Outdoor Leadership Trainings for South Bay Educators and Families

The Oak Savanna Citizen Science Project is an education program being developed by the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (SCVAS) to promote citizen science, environmental awareness and an appreciation for the land and wildlife at the Laguna Seca portion of the North Coyote Valley Conservation Area. The Authority will help fund field trips offered by the SCVAS to Laguna Seca along with a classroom segment to area high schools. Regular bird surveys and BioBlitzes at Laguna Seca will be open to the public.

Sacred Heart Community Service’s La Mesa Verde (LMV) program is a network of urban gardeners that uses innovative solutions to build a sustainable food system in San Jose and the broader Bay Area. Their approach draws on agroecology to bridge knowledge, build an active community, and implement organic gardening practices. This grant will help cover the cost of purchasing materials needed for the urban gardens, staff time, and community-building efforts.

In collaboration with the UC California Naturalist Program, San Jose Conservation Corps (SJCC) is training and certifying 25 Corpsmembers as California Naturalists. As SJCC becomes a UC California Naturalist partner, the organization will have the capacity to provide the certification in-house. With support from the grant, SJCC will train 75 Corpsmembers overall and have them all receive their California Naturalist Certification. Funds are utilized for Corpsmember wages, guest speaker stipends, and training materials/supplies.