails are the biggest addition to the Catalina trails system since the completion of the TransCatalina Trail in 2009.
TREKKING AND FINDING SOLITUDE
Mandy Esch, a radiologic technologist from Orange County, who recently hiked alone on Catalina, said she appreciated the new restrooms and signage, as well as new food storage lockers (installed separately from Trekking Catalina) because birds at Parsons Landing helped themselves to her food and water supplies while she was on a trek in 2016. On her solo treks, she said Catalina provides the solitude she seeks on the trail while also providing the amenities she craves, like a bacon cheeseburger at the DC-3 Grill at the Airport in the Sky. 4
Black Jack Campground Bottom of Goat Whiskers Trail Divide Road and Lone Tree Road Junction Haypress Campground Parsons Landing Shark Harbor West Bison Corrals To see a map of the trails, please visit: CatalinaConservancy.org and click on the box entitled “Trekking Catalina & Trails Map.”
❝C
ATALINA OFFERS a unique combination of rugged, untouched wilderness with vast mountain and ocean views, plenty of wide open empty spaces, while still providing luxuries like a hot shower, hand-dipped ice cream, restaurants and bars,” Esch said. “It may only be 22 miles from LA, but I had my dinner with the company of a Catalina Island fox at Black Jack campground. I saw a bald eagle resting in a tiny boat by a lake and more bison than I could count. I had deer grazing less than 10 feet from me in my campsite at Two Harbors. I walked along places on the Island where it was so quiet, the sound of bird wings in flight were startling and where I could hear waves crashing on the shore 1,700 feet below me. That kind of stillness is what I seek.” AMAZING AND CHALLENGING ADVENTURES
Holly Maszk, a coordinator for Women’s Ministry at North Coast Church in Oceanside, hiked the Island with her friend, Mary Bishop, and said they enjoyed a campfire and star-gazing far from the city lights. “It is beautiful there, and I would go back there again and stay for a few days for sure,” she said. For Adam Galvan, a paramedic from Highland who participated in the REI hike, the trek across the Island was an opportunity to spend time with his father, Anthony Galvan, and experience an “amazing” and challenging adventure.
Interested in Island Camping? Conservancy campsites include the oceanfront Little Harbor campground, where campers can play in the water, Parsons Landing on a secluded beach and Black Jack campground nestled among pine and eucalyptus trees in the Island’s interior. Reservations are required for all campgrounds.
Booking information:
310-510-TENT (8368) 877-778-1487 Conservancy members enjoy a 50% discount on camping fees at select campsites! To receive the Conservancy member discount, please call 310-510-8368 and provide your member number to the booking agent.
AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER
“Camping at Two Harbors and Parsons Landing was an experience like no other because of the cool winds and the sound of the ocean waves only feet away from our tent,” he said. “The hike provided a necessary challenge to remind us we can endure something more natural and real. We forget that in our past humans walked everywhere.” Mike Morey, a retired high school teacher and coach, hiked alongside Galvan and his father, and said the trek was “everything I hoped for and more.” “We have visited the Island and spent some time in Avalon, but until one actually gets back into the backcountry of the Island, one doesn’t see the true beauty and enormity of it,” Morey said. “The fabulous vistas, the incredible stars at night, the beautiful well-maintained campgrounds, the experience of enjoying the best coconut ice cream bar at the Airport in the Sky that you have ever eaten after two days of hiking, etc.—every one of us loved the hike and the experience.”
Trekking Catalina Supporters The Conservancy extends its gratitude to former Fourth District Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, current Fourth District Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for providing the support needed to complete the sustainable and environmentally sound enhancements to the Island’s trail system. The new trails were built with the help of the Conservation Corps of Long Beach, providing employment for underserved and at-risk youth, and seasonal field crews from the Student Conservation Association.
Interested in Hiking Catalina? Catalina offers a wide variety of hikes. From the relatively short and easily accessible Garden to Sky Trail beginning at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden in Avalon to the 38.5mile Trans-Catalina Trail that stretches from Avalon to Parsons Landing, there is a hike for varying levels of hikers. Hiking maps depicting the new trail system may be purchased at the Explore Store in the Conservancy House in downtown Avalon. Hiking permits are required so that hikers can be located in the event of an emergency. Hiking permits are free and can be obtained online from the Conservancy’s website or on the Island at the Explore Store, the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, the Nature Center on Avalon Canyon Road, Airport in the Sky and the Two Harbors Visitor Center. To protect the natural habitats, the Conservancy asks hikers to stay on the designated trails and carry out all waste. 5
ED U C ATI O N
N E X T G E N E R AT I O N S C I E N C E S TA N DA R D S
atureWorks Leading the Way he Avalon School fifth graders were so excited about their field trip that they applauded the bus driver’s routine recitation of the safety instructions at the outset of their adventure in Catalina’s wildlands.
d The class of 20
rode the bus to three different habitats on the Island courtesy of NatureWorks, the Catalina Island Conservancy’s innovative education program for K–12 Avalon students. The field trip is part of the curriculum that Willie Richerson, the Conservancy’s NatureWorks program specialist, has developed to implement the “Next Generation Science Standards” and create a model for other schools to use. CONNECTING ACADEMICS AND FIELD EXPERIENCES
“The Conservancy’s educational staff are leading the way in developing the next generation of science curriculum so we can engage students with meaningful experiences that pique their interest in science and prepare them for college, future career paths and Fifth graders from Avalon School arrive at Thompson Reservoir in the Catalina wildlands to conduct a survey of the ecosystems there.
Mariana Chavez, an Avalon fifth grade student, examines the insects her team found at Thompson Reservoir. 6
to be stewards for their Island home and the earth,” said Kristin Howland, Conservancy director of education. The Conservancy’s NatureWorks program connects strong academics to field experiences on Catalina and builds a model for how school systems and conservation organizations can collaborate to expand environmental stewardship training and students’ interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. Developed nationally and adopted by the California Department of Education, the Next Generation Science Standards envision that students will gradually deepen their understanding of scientific ideas over time by engaging in practices that scientists and engineers actually use. The standards define what a student should know by grade 12, with an emphasis on cross-cutting concepts to explain cause and effect, patterns in nature, systems and system models and much more.
❝The Conservancy’s
CONSERVANCY PILOTING NEW STANDARDS
for college, future career
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leading the way in developing the next generation of science curriculum so we can engage students with meaningful experiences that pique their interest in science and prepare them paths and to be stewards for their Island home and the earth.❞
PHOTOS: LAURA MECOY
“The previous science standards are over 20 years old and emphasized more scientific concepts rather than teaching students to think like a scientist,” Richerson said. “We are in the forefront of implementation of the new standards in the Long Beach Unified School District, and it’s been a wonderful opportunity for us to serve as a pilot project for these new standards in the district.”
educational staff are
Kristin Howland Conservancy Director of Education 7
LEARNING ABOUT ECOSYSTEM CHANGE
Before their field trip, the fifth graders created a mural of an oak woodland, learned about plant adaptations to the environment and studied ecosystem change. Students then learned how to use many of the same techniques and tools a scientist would use during their field trip. On their field trip, the youngsters worked in small groups. They conducted an in-depth survey of one square foot of habitat first in a grassland, then an oak woodland and finally near the shore of Thompson Reservoir. Richerson marked off the area to be surveyed by placing a tape measure across the ground. The groups then distributed themselves at specified points along the tape measure. They set down a 1-footsquare frame in which to work and used a thermometer to measure the surface temperature. HAVING FUN DISCOVERING THE NATURAL WORLD
Working within the square, the students used clippers and spades to remove the vegetation, documenting what they found by taking notes and photos on their iPads. They then took a measurement of the topsoil’s temperature.
Above, Willie Richerson, NatureWorks program specialist, laid down the tape measure to guide the Avalon School students in setting up their surveys. Right, Richerson posed questions for the students to consider in making observations about their findings.
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“This is fun that we get to dig and find things,” fifth grade student Slater Bray said as he scraped up the topsoil. Bugs and seeds went into collection jars. A guidebook and small magnifying glass helped the students identify each species they found. Spotting the exoskeleton of a cicada triggered a series of questions about where the cicada had lived. Unearthing a small seed or an unusual spider sent squeals of delight through the groups and triggered another series of questions from the students. “The spider’s so tiny,” Alberto Delgado said as he examined the insect he and his team had placed in a collection jar. “I almost lost him.” Max Peguero proudly displayed his team’s collection jar, noting that the jumping spider inside had “almost jumped out of the jar,” startling his classmate, Uriel Cazares. SEEING THE UNEXPECTED
Mariana Chavez examined the insects her team collected at Thompson Reservoir, noting that the students had found thicker vegetation and more bugs near the Island’s water source than in the grasslands and the oak woodlands. “Scholars, why would you find more bugs here?” Richerson asked. The youngsters quickly concluded that the presence of water made the difference.
❝Seeing the unexpected—that is what ignites their learning and creates teachable moments.❞ Donald Beaver Avalon School Teacher
Left, Brandon Oceguera Munguia proudly displays a rock he found in the topsoil at his team’s survey site. Below, Morgan Degnan, left, and Isabella Sanchez work together to document their team’s survey on an iPad.
The students also explored many aspects of the environment outside the small square in which they were assigned to work. For instance, several students learned about the Island’s acorn woodpeckers after spotting a crack in a tree where the woodpeckers had stored their acorns. “Seeing the unexpected— that is what ignites their learning and creates teachable moments,” said Donald Beaver, the students’ teacher. “This approach to science education is great because it helps the students get in touch with the environment that they may take for granted, and it increases their understanding of the earth as a whole.” CATALINA’S BACKYARD AS CLASSROOM
The class also visited the Ackerman Native Plant Nursery, where the Conservancy grows more than 85 species as container stock and houses more than 2,000 seed collections to help it restore and protect native plants on the Island. At the nursery, the students searched among the potted plants to identify their adaptations to the Island’s climate as part of a scavenger hunt with a promise of ice cream as a prize. They also saw the next generation of Catalina’s oak trees in the acorns that had CONSERVANCY TIMES
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sprouted and were almost ready for planting. Gino Galvez, PhD, California State University, Long Beach assistant professor of psychology, joined the field trip as part of his job of evaluating NatureWorks. He said the new curriculum is much more closely aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards, putting the Conservancy’s program ahead of another school he is working with. “It’s absolutely amazing to have the Island as a resource in the backyard,” he said. “But you can translate a lot of the activities to other schools. I could see students doing this same survey in a park.” For the Avalon students, the field trip provided an opportunity to explore Catalina’s wildlands with their teacher and for the Conservancy’s educational staff to assist them in understanding the Island they call home. But most of all, the students said the field trip made learning fun.
Thanks to NatureWorks Supporters W.M. Keck Foundation, Founding Grant Andeavor Employee Community Fund of Boeing, CA Coca-Cola Foundation Edison International Erickson Family Charitable Foundation The K.T. and E.L. Norris Foundation R.J. and D.A. Munzer Foundation Wrigley Fund Endowment US Bank 9
C O N SERVATI O N
A drone image of Catalina documents a location previously used in a study of scrub oak distribution. The imagery has been enhanced to highlight scrub oak cover.
I N N O VAT I V E Source: USC Spatial Sciences Institute: Andrew Marx.
CATALINA COLLABORATION DRONES AND MACHINE LEARNING HELP PROTECT AND RESTORE THE ISLAND
W
here biologists once relied on their feet and eyes to identify and classify Catalina’s vegetation, a unique collaboration of the Catalina Island Conservancy, two universities and the California Native
Plant Society is launching drones and using advanced computer programs and machine learning to survey and map the Island’s plant life. The Conservancy is working with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), the University of Southern California (USC) and the California Native Plant Society on a novel research project that will help protect and restore Catalina by creating new vegetation maps of the Island. These maps will properly classify vegetation, taking into consideration the classifications established nationally and throughout the Channel Islands, and they will inform models for understanding change in Catalina’s plant life. With a $120,000 grant from The Seaver Institute, the project is also advancing the development of emerging technologies and geospatial methods for vegetation mapping, modeling and classification.
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
VEGETATION MAPS FUNDAMENTAL TO CONSERVATION
“We are fortunate to have this extraordinary team working together to help us understand how vegetation on the Island is changing, which plants are most threatened and what we need to do to better manage plant life on Catalina,” said Peter Dixon, Conservancy plant conservation manager. “Fundamental to nearly every conservation management question is a current, easily replicable map of the dominant vegetation, which forms the foundation of the Island’s ecosystem.” He said Catalina’s two previous vegetation maps were done with the most modern techniques at that time, including field surveys by people on foot, aerial imagery and geographic information systems. But the most recent maps rely on data from the year 2000. With the new technologies available through this collaboration, Dixon said the Conservancy will develop more precise vegetation maps that will go to the species or “alliance” level. These maps can be easily updated and can be used to develop predictive models about what would happen to the Island’s vegetation with factors such as climate change and natural disasters.
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Above: Paul Laris, center, professor and chair of geography, California State University, Long Beach, works with colleagues, Michael Shensky, left, and Scott Winslow on drone surveys of Catalina vegetation. Below: Paul Laris, left, Scott Winslow, middle, and Duncan Macintosh, a CSULB student, set up the drone with the computer and other equipment needed to control it so that it can capture the information needed to help map Catalina’s vegetation.
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Source: USC School of Architecture/Spatial Sciences Institute: Nina Noujdina and Travis Longcore
MORE THAN 900 VEGETATION SAMPLES
Dixon said the Conservancy’s partners in the project are pursuing three lines of inquiry. The California Native Plant Society has compiled over 900 vegetation monitoring samples from Catalina for analysis, along with data from the other Channel Islands. The resulting metrics will be used to define the various vegetation “alliances” included on the map. A vegetation alliance is a floristically defined vegetation type identified by its dominant and/or characteristic species. The USC team is using advanced computer programs and machine learning to analyze aerial photos of Catalina and other data. It has created distinct segments of the Island on a map for analysis and will then distinguish the locations of vegetated clusters, roads, trails, water, bare soil and rocks. “We are excited to be able to work with the Conservancy because of the connection to USC through the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on the Island,” said the leader of the USC team, Travis Longcore, PhD. He is an assistant professor of architecture, spatial sciences and biological sciences at the USC School of Architecture discipline of landscape architecture and the USC Dana & David Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences Spatial Sciences Institute. ASSESSING MAP ACCURACY
The CSULB team is developing methodologies to acquire additional imagery using drones to conduct an accuracy assessment of the map developed by USC. Paul Laris, PhD, professor and chair of geography at CSULB, is leading the university’s efforts and pioneering the use of drones in vegetation mapping. He said the Island offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of invasive species on plant life. The Conservancy has removed several invasive species and reduced the impact of the bison herd on the Island’s plants by using a novel contraception program to maintain the herd at no more than 150 animals. “While we are doing some similar work on the mainland, Catalina’s plant life and history are unique,” Laris said. “Of course, an island is unique because you can remove an invasive species and prevent its return or you can regulate the number of animals, as the Conservancy has done with the bison through its innovative contraception program to limit the size of the herd.” 12
Computers help create segmentation of the Island to show areas of similar vegetation based on topography and other characteristics.
PROJECT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Laris brought students to the Island to learn mapping techniques as part of a partnership between CSULB and the Conservancy. This collaboration benefits the university’s students by providing unique research opportunities on the Island, and it benefits the Island by providing additional research resources. “The Conservancy’s partnerships with universities and others open doors for new lines of inquiry that help us achieve our mission of restoring Catalina and providing educational opportunities on the Island,” Dixon said. “When this project is completed, CSULB students will have gained a new understanding of vegetation mapping and analysis. And the Conservancy will have a map that will help it understand how Catalina’s vegetation is changing, which species or habitats are the most threatened and how best to manage conservation efforts to ensure the Island’s native plants and animals continue to flourish.”
CSULB researchers Paul Laris, right, and Scott Winslow demonstrate the drone’s abilities. CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
C O N S E RVA N CY M E M B E R S H I P
WHO Are Our Members? THEY ARE ACTIVE. THEY LOVE THE OUTDOORS. THEY ARE CATALINA CHAMPIONS, STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND BIG SUPPORTERS OF THE CONSERVANCY’S MISSION.
These are just some of the findings from a recent survey of Catalina Island Conservancy members. Here is more of what they had to say:
WHY
did they become members?* To support the Conservancy’s mission
65%
Seeking Conservancy benefits and discounts
30%
Wanted a Freewheeler Bike Pass
28%
To become members of the Aero Club and to be entitled to unlimited airport landings 18%
HOW LONG
have they been members?
WHO ARE
the Conservancy’s members?* Nature Enthusiast
59%
Hiker
58%
Boater
42%
Cyclist
32%
Camper
29%
Become a Conservancy member today!
More than 10 years
14%
5–10 years
18%
2–5 years
28%
1–2 years
19%
Less than 1 year
17%
Hiking
74%
Don’t recall
4%
Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden visit
56%
Boating
54%
Biking
38%
ENJOY DISCOUNTS on Catalina restaurants, hotels and other services, as well as discounts on Conservancy services and programs.
Special Events
37%
Please visit CatalinaConservancy.org
HOW OFTEN
do they visit the Island each year? 7 or more trips
25%
3–7 trips
23%
1–3 trips
39%
Every other year
13%
*These responses add up to more than 100% because respondents could choose more than one category. A total of 4,256 surveys were distributed, and 415 replies were received.
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HELP US protect and restore Catalina.
WHAT ARE THE TOP FIVE
things they’ve done on the Island?*
85% SAID
the Conservancy is effective at fulfilling its mission of being a responsible steward of its lands through a balance of conservation, education and recreation.
STAY UP TO DATE on the latest Conservancy news through members-only news.
Or contact Gina Dartt Development Manager Membership and Annual Giving 562-437-8555 ext. 1224 GDartt@CatalinaConservancy.org
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C O N S E R VA N C Y C E L E B R AT I O N S
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23rd Annual Conservancy Ball “Your Adventure Begins Here” is the theme for the 23rd Annual Conservancy Ball on April 14, and the evening promises to be one that is filled with adventures in dining, dancing and fun. The black-tie event will celebrate the completion of Trekking Catalina, a master trails system that added 27 miles of new and enhanced hiking trails to the Island’s wildlands, and will start the official countdown to the upcoming opening of The Trailhead Visitor Center in Avalon later this year. “This year’s Conservancy Ball will also focus on the many adventures available on the Island—from breathtaking hikes to exciting Eco Tours of the wildlands,” said Tony Budrovich, Conservancy president and CEO. “We are working hard to create the best possible backyard for Avalon residents and visitors of Catalina to explore and experience.” Conservancy Ball guests will enjoy dancing to the big band sounds of Society Beat in the historic Avalon Casino Ballroom. They will also have an opportunity to bid on many one-of-akind auction items that will be available for purchase during the silent and live auctions. “Please join us for an evening you won’t forget,” said Budrovich. “The Ball will be an entertaining event and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many memorable adventures Catalina offers us all.” Sponsors Make the Ball a Success!
Enjoy special access to the exclusive Pre-Ball Sponsor Reception at Bluewater Avalon plus other benefits! Visit CatalinaConservancy.org for details or call 562-437-8555 ext. 1238.
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
7th Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show Draws Art Lovers from Throughout Southern California
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rt lovers from throughout Southern California purchased paintings and admired the works of 10 of the country’s leading plein air painters at the 7th Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show at the Balboa Yacht Club, which took place on October 22, 2017. The annual event supports the Catalina Island Conservancy’s conservation, education and recreation programs and is the Conservancy’s second largest fundraising event. The artists featured in 2017 were Cindy Baron, Brian Blood, Don Demers, Kathleen Dunphy, Debra Huse, Laurie Kersey, Kim Lordier, Michael Obermeyer, Ron Rencher and Brian Stewart. Each artist spent time on Catalina creating new works that featured the Island’s rugged wildlands, Avalon and Two Harbors in the plein air style, which means painting nature while in nature. “We are so fortunate to have such gifted artists capturing the conservation of the Island in their works and helping to support the Conservancy and its mission by participating in Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show,” said Tony Budrovich, Conservancy president and CEO. In addition to helping fund the Conservancy’s programs, proceeds from the art show also support the Conservancy’s permanent collection of plein air art that documents the organization’s conservation efforts and progress in habitat restoration. Many of the paintings acquired during previous shows are on display for the public in the Conservancy’s Nature Center in Avalon Canyon.
SAVE THE DATE The 8th Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show will be Sunday, October 21, 2018, at the newly remodeled Newport Harbor Yacht Club. The Conservancy is excited to announce the 2018 Art Show’s featured artists: Cindy Baron, Brian Blood, John Cosby, Don Demers, Kathleen Dunphy, Andy Evansen, Debra Huse, Laurie Kersey, Michael Obermeyer, Colin Page and Joe Paquet. The artists will be journeying to the Island throughout the year to paint. If you see them painting on the trails or in town, be sure to stop and say hello! SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2017 CORPORATE PARTNERS City National Bank Capital Group Bluewater Grill Balboa Yacht Club
Legacy Society
We all have but one chance to live.
One chance to leave behind a legacy. Your estate gift will help protect Catalina Island for generations to come. For information on how to include the Catalina Island Conservancy in your estate planning, please call: Suzy Gardner Conservancy Chief Development Officer 562-437-8555 ext. 1228 SGardner@CatalinaConservancy.org
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C O N S E RVA N CY N E W S
D. Scott Stuart NEW CONSERVANCY BOARD MEMBER
Catalina Island Conservancy member D. Scott Stuart and his wife, Tammie Stuart, recently visited the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and shared their love for the island with Suane Koster, their daughter-inlaw, Anderson Koster, their grandson, and Ryan Koster, their son.
D. Scott Stuart was just 11 years old when he discovered the joys of camping with the Boy Scouts at Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island’s west end. The friendships he made, the environmental knowledge he gained and the independence he experienced ignited a lifelong love of camping that led to his future career. His week at Camp Emerald Bay led to more camping experiences in Colorado, where Stuart became the owner and director of a summer camp in 1979, a position he held until 1999. Going full circle, the Boy Scouts now manage his facilities in Colorado. Catalina’s life-changing potential also sparked Stuart’s interest in joining the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.
“We just love Catalina, and when I looked at where we could offer some help, the Conservancy was at the top of the list,” he said. “I have been absolutely amazed at the Conservancy’s involvement in every aspect of conserving and protecting the Island.” His family’s involvement with Catalina spans multiple generations, beginning with his grandparents, A.G. and Betty Ann Atwater, who first brought Stuart to the Island as a young child. Stuart has continued the tradition, bringing his children and grandchildren to the Island. His most memorable Catalina experience was the semester he spent as a USC student at the USC Wrigley Science Center near the Island’s isthmus. During that semester, he learned to scuba dive and explored the Island’s wildlands with USC instructors. “It seemed like there was not one square mile of the interior that we didn’t touch,” he said. Stuart and his family have long supported the Conservancy, including attending their first Conservancy Ball in 2010. Stuart and his wife, Tammie, have been attending ever since. The couple lives in Gypsum, Colorado, and they have three grown sons and three grandchildren. Stuart is a CPA who also manages family-related businesses. He has served on the Board of Directors for Youth Zone, an intervention and prevention program for youth, for 12 years, including serving as chair of the board. He also has been active in the Western Association of Independent Camps and the Association of Independent Camps, which was a branch of the American Camp Association.
❝We just love Catalina, and when I looked at where we could offer some help, the Conservancy was at the top of the list. I have been absolutely amazed at the Conservancy’s involvement in every aspect of conserving and protecting the Island.❞ D. Scott Stuart Catalina Island Conservancy Board Member
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
Frank Galea DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION
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fter 30 years of working on conservation issues in Northern California, Frank Galea moved to Catalina with his family in September to become the Catalina Island Conservancy’s director of conservation. In this role, he is supervising the conservation staff and the Conservancy’s programs that help protect and restore the Island. “We are so pleased to have Frank join our team,” said Tony Budrovich, Conservancy president and CEO. “With his extensive background in biological consulting and conservation, he is providing strong leadership in helping us fulfill our mission of protecting and restoring the Island’s natural habitats and species.” Galea grew up in Orange County and said he first visited Catalina as a teen. He still remembers how excited he was to take his first tour of the wildlands. Since then, he has flown, sailed and boated to Catalina, all with friends and family, to enjoy the Island. “It’s rare to have an opportunity to live in a beautiful place like Catalina and
work with an organization with such an important and unique mission of stewarding lands through a balance of conservation, education and recreation,” said Galea. At the Conservancy, he is responsible for overseeing management of the federally threatened Catalina Island fox, limiting the size of the Island’s iconic bison herd and numerous other programs that protect and restore the many native and endemic species on the Island. Galea is a Certified Wildlife Biologist® and an expert in habitat assessments, habitat conservation plans and human/ wildlife contact. He has a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree in natural resources and wildlife management. He also has completed 21 specialized training certifications in the conservation field and has trained staff on wildlife protection and conservation programs. Before joining the Conservancy, he consulted on many unique projects through his firm, Galea Wildlife Consulting (GWC) which was founded in 1989. Through GWC, Galea provided
Frank Galea
advice to companies, tribes and land owners. His past projects included surveying mountain goats for Native American tribes in Alaska and mitigating threats to endangered species. He also worked with Redwood Sciences Laboratory to study, track and use location mapping in the recovery efforts for the northern spotted owl. “I’m sure that my previous experiences will prove useful in tackling the many challenges we face in managing the 42,000 acres under the Conservancy’s stewardship,” Galea said. “I’m proud to be a member of the Conservancy’s leadership team as it works to ensure the future of this beautiful island.”
Andeavor Provides $250,000 for NatureWorks
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hanks to a $250,000 grant from Andeavor, the Catalina Island Conservancy’s NatureWorks program has a new Wildlands Express van to transport kindergarten through fifth grade Avalon students enrolled in its after-school program. The grant will also provide three years of funding for NatureWorks staff, as well as needed materials and other associated program costs. NatureWorks is dedicated to offering students strong academic and field experiences on Catalina and aims to help students see firsthand how they could work in ecotourism, conservation or other fields requiring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills. “We thank Andeavor for their generous support of the Conservancy’s CONSERVANCY TIMES
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NatureWorks program,” said Suzy Gardner, Conservancy chief development and communications officer. “This grant demonstrates Andeavor’s commitment to being a socially responsible corporate citizen, and the objectives of the NatureWorks program align perfectly with their community investment priorities of environmental stewardship and STEM education.” Andeavor is a premier refining, marketing and logistics company with operations in Carson and Long Beach and throughout the western and mid-continental United States. The company values the opportunity to help create cleaner, safer and well-educated communities where it operates. “At Andeavor, we value the
opportunity to make community investments that better prepare students for professional and academic success by increasing access to high-quality educational resources and instruction,” said Tiffany Rau, Andeavor director of government and public affairs. “The Conservancy’s NatureWorks program is making a tremendous impact in the lives of Avalon and other Long Beach School District youth, and we’re proud to help fuel their continued success.”
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SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT
Supporting the Conservancy CONTINUING FAMILY TRADITIONS father, who loved rowing, launched a rowing event from Catalina’s isthmus to Marina del Rey, which Steve said became “the rowing event of the West Coast.” Steve took up rowing as well and made the crossing several times before the event was discontinued. When he started his own family, Steve said he brought his children to Catalina on his boat. His wife, Stephanie, had never spent much time on boats before they met. But he said she fell in love with boating and Catalina after they married. Steve is an avid hiker, who often takes family and friends on treks across the Island. ENCOURAGING THE BOATING COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT
Steve Hathaway and his wife, Stephanie, in one of their favorite places—aboard a boat.
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teve Hathaway’s great-grandfather, Frank Garbutt, was a leader in bringing the venerable Los Angeles Athletic Club back to life in 1906 after the downtown institution had fallen out of favor and closed five years earlier. Steve’s father, Charles Hathaway, also brought a respected institution, the California Yacht Club, back to life after the U.S. Coast Guard had shut it down during World War II. Today, Steve continues both these traditions, serving as president of the Los Angeles Athletic Club and the California Yacht Club. He’s also continuing another family tradition—support for the Catalina Island Conservancy. A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
“My dad was on the Conservancy board for over 10 years, and he was very supportive,” said Steve. “His real interest and love was supporting the trail system and, at that time, they were raising funds to build the Trans-Catalina Trail, so he and my mother, Patty Hathaway, made a contribution to help get the Trans-Catalina Trail completed.” 18
Steve and his wife, Stephanie Hathaway, are among the many donors to The Trailhead Visitor Center that the Conservancy is building near the Cabrillo Mole boat landing in Avalon. They also attend the annual Conservancy Ball and are members of the Conservancy’s Leadership Circle, a group of extraordinary supporters of the Conservancy who are major advocates for protecting and restoring Catalina Island. “Stephanie and I are very passionate about the Conservancy and its work on Catalina,” he said. “The Conservancy needs financial support to accomplish its objectives of protecting and restoring the Island. The Trailhead is going to be extremely important to get the word out about the Conservancy’s mission and goals. It will also provide important information about the many opportunities for visitors to explore the Island’s interior.” PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING CATALINA
Visiting Catalina is also a family tradition. Steve said he’s been traveling to the Island by boat since “before I could walk.” His
“We have a lot of fun, and our friends just really enjoy seeing the interior as well,” he said. “The beauty of coming around a corner and seeing a bison or Catalina fox or Catalina quail is just spectacular.” Making sure future generations can enjoy that beauty is a priority for the Hathaway family, and Steve said it should be a priority for all who visit the Island. As a leader in the boating community, he urges his boating friends to explore the interior and support the Catalina Island Conservancy in its mission of restoring and protecting the 42,000 acres under its stewardship. “The boating community needs to be more supportive of the Island because they are the ones who are reaping a lot of the benefits of what the Conservancy is doing to preserve Catalina,” he said. “All of us who have been in boating for many years should support the Conservancy because we want our future generations to experience what we have experienced.”
PLEASE JOIN THE CONSERVANCY’S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE TODAY!
Contact Suzy Gardner Conservancy Chief Development Officer 562-437-8555 ext. 1228 SGardner@CatalinaConservancy.org
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS *Listing includes annual support from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, exclusive of auction items donated to or purchased at the Conservancy Ball. Excludes gifts made to the IMAGINE CATALINA Campaign. Gifts are listed by amount in descending order.
$100,000+
David and Kay Linden
$1,000–$2,499 Julia Banning
Gardner Grout Foundation
Western Los Angeles Council Boy Scouts of America
Guided Discoveries
John and Cindy Cotton
Charlie and Ellen Steinmetz
Drew and Jane Lanza
Doug and Judy Levi
Thornton S. Glide, Jr. and Katrina D. Glide Foundation
Erickson Family Charitable Foundation
Steve and Pat Chazen Victoria and Dorn Dean Blanny Avalon Hagenah The Seaver Institute Offield Family Foundation
Greg and Lori Bombard
Bruce and Lisa Gelker
$50,000–$99,999
Roger and Sarah Chrisman
Geoffrey Claflin and Alison Wrigley Rusack
R.J. and D.A. Munzer Foundation
Estate of Carrol L. Grace
$5,000–$9,999
Alex and Janet Boggs
James H. Ackerman Family and Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation
Steve High
Steve and Stephanie Hathaway
Santa Catalina Island Company
Tom and Gerda Sparks
Andy and Gaye Saxon
Balboa Yacht Club
$25,000–$49,999
The Hexberg Family Foundation
Nancy Katayama
Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Capital Group Companies
Scott and Cynthia Barnard
Southern California Edison
Maria Pellegrini
Tim and Sheila Collins
Frank Tarquin and Kathy Gann
Tricia and Will Hagenah
Mark and Cindy Choate
Geraldine Knatz and John Mulvey
Bob and Mai Breech
Howard and Jeanne Tuttle
Larry and Terry Grill
Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation
Dennis and Susi Gertmenian
Bill and Carolyn Doherty
Janice Rutherford Hinds
Patrick and Mari McAlister
Doug and Audrey Bombard
Roger Lang
Richard Woodward
Board of Supervisors, County of Los Angeles
Aon Risk Solutions
Andeavor
Dorrance Family Foundation Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation Gary and Kellie Johnson A.G. Cox Charity Trust
Los Caballeros
Bruce and Katherine Choate Ryan Family Charitable Foundation
Charles and Patty Hathaway
Michael Roffina Bank of the West Michael Kilbride James and Mary Buckingham Robert’s Home Audio & Video, Inc. CCS Kleiner Cohen Foundation Lee Harrison Gillian Groves and Gerald Petersen Marcus and Cynthia Crahan Cheryl and Michael Mooradian Steve and Linda Glanville Phillip and Daisy Hartz Greg Schem Elliott and Elisa Olson Julie and Robert Woolley Douglas West and Irene Ziebarth Ann Muscat and Jack Baldelli Paris Rebl and Lisa Cole Janet Kirby Jeff Bertuleit Andy Bonin Hans and Dianne Bozler
Philip and Maureen Ramer
Employees Community Fund of Boeing California
Stephen and Ann Hinchliffe
Dave and Pat Lamb
James and Carol Schmidt
Friends of the Island Fox, Inc.
J. and Sarah Barnes
$10,000–$24,999
Ken and Melissa Redding
Todd and Tatiana James
Jeffrey Stanberry and Patricia Zagnoni
The Boone Foundation
Catalina Island Yacht Club Foundation
Chris Spenker
Helen Rich Annenberg Foundation
Anonymous
Shaun and Katy Tucker
Avalon Environmental Services
Randy and K.C. Boelsems
Bluewater Grill
Earl B. Gilmore Foundation
Catalina Classic Cruises
C.M. and Edna Peyton Cotton Foundation
Connolly-Pacific Co.
Edison International Elliott Family Foundation Fund
James W. and Anne D. Johnson Family Foundation
John Hagenah Family Fund
Johnny Carson Foundation
Robert and Lisa Grimm
D. Scott and Tammie Stuart
Laura and Carlton Seaver
Ron and Cheryl Roberts
Frank and Joann Randall
Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, LLP
Diane Wilkinson
City National Bank
Donald Schoellerman
Jessica Hibbs
Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Richard and Marie Knowles
Patricia Linden
The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
Mutual of America
Donald Slavik Family Foundation US Bank
Tom and Cece Ricketts
Howard Higholt
Calen and Amber Offield
$2,500–$4,999
Lynne Brickner and Gerald Gallard
Anonymous Jim and Susie Birmingham
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Gary and Sonja Gray Gary and Sandi Hill Graham Tingler Jack and Shirley Herron Jim and Deena Warmington Joe and Michele Hempel John and Barbara Anglin Robert Voit
Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund T.C. Collins and Associates The Louis and Gladyce Foster Family Foundation
MATT Construction
Scott Brown Mike and Elizabeth Rabbitt MVE + Partners, Inc. Mike and Lynn Joseph Jay and Mary Linda Strotkamp Bob and Beth Huston The McKewon Family Fund at The San Diego Foundation Nelson and Mimi Jones Marianne Horn Michael Baker International Moffatt & Nichol Morrie and Carol Kirk Janice Paulson Blair Contratto Deborah Richie-Bray J.K. and Robin Leason Fine Line Construction Thomas Strotkamp Margie Meehan and Bob Kreidel
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HONOR ROLL OF DONORS *Listing includes annual support from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, exclusive of auction items donated to or purchased at the Conservancy Ball. Excludes gifts made to the IMAGINE CATALINA Campaign. Gifts are listed by amount in descending order. Doug and Jeanie Shelton
Anne Laguzza
Cal Parsons
Skip and Deborah Hudson
Steve and Lauren Tabor
Beverly Segner
Patrick and Tiare Meegan
Steve and Susan Matt
Caleb Lins
Meighan Offield
Jim and Janet Eddy
Thomas and Karen Linden
Nicolas and Judy Martin
Western Exterminator Company
Matt and Elsa Bear
Andy and Rita Zimbaldi
Paul and Kate Laris
Barry and Sharla Boehm
Gene and Barbara Kraus
Ben Widhelm
Terry Cunningham
Cliff Russell
Shirley Callan
Donald and Edna Spencer
Larry and Linda Lloyd
Eric Weld
Ritch and Kathleen Haynes
Matt Fargotstein and Justine McLoughlin
Gary Hayes and Patricia Roskowski
Ellen Anderson
Scott and Jennifer Arundale
Tom and Julianne Youngren
City of Paramount
Barton and Sandy Gurewitz
George and Carol Lattimer
David McAlister
George Villalobos
Ruben Rojas
Van and Melissa Whiting
Mike and Gloria Sullivan
Ben Abrams and Mary Jo Negle
Terry and Paulette Chapman
Sharon and Doug Stewart
Captain Robert S. Strang
Ernest Diaz
Anonymous
Sam Piffero
Gary McNelley
Bryan Cave LLP
Rodney and Terri Hatch
Gerald Miller and Gail Wasil
Catalina Broadband Solutions
HUB International
John Johnson
Ecolab Foundation
Las Caballeras
Larry and Susan Twomey
Margaret A. Frank Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
Gerald and Susan Trautman
Michael Silvey
Donald and Cheree Edwards
Barney and Lisa Page
Paul and Lynne Gross
G.T. and Shannon Frost
Maury and Marcia Gallagher
Robert and Brigitte Jennison
Jason Paret
Ben and Denise Carter
William and Therese Wolf
Randall Greer
Brett Barnard
Barbara Goldreyer
Gerald and Denise Motter
David Lindquist and Karen Bohan
Michael and Therese Hotvedt
Ed and Mikelle Watson
David and Kathleen Renton
Christine Doran
Tom and Judy Hartman
Frederic and Lucille Ripley
Jeanne Beesley and Andrew Tao
Zach and Amelia Erickson
Gary and Mary Gordon
Ruth Peace
Curt and Alita Rethmeyer
Greg and Stacey Renker
Negus-Hogan Family Foundation
Roy and Gayle Jones
Hudson and Michele Saffell
Karen Norris
Mark Serratt
Joe and Janet Lauro
Betty and Ralph Ketchum
Hank and Diane Hilty
Ken and Christine Zampese
Diane Bock
Cindy and David Odegard
Lawrence Dubois
Laura and Charlie Tomlinson
John and Theresa Miller
Mike and Antonia Massie
John Meyers
Austin Rusack
Paul and Polly Stemler
Martin and Bernardine Curtin
Harlan Gibbs
Dick and Geri Peckham
Debi and Norris Bishton
Mitchell and Theresa Samuelian
Richard and Becca Waycott
Roy Rose
Susan Clare and Walter Larkin
Robert and Helen Zieman
Brouwerij West
Rick and Maria Citron
Steve and Amanda Calhoun
HomeStreet Bank
Wildlife West
Tobin Campbell
Lappen Family Foundation
Todd and Kathy Hallenbeck
William and Kathleen Mudd
Lawrence Campeau
Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy
Laurie and John Romanak
Mecoy Communications
Darleen Kleinert
Marian Cormie
Gil and Delany Hilen
Jim Corcoran
Nancy Dubois
Clark and Carol Aristei
Leonard and Brenda Pieroni
Dan and Linda Dane
Terry Causey Jim and Sally McClure Emily Vogler and Daniel Flynn Rhon Williams Thomas and Renette Crone Robert Slobe James and Melinda Herndon Lee and Theresa Hennis Linda Massey Pamela Nelson Luz Seastrom Tim Foley and Julie Redon Anonymous Allison and Robert Price Family Foundation
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$500–$999 Robert Hammond Gerard and Kim Coy Todd and Jean Walker Roxanne Wilson
Gnyandev S. Patel Gordon Barienbrock Greg Delman Jerry and Pamela Secor John and Cindi Ganahl John and Adrienne Garrison Nick and Maureen Madigan Peter Ladow Peter Savage Ron and Cheryl Nichols Steve Hux Tim and Kavita Lesser Tim and Louise Casey Tony and Noelle Budrovich Wayne and Susan Nelson Catherine Emmi Elizabeth Holden Adrianne DuMond Christine Allcorn Debra Quick-Jones Malin Fletcher Nadine Watt Otten Foundation Sadie Roberts
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
IMAGINE CATALINA: Update
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he Catalina Island Conservancy will celebrate the most significant milestone in its IMAGINE CATALINA $17 million capital campaign when it opens The Trailhead Visitor Center later this year. The Conservancy completed Trekking Catalina last year, the master trails system that is the biggest addition to Catalina’s trail system since the 2009 opening of the Trans-Catalina Trail. Now, with the scheduled completion of The Trailhead, visitors of the Island will have much easier access to the interior. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building will be located near the Cabrillo Mole boat landing and will serve as a portal for learning about Catalina’s ecology and natural history through Eco Tours into the wildlands,
the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, the Nature Center and the Airport in the Sky. Extensive educational opportunities—including conservation and education programs, lectures, exhibitions and interpretive displays—will be offered at the site. The Conservancy is grateful for the generous support of the donors listed on this page. To date, over $15.6 million of $17 million has been raised in support of the IMAGINE CATALINA campaign. We need your help to reach our goal. Please give generously to IMAGINE CATALINA and help us introduce a new generation to the ecological wonders of the Island!
C A M PA I G N D O N O R S James H. Ackerman Family and Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation David and Linda Adams Ahmanson Foundation Andeavor Annenberg Foundation Anonymous Stephen Barnard Don Beaumont, Theodore Griffith and Thomas Nielsen Philip and Shelley Belling Board of Supervisors, County of Los Angeles Bob and Mai Breech Steven Briggs James and Mary Buckingham Tony and Noelle Budrovich Claire Burrill Mr. and Mrs. Scott Calder Bruce and Kathe Choate Robert and Sharon Coors John P. and Cindy Cotton Crevier Family Foundation The Croul Family Foundation Andi Culbertson Victoria and Dorn Dean Roger and Sandy DeYoung Andrew and Corinne Dossett Edison International Rick and Candace Emsiek Louis and Gladyce Foster Family Foundation Cece & Mack Fowler Mr. and Mrs. Gordon T. Frost, Jr. Gardner Grout Foundation Blanny Avalon Hagenah Tricia and Will Hagenah Susan and Phil Hagenah In Memory of Helen and Phil Wrigley CONSERVANCY TIMES
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John and Dana Hagenah Steve and Stephanie Hathaway Shelli A. Herman In Honor of Ann Muscat, PhD Jack and Shirley Herron Howard Higholt Mark Hilgren Hank and Diane Hilty Ann and Steve Hinchliffe William T. and Susana D. Huston Family Foundation (Bob & Beth Huston) James W. and Anne D. Johnson Family Foundation Gary and Kellie Johnson Dick and Alison Johnston Nelson and Mimi Jones Richard and Vicki Jones Mr. and Mrs. Roy H. Jones Thaddeus and Ellen Jones Geraldine Knatz and John Mulvey Lamb Family Foundation Roger Lang Drew and Jane Lanza
Las Caballeras Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District Patrick and Mari McAlister Mary Menninger Tony and Claire Michaels Misdee Wrigley and James Mather Miller Mervin Moore and Dana Stuart Moore in memory of Claire A. Stuart Ann Muscat and Jack Baldelli Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation Calen and Amber Offield J. Barney Page The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Maria Pellegrini Stephen and Kathy Prough David Pyle Philip and Maureen Ramer Scott and Sue Redsun Renton Family Mary Rooney
The Rose Hills Foundation Alison Wrigley Rusack and Geoffrey Claflin Rusack Jim Schmidt Steve and Becky Smith Elizabeth Steele Claire A. Stuart Charitable Trust Scott and Tamara Stuart Mike and Gloria Sullivan Rudy and Suzi Svrcek Shaun and Katy Tucker Ross and Kristi Turner Catalina Island Marine Institute Todd Walker Jim and Vicki Warmington Douglas M. West and Irene E. Ziebarth Bob and Marilyn White Tod and Linda White Justin and Julie Wilson Richard Woodward (Listing includes campaign donors of $1,000+ as of 12/31/2017) 21
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 1782 SANTA ANA CA 92799
P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, CA 90704
CONSERVANCY CALENDAR MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR ADVENTURE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE EVENTS, GO TO CATALINACONSERVANCY.ORG OR CALL 562-437-8555 Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon March 10 This event will feature the exciting marathon course used historically on Catalina’s wildlands, including much of the rugged terrain, spectacular vistas and special challenges enjoyed by noted runner Hans Albrecht and friends in the earliest days of the event. For more information, please visit RunCatalina.com. Thad and BZ Jones Hikes March 23–24 Join the Conservancy’s Marineros support group for one of the two exciting hikes taking place in the Catalina wildlands. The hikes honor the legacies of two dedicated Conservancy supporters and volunteers, the late Graham “BZ” Jones and his brother, Thad Jones III. The BZ Jones Hike is an annual, one-day trek. The biennial Thad Jones Hike is a two-day hike along the Trans-Catalina Trail. Food and transportation are included in the registration price for both hikes, and participants in the two hikes will meet for a
catered lunch midway through the BZ Jones Hike. For more information, please call 562437-8555 ext. 1224 or email GDartt@CatalinaConservancy. org. 23rd Annual Conservancy Ball April 14 “Your Adventure Begins Here” when you join the Conservancy for one of the biggest events of the year on Catalina Island —the 23rd Annual Catalina Island Conservancy Ball. For more information, please visit the Conservancy’s website or call 562-437-8555 ext. 1239. To ensure you receive a formal invitation to the ball, please send your mailing address to Ball@CatalinaConservancy.org. Las Caballeras Catalina Ride May 14–20 Las Caballeras will celebrate their annual Island week of camping and cowgirl fun. Las Caballeras are all enthusiastic members of the Catalina Island Conservancy. For more information, please visit LasCaballeras.com.
Trailhead Visitor Center Grand Opening! Summer/Fall Join the Conservancy later this year for a special member-only preview of the new Trailhead Visitor Center. Keep an eye out for additional details and a date. Los Caballeros Catalina Ride September 19–23 Members of Los Caballeros, accomplished horsemen who are also members of the Conservancy’s Catalina Caballeros support group, will enjoy the 68th Annual Catalina Trek. For more information, please visit LosCaballeros.org. 8th Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show October 21 A passion for Catalina Island and plein air art come together in one extraordinary afternoon. This year’s show features 11 nationally acclaimed plein air artists, who will display their interpretations of Catalina’s rugged wildlands and scenic beauty at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Proceeds from the
sale of these unique paintings support the Conservancy’s conservation, education and recreation programs. Annual Conservation & Education Symposium November 9 Join Conservancy biologists, educators and invited researchers and scientists for intimate discussions of Catalina Island natural history discoveries and scientific advances at this annual daylong series of presentations in Long Beach.
READY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONSERVANCY? Nearly every month, you can join the Conservancy’s president and CEO at a supporter’s home in Avalon or on the mainland to hear about the Conservancy’s current programs. These salons are also a chance to socialize with other Catalina Island supporters. For more information, please call 562-437-8555 ext. 1228.