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Ventura Land Trust

UTLOOK SPRING | 2026

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NEW TO THE VLT TEAM STAFF

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Drew Powers • President Russell Galipeau • Vice President Doug Trapp • Secretary Meridith Thompson • Treasurer Brian Clark John Krist Kate Larramendy Paolo Perrone Osmany (Ozzie) Rios Sabrena Rodriguez Dan Wakelee

OUR MISSION

The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.

OUTLOOK

THE NEWSLETTER OF VENTURA LAND TRUST Editor: Jeff Young Contributors: Melissa Baffa, Dan Hulst, Laura Pavliscak,Trudy Trudeau Design: T Christian Gapen 805.643.8044 PO Box 1284 Ventura, CA 93002 venturalandtrust.org

STAY CONNECTED Find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Copyright 2026 Ventura Land Trust.

All rights reserved.

Ventura Land Trust is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, awarded to land trusts meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.

SHEENA LINK joined Ventura Land Trust in 2025 as the Grants Officer. Born and raised in Davis, California, she attended UCSB, where she received her B.A. in English and Comparative Literature. Upon graduation, she reluctantly moved back home. In 2024, she and her family traded the hot summers and agricultural fields of the Sacramento Valley for the stunning coastlines and hills of Santa Barbara, and they haven’t looked back since.

In addition to her undergraduate degree, Sheena holds an M.A. in Liberal Arts from California State University, Sacramento. She brings a broad background in nonprofit grant writing and grant management, having worked with organizations across the arts, education, and community sectors, including UC Davis, Yolo Crisis Nursery, Crocker Art Museum, Spaulding Marine Center, and Breakthrough Silicon Valley. An out-of-the-box thinker and consensus builder, she believes philanthropy is key to creating vibrant, equitable communities where everyone can live, work, and play.

When she’s not under a deadline, Sheena can be found coaching youth flag football, hiking Lizard’s Mouth, or enjoying good food and wine in the Funk Zone.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

I

n 2026, spring arrived with urgency: hot, fast, and vivid.

Color surged across the hills in a brilliant rush, only to begin fading just as the calendar finally caught up.

There’s something electric about this early stretch of the year: a sense of possibility, of newness, of hope.

For the team at Ventura Land Trust, spring is one of the busiest seasons, and this year is no exception. From opening the Ventura Hills Nature Preserve, to shaping a new five-year strategic plan, to reimagining the annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival in a new venue, to deepening our focus on Crooked Palm, on top of all the seasonal work of deterring sprouting invasive plants, brushing and maintaining trails, and performing annual fuel clearance, there’s a great deal in motion. Add the spring matching challenge from Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation, and the momentum builds even faster!

As someone who has observed many a busy anthill, it’s hard not to think of the neverending to-do lists and fervent undertakings as something analogous —countless small, purposeful actions adding up to something much larger. Like those tireless builders, we move from project to project, restoring, protecting, and stewarding the landscape we call home.

It’s particularly apt that the theme of this edition of Outlook is “rebirth” – in this season characterized by rebirth, as VLT reenvisions its approach to fundraising, develops plans for the next five years, and takes on new and existing challenges, the energy and excitement of the season surrounds us. And as always, we are grateful for your partnership in these endeavors.

Read on to see what is keeping us busy, and how you can support these efforts.

Yours in Nature, Melissa

ON THE COVER: A view from Harmon Canyon toward the sun-drenched slopes of our newly opened Ventura Hills Nature Preserve.

Photo by Jeff Young

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From Private Hillside to Public Preserve

By Dan Hulst

O

n a sunny February morning, the hills north of downtown Ventura feel alive. Insects buzz in the early morning light, birds call from the coastal sage scrub, and the distant sound of dogs barking drifts up from the city below. As I hike up Trail 101, the peaks of Santa Cruz Island rise on the horizon. It’s the first day Ventura Hills Nature Preserve (VHNP) is open to the public, and I’m savoring a moment decades in the making.

Ventura Land Trust (VLT) acquired the Mariano Rancho property in 2020, but the effort to protect these hillsides began seventeen years earlier. In 2003, the property was subject to the first of several development proposals.

Concerned residents pushed back, unwilling to see homes replace open hillsides overlooking Ventura. Their advocacy succeeded in halting development, but the land remained privately owned, its future uncertain.

That uncertainty shifted in 2019, when Mariano Rancho LLC was forced to sell the property to settle a lawsuit brought by an unsuccessful developer. VLT had to act quickly before the property went to a court auction. Spurred by a $1 million anonymous donation, then–Executive Director Derek Poultney launched a determined fundraising effort, rapidly raising an additional $1 million and securing a loan from Montecito Bank & Trust to finance the remainder. It was an unconventional approach, but a successful one.

Ventura Land Trust became the fee title owner of the land that would later be named Ventura Hills Nature Preserve.

Since early 2020, VLT has been working to prepare VHNP for public access while safeguarding the natural resources that make it so special. The opening of Harmon Canyon Preserve in June 2020 provided invaluable lessons from trail design and signage to habitat protection and visitor management.

PHOTO CREDIT: JEFF YOUNG A classic view of downtown and the California Channel from VHNP. Land, views, and hikes that have long been cherished by Venturans will now be permanently protected.

Those lessons informed every step of planning at VHNP. VLT invested heavily in biological resource monitoring to understand what species are present and where they live. We hosted public meetings to hear what the community hoped to experience, and what they hoped to avoid, at the preserve. We worked with professional trail builders, botanists, invertebrate specialists, and other experts to ensure our decisions were thoughtful, informed, and grounded in science. All of that effort has culminated in the preserve visitors experience today.

The new Hall Canyon trailhead, with 56 parking spaces, serves as the primary gateway to VHNP. From there, Trail 101 climbs nearly 1,000 feet in its first mile, rewarding hikers with sweeping views of the Santa Barbara Channel, the City of Ventura, and on especially clear days, Catalina Island. For a more moderate option, Bruce’s Trail offers stunning vistas over downtown and midtown Ventura with a gentler grade.

VHNP welcomes all forms of human-

powered recreation. Visitors can walk, run, bike (non-motorized), birdwatch, or simply take in the beauty of this coastal landscape. Dogs are welcome too, as long as they remain on leash.

As our first year of operations unfolds, change is inevitable. Managing an urban nature preserve requires an adaptive approach. Time to observe, adjust, and learn what works best for both people and wildlife. We are committed to keeping the community informed and engaged as VHNP continues to evolve.

As I continue my hike, I’m reminded of why I first joined Ventura Land Trust as a volunteer, and later as a staff member. Access to nature improves quality of life, strengthens communities, and reconnects us to the landscapes that define Ventura. This is the work VLT exists to do and it doesn’t happen on its own. If you value places like Ventura Hills Nature Preserve, please consider becoming a VLT member. For as little as $5 a month, you can help sustain free public access to open space. I hope to see you out on the trails.

SPRING 2026

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CONSERVATION

Wild Diversity at our Doorstep

By Laura Pavliscak

W

ith the opening of Ventura Hills Nature Preserve (VHNP), VLT has nearly doubled the acreage of protected wildlands and the miles of publicly accessible trails available from urban Ventura. The proximity of VHNP to town, coupled with its extreme topography, has many visitors gobsmacked by the expansive views of the world beyond.

However, here’s a quick petition for you to tear your gaze from the blue horizon and look closely at this fascinating landscape itself. Like Harmon, VHNP is dominated by coastal sage scrub (CSS), one of the most imperiled ecosystems in the country, with a huge number of endemic species that live in CSS and nowhere else on Earth. To date, we have catalogued almost 200 native plant species, including some coastal associates we have not observed at nearby Harmon Preserve, such as ashy-leaved buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum) and woolly seablite (Suaeda taxifolia). Eighteen native plant alliances have been documented across the property, including six that are designated as sensitive in California, encompassing 28% of the property. Because the topography is so steep, the direction a slope faces, or its aspect, drives a ton of biological patterns you can see if you look closely, with southfacing aspects hosting goldenhued California brittlebush (Encelia californica) and punctuated dense stands of coastal prickly pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis), and north aspects a verdant swatch of herbs like white yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and wavyleaf paintbrush (Castilleja applegattei). The plant community is important in driving what wildlife lives here, and do we have some interesting animals! Mountain lions,

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PHOTO CREDIT: LAURA PAVLISCAK Coastal sage scrub is sometimes referred to as a terrestrial coral reef–a vibrant wonderland of texture, shape, and color. Here, the fireworks of blooming ashy-leaved buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum), a California endemic restricted to a tiny stretch of the southern California coastline, intersect with dense stands of coastal prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis), another sensitive vegetation alliance endemic to southern California and northern Baja, Mexico

PHOTO CREDIT: LAURA PAVLISCAK Botanical surveys in Sanjon Canyon. Both lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) and California brittlebush (Encelia californica) vegetation alliances pictured here are considered sensitive in California and globally, and are endemic to southern California and northern Baja, Mexico.

black bears, burrowing owls, legless lizards, tree frogs, tiger moths, harvester ants, poorwills, and so many more have been documented.

There’s a lot of life up there! So slow down, breathe deep, and look

closely. You might discover something new (to you, and to us!). And while that island view is truly dazzling, sometimes it is the life rooted around us that provides the best perspective on our place in the world.

WILD WEATHER

Welcoming Spring … In January?

PHOTO CREDIT: LAURA PAVLISCAK

PHOTO CREDIT: KATIE DANIELS

Images above highlight contrast in vegetation growth response of notably wet and dry rain years with exceptional change in native shrub cover in Ventura Hills Nature Preserve in December 2022, following a very dry rain year (left), and December 2025, following the wettest and warmest start to winter on record (right).

Climate Change Provokes Whiplash

By Laura Pavliscak

I

f you’ve been startled (and enraptured) by the vibrant green flush and abundant blooms this winter, you’re not alone.

In southern California, this rain year started as the wettest and warmest on record! We’re seeing unusual timing for flowering plants and remarkably abundant growth overall. As climate change impacts are accelerating, scientists are projecting an increase in hydroclimate whiplash for our area-rapid swings between intensely wet and dangerously dry weather. Here in Ventura in the last five water years, two were 50% or more above, and two were 50% or more below, normal.

Big questions loom about how this radicalizing weather will impact the natural world around us and the highly evolved organismal relationships and ecological processes that may not be able to adjust to these discordant cycles. VLT is working hard to both monitor the ecological conditions on our properties and effectively steward them in response to these changes.

The early and rapid growing season

WATER YEAR

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

SEASON TOTAL

Normal

2.01

2.06

3.15

3.59

3.08

1.03

15.77

2025-2026

6.69

4.77

2.83

3.54

0

0.83

19.40

2024-2025

0.35

0

0.46

3.67

1.86

0.35

6.91

2023-2024

0.52

3.86

1.51

14.21

3.69

0.96

24.8

2022-2023

0.72

4.15

11.39

4.58

10.58

0

35

2021-2022

0.03

11.92

0.09

0

3.01

0.27

16.54

2020-2021

0.22

1.28

1.57

0.01

0.53

0

3.61

VCPWA WATERSHED PROTECTION DATA; NORMALS DERIVED FROM 1957-1992 BASE PERIOD

Precipitation data for the last six water years compared to the average for all months where the average exceeds one inch. Blue and red highlighted cells indicate where monthly and seasonal totals were above and below 50% of normal, respectively.

this year has our hard-working field team managing invasive plants, trimming trails for public safety, and starting strategic preliminary work in our wildland urban interface zones bordering our residential neighbors a full two months before they usually do! As the seasons adapt, so must we. While this intensive work started early, notable February storms ensure that growth will continue into early summer, requiring several more surveys and management efforts this year. Please consider

supporting our efforts to conduct the important ecological and public access stewardship that protects the biodiversity and accessibility of these exceptional wildlands in this weird year, and all the weird years to come.

SPRING 2026

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COVER STORY

Reclaiming Crooked Palm Turning Blight into Beauty

By Melissa Baffa | Photos by Jeff Young and Laura Pavliscak

T

he spring edition of Outlook embraces the theme of “rebirth”—a fitting lens for one of Ventura Land Trust’s newest properties: Crooked Palm.

Long known as “the Petrochem site,” despite only nine years of petrochemical use by USA Petroleum, this 101.5-acre property has a troubled past. Before that brief chapter, it operated as a fertilizer manufacturing facility under Shell Chemical Corporation for roughly two decades.

Today, it stands as a brownfield— partially remediated, with 15,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil already removed. About half the site remains fenced, marked by aging, graffiticovered structures, yet beneath this

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blight lies extraordinary ecological potential.

Crooked Palm is poised to become a true restoration success story. With time, sustained effort, and significant investment, the land will be revived into a thriving riparian corridor featuring coastal sage scrub and oak woodland.

Even now, native habitat is quietly pushing back through invasive species like Arundo donax and castor bean.

The gestation period, however, will be long. Careful environmental assessments must determine what contamination remains and where.

Additional remediation may follow.

The dilapidated, graffiti-covered structures require evaluation for safety, integrity, and pollutants, guiding future decisions on demolition or reuse. From there, community input and thoughtful

planning will shape the site’s future before restoration can fully begin. This process could take a decade or more and require millions of dollars.

It’s striking that Crooked Palm’s period of blight and disuse has already outlasted its thirty years of industrial activity—a reminder of how quickly damage can occur, how long recovery can take, and the disproportionate share of environmental degradation that is carried by communities and nonprofit organizations in the wake of such industrial use. Yet with commitment and community support, renewal is not only possible, it’s already underway.

This spring, as we celebrate renewal, Crooked Palm stands as both symbol and promise: that even the most neglected places can be restored to beauty, health, and purpose.

THE WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL: REIMAGINED The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is entering an exciting new chapter. This year, Ventura Land Trust is reimagining the festival as a larger, more inclusive public celebration - one that reflects our growing impact, integration with the community, and incredible support of Ventura.

We’re thrilled to announce that the festival will move to the historic Majestic Ventura Theatre, allowing us to expand programming, welcome more attendees, and provide more flexibility for festival goers than ever before. The festival will feature two film showings, including a family-friendly matinee with a kid-focused film program designed to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. This will be followed by the carefully curated evening program featuring a lineup of films chosen by VLT’s Film Selection Committee, constituted from local residents and dedicated volunteers of the organization.

Beyond the theatre walls, the celebration will spill into the streets. Chestnut Street will be closed to traffic, transforming the area into a lively festival hub with community partner booths, hands-on activities, and interactive experiences. Guests can explore VLT’s merchandise and informational offerings, enjoy Ventura Wild kids’ activities, and connect with local organizations doing impactful work across the region.

This year’s festival will also level up the fun with a silent auction offering something for everyone—from outdoor adventures to local goods and experiences.

Our VIP experience will be hosted just down the block at Leashless Brewery, featuring full catering by Mothers Tacos, music, exclusive giveaways, and a relaxed space to gather, celebrate, and toast to conservation.

As we reimagine this popular event, we also pause to say thank you to the Ventura Credit Union, to extend our deepest appreciation for their many years of generosity, support, and partnership. Their commitment helped shape the festival into what it is today, and we are grateful for the foundation they helped build.

This reimagined festival is more than a film event—it’s a community celebration, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Become a Festival Sponsor Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations seeking to support conservation, community, and creativity. Sponsors receive visibility prior to and throughout the festival—from marketing and communications to film screenings and the VIP experience—while directly supporting Ventura Land Trust’s mission. Downtown Ventura businesses can take advantage of a special sponsorship option created to spotlight and support our local business community. Join us in bringing this reimagined festival to life and connect with an engaged, mission-driven audience.

Find out more by visiting venturalandtrust.org/sponsorship

SPRING 2026

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EDUCATION

The Wild Side of Spring

By Trudy Trudeau

B

eing part of Ventura Wild, Ventura Land Trust’s outdoor education initiative, means spending regular, meaningful time outdoors. This consistent presence fosters a close relationship with the natural world, where nature is experienced firsthand and even the subtlest shifts of the seasons are noticed and appreciated.

As winter gives way to spring, the landscape awakens, bringing a renewed sense of wonder.

This seasonal transition becomes a foundation for learning, as Ventura Wild weaves hands-on, experiential activities with play and reflection to help children nurture awareness, connection, and a growing sense of belonging within their environment.

Spring is a particularly special time to be outside, full of opportunities for discovery as waterways replenish the land and life stirs from its winter slumber. From searching for tadpoles and observing birds returning along migratory paths to lying on softened, plant-rich soil, children’s senses come alive as they witness the cycles of the seasons unfolding in their surroundings.

For children ages 2–13 and their families, homeschool and after-school programs, Forest Preschool, Parent & Child classes, and Rite of Passage experiences offer opportunities to engage deeply with nature. Guided by the care and passion of our environmental leaders, children build ecological literacy, develop practical skills, and form stronger connections with themselves, their peers, and the world around them.

These experiences support confident, empathetic children and foster a lasting bond with the outdoors. By becoming familiar with the places they explore, children are more likely to care for them and carry forward the values of stewardship and respect. With spring as a backdrop, Ventura Wild is proud to inspire curiosity, nurture care, and cultivate a lifelong love of nature.

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LEND YOUR SUPPORT

Ventura Hills: Where Community, Conservation, and Access Meet

T

he Ventura Hills Nature Preserve (VHNP) is a lasting investment in community well-being, environmental resilience, and equitable access to nature. As one of the largest open spaces overlooking downtown Ventura, California’s beautiful central coast, and unique Channel Islands, the preserve provides residents with free opportunities for outdoor recreation, education, and connection to the natural landscape that defines our city.

Access to nearby open space has been shown to improve physical health, mental wellness, and overall quality of life. VHNP offers safe, thoughtfully designed trails for hikers and cyclists, scenic viewpoints, and space for community learning and stewardship, all within minutes of home. Keeping this preserve open and free to the public is central to Ventura Land Trust’s mission.

VHNP is a refuge for native plants and wildlife found nowhere else, including coastal sage scrub habitat that supports birds, pollinators, reptiles, and mammals critical to the region’s ecological balance. As environmental and political pressures continue to threaten open space, protecting this landscape ensures that vital wildlife corridors remain intact. Careful stewardship, habitat restoration, and ongoing ecological monitoring are essential to preserving the biodiversity that makes Ventura’s hills so special.

M Maintaining safe, welcoming access for all visitors M Building out amenities that support long-term public use And now, thanks to the generous support of our friends at Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation, your donations this spring and summer will be matched, up to a total of $25,000! Double the impact of your contribution and make a gift to Ventura Land Trust today!

A SHARED LEGACY, A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY Ventura Hills Nature Preserve belongs to the community — and caring for it is a shared responsibility. Donations from individuals, families, and local supporters ensure that this remarkable landscape remains healthy, accessible, and resilient for generations to come. Become a member or donor and join the community of supporters who made the dream of publicly-accessible hillsides a reality.

Your support helps VLT transform and protect this land for all of us to enjoy. Thank you.

Donate today!

WHY PUBLIC SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL Every dollar of support matters. While state funding made it possible to complete the acquisition of the land and perform the capital improvements needed to open it to the public, that funding does not cover the ongoing work required to restore and maintain the preserve in perpetuity. Charitable contributions from community members and supporters is the backbone of Ventura Land Trust’s work. Without your support, VLT would not have the ability to perform its important conservation and stewardship work on the preserve.

YOUR HELP IS CRITICAL TO: M Designing and building sustainable trail systems M Protecting and restoring native habitat

Ventura Land Trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Our tax identification number is 01-0769456

M Conducting ecological monitoring and land management

SPRING 2026

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

A Conversation With Natalie Lehman, Harmon Hike Club Lead

N

atalie Lehman is a dedicated volunteer who leads our monthly Harmon Hike Club on the last Monday of each month.

Natalie goes above and beyond in her support of VLT, lending time to our Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) and at different events like the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to chat with Natalie, you’ll quickly catch on that her bright and positive attitude is infectious, and her love for the community and outdoors runs deep. It’s clear that Natalie isn’t just a lead for our Harmon Canyon Hike Club; she’s a leader in our local community.

Q: Tell us about yourself—what do you do for work, what do you do for fun, what is your favorite way to experience nature/open spaces?

I’m the founder of She Means Business, a business coaching and organizational consulting firm focused on supporting women in business, on teams, and within organizations to think boldly, lead with courage, and build businesses that feel aligned and purposeful.

I’m the happiest outside. I grew up in Lake Tahoe and I find my greatest inspiration in the mountains and sunshine. I love all things outside from hiking, biking, skiing, and just walks outside with my husband and two dogs.

Q: How and when did you get involved with Ventura Land Trust?

When I moved to Ventura in 2019 from Lake Tahoe, one of the biggest missing pieces for me was having a place to be in nature that wasn’t too crowded and felt safe to explore on my own. When Harmon Canyon opened, it quickly became my favorite hiking spot. It was easy to explore, whether I wanted a long hike or something

10 Ventura Land Trust • Outlook

shorter, and it helped me fall in love with Ventura’s ecosystem in the same way I loved Tahoe.

The more I explored Harmon Canyon and learned about VLT’s approach to managing it, the more inspired I became. They are focused not only on creating spaces for people to enjoy nature, but also on conservation through trail restoration, plant walks, birding seminars, and more.

Q: What inspired you to become a volunteer?

Harmon Canyon is deeply meaningful to me. It’s a place where I walk, think, get inspired, and meet friends. It holds so much value in my life that I wanted to be part of preserving it, along with the other spaces VLT protects.

I’ve also interacted with many of the docents and volunteers on the trails, and I’ve always loved how they share their knowledge and experiences of the canyon. I wanted to give back to the organization that has created something I love so much.

Q: What is your favorite part of being a volunteer with VLT? So much! There are so many ways to get involved with VLT, from helping at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival to participating in WHIP. It has helped me build such a cool community with both staff and other volunteers.

Q: How did Harmon Hike Club come to be?

Exploring the Harmon trails has been a pure joy for me over the years, but not everyone has the time to wander and figure out new routes, and hiking unfamiliar trails can feel intimidating. I would often talk with people who said they’d only stayed on the main trails because they didn’t want to get lost or weren’t sure about the steepness.

I found myself constantly inviting people to come explore with me, and over time that turned into something bigger. The Hike Club started with the intention of making it feel less scary to step off the main path. Going with a group and understanding the distance and difficulty together makes it so much easier to try something new.

And honestly, I also really wanted regular hiking buddies and a sense of community around something I love.

Q: What is your favorite thing about leading hikes?

The people. I truly love the community this hike club has created. There are people who come every month, and it’s so fun to see their connections and relationships growing. I also learn so much from them and their knowledge and experiences.

It also allows me to experience Harmon in every season, and now it’s a non-negotiable for me to hike regularly so I can plan future Hike Clubs.

Q: Do you have a favorite trail, spot, or view on the Harmon Canyon Preserve? What makes it special to you?

On a personal note, leading the Hike Club has helped me grow as a leader.

Planning and guiding the group has given me more confidence to do the same in my work. It’s been incredible for so many reasons.

This is such a hard question. I love the bench at the top of the Farr Family Trail. The views are beautiful, and in the spring, the flowers along the trail are absolutely stunning. It always feels like such an accomplishment to reach the top.

Q: How do you think Hike Club shapes how people interact with open spaces?

My experience with nature isn’t typical. Growing up in Lake Tahoe, being outside was part of everyday life.

It felt easy and natural to explore.

For those who haven’t had that experience, I think Hike Club offers a safe and welcoming way to explore.

It gives people the chance to experience nature with others who are doing the same, which makes it feel more accessible.

Q: How is gathering as a community in nature important to you?

There’s something powerful about being in awe of nature together. You notice more birds, plants, and small details because there are more eyes taking it all in. The moments feel more memorable. We’ve had snake, coyote, and deer sightings during Hike Club, and those experiences bonded us. We still talk about them. Shared moments like those deepen connection, and that’s really meaningful to me.

Q: What kind of community do you hope Hike Club creates for people?

I hope Hike Club continues to be an inclusive and fun space for people of all ages to be outside. I love that both longtime Harmon hikers and people who have never explored the canyon can show up and enjoy it.

I also love the Pratt Family Trail. It has a completely different feel, with the oak trees and sweeping views across the canyon. On a clear day, the view of the islands is unmatched. It still takes my breath away.

Q: What would you say to someone who’s been curious about joining Hike Club but hasn’t yet? What about someone curious about volunteering with Ventura Land Trust?

If you’re curious about Hike Club, I’d say come join us! It’s a fun way to explore a new trail, meet someone new, or just get outside for some good morning movement. We’ll laugh, we’ll hike, and we’ll enjoy something beautiful together. The regulars have great stories and are incredibly kind.

If you’re curious about volunteering, do it! There are so many ways to get involved, whether you have a lot of time or just a little. It all makes a difference for our environment and our community. And it’s such a great way to meet wonderful people. From the staff to the volunteers, everyone is a delight to be around. It feels good to give back in a place that gives so much.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO VENTURA HILLS NATURE PRESERVE IS AT RISK Public access to Ventura Hills Nature Preserve is under threat due to a lawsuit brought by Chevron and Aera Energy. They claim that allowing the public to use Hall Canyon Road interferes with their asserted legal rights to use the road for oil operations. Chevron and Aera have asked the Court to close Hall Canyon Road and VLT’s trailhead to the public. Ventura Land Trust is currently in active litigation, fighting to keep this vital community asset open to the public. Ventura Hills Nature Preserve is the product of more than 25 years of community effort and public investment. This preserve exists today because people across Ventura came together to ensure it would be preserved and accessible for future generations. 1,645 acres of open space, 12 miles of publicly accessible trails, countless opportunities for generations to connect with the landscape that surrounds us, and an incalculable community asset are all at stake in this fight. We need your help and support. Visit venturalandtrust.org/access to learn how you can be a voice for public access, stay informed on the case, and support our efforts to keep this incredible piece of land accessible to everyone.

If you’d like to join Harmon Hike Club every last Monday of the month from 7:30 - 9 a.m., visit venturalandtrust.org/ events to sign up.

I want people to feel comfortable.

I want it to be a place for those who enjoy meeting others, love being outside, and are ready for some good movement.

SPRING 2026 11

Ventura Land Trust

UTLOOK Ventura Land Trust PO Box 1284 Ventura, CA 93002 www.venturalandtrust.org