The Sheep Return to Montini
Together with the City of Sonoma, we are partnering with Perennial Grazing to bring grazers to Montini Open Space Preserve from June 2-12, 2023. By grazing at the Preserve, the sheep will perform much-needed fire fuel reduction work. The method, developed in South...
Don’t Miss Bernie Krause’s The Great Animal Orchestra This Summer at San Francisco’s Exploratorium
Bernie Krause, world-renowned soundscape ecologist and Sonoma Ecology Center’s Emeritus Board Member is bringing over 50 years of soundscape ecology to San Francisco’s Exploratorium this June through October.Bernie has traveled all over the world recording and...
Meet Jack Hines: Our GIS Specialist
We sat down with Jack Hines, our GIS Specialist and Soundscape Specialist, to learn more about his work at Sonoma Ecology Center and his path to getting here. Tell us about your path to Sonoma Ecology Center. What has led you to become our GIS Specialist and...
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Community Works to Transform Sugarloaf into a More Accessible Space | La comunidad en el Parque Estatal Sugarloaf Ridge trabaja para transformar a Sugarloaf en un espacio más accesible
The community at Sugarloaf, which comprises of staff, volunteers, and visitors understands that there is more to be done to make Sugarloaf a place that truly serves the diverse needs of those who frequent our park. Ongoing efforts to make Sugarloaf more accessible have been a collaborative endeavor between Sugarloaf staff and the community we serve. Using a grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation, Sugarloaf staff are working with Judy and Bonnie to assess the conditions of the park and create a plan on how we can make the park more accessible for hikers with limited mobility.
The Wedekind Family: A Legacy of Love, Community, and Giving in Sonoma Valley
By Community Foundation Sonoma County In the heart of the picturesque Sonoma Valley, the Wedekind family’s legacy of love, community, and philanthropy continues to blossom. For over a century, the family has been deeply rooted in the region, and their story is one of...
Earth Day 2023
This is Earth Week, and there’s no shortage of horrific news to report about the state of humanity and our relationship with the natural world that supports us. For example, the most recent IPCC report suggests that unless we make major and politically unlikely shifts...
Meet Mark Gonzalves, the Creator of the Children’s Play Area! | ¡Conoce a Mark Gonzalves, el creador de la nueva área de juego para niños!
[Español abajo] We sat down with Mark Gonzalves, the creator of the new Children’s Play Area at Sonoma Garden Park to hear about his design process and his hopes for what this play area would bring to our beloved public park.Mark Gonzalves (second from left) receiving...
Board of Directors Highlight: Meet Jeanne-Louise Camus! | Conoce a Jeanne-Louise Camus, nueva miembra de nuestra mesa directiva
[Español abajo] We are delighted to welcome Jeanne-Louise Camus to the Sonoma Ecology Center Board of Directors. Jeanne-Louise has kindly answered for us some questions about her path to becoming a Sonoma Ecology Center Board Member. Get to know Jeanne-Louise...
Enviroleader Alumna, Ava Castro Returns to Sonoma Garden Park To Host Compost Education Event | Egresada EnviroLeader Ava Castro regresa a Sonoma Garden Park a liderar un evento educativo de abono
[Español abajo] This past month, Ava Castro, a three-time Enviroleader alumna of Sonoma Ecology Center returned to Sonoma Garden Park to host a joint Carbon Sequestration and Education Event with us as the Climate Resilience Program Coordinator for the Daily Acts, a local non-profit organization dedicated to creating healthy and sustainable communities. Ava has gladly answered for us some questions on her path from being an Enviroleader to coming full circle in hosting an education event at Sonoma Garden Park, where she used to learn hands-on agricultural experience.
Meet Our Summer Science Camps Educators! ¡Conoce a nuestros educadores para los campamentos de verano!
[Español abajo] With over 80 decades of combined teaching experience, our SEC educators are delighted to bring you exciting and educational science camps that will surely nurture the inner naturalists of young learners ages 5-12. Get to know our educators and sign up...
Staff Highlight: Meet Lauren Claussen, Our New Restoration Project Manager
After 9 years managing Vineyards in Sonoma and Napa counties, Lauren Claussen came to Sonoma Ecology Center as our new Restoration Project Manager. To get to know Lauren better, she has kindly answered for us some questions about her path to this position. Tell us...
We Are Near Average Rainfall This Year
Nathanson Creek Detention Basin after the storm on January 9, 2023.Good news as a result of these recent storms! Given the current trajectory, we may be coming out of the drought here in Sonoma County. Sonoma Ecology Center Senior Scientist, Steven Lee, is optimistic...
A Successful Biochar Demonstration in Napa | Una Exitosa Demostración de Biocarbón en Napa
SEC Restoration technicians Alex Kaste and Kurtis McIntyer carrying out a conservation burn — a special method of burning that reduces smoke pollution and produces biochar at the Conservation Burn and Burn Alternatives Workshop. Técnicos de Restauración con SEC Alex...
Sonoma Ecology Center Receives the CALPA Award For Our Inclusive Programming | Sonoma Ecology Center Receive el Reconocimiento de CALPA Por Nuestros Esfuerzos de Inclusividad
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park’s staff with the CALPA Award Prize.Personal de Sonoma Ecology Center en Sugarloaf con el trofeo por el reconocimiento de CALPASonoma Ecology Center was awarded Park Partner of the Year at this year's California League of Park Associations...
SEC Plans and Installs a Rainwater Harvesting Demonstration Project at Flowery Elementary School
One view of the completed rainwater capture system at Flowery Elementary School.Sonoma Ecology Center is working with the community to adapt to historic drought conditions. We are delighted to announce that we have completed a rainwater harvesting system at Flowery...
SDC Specific Plan Update
The Sonoma Developmental Center campus Starting with the establishment of the County's first recognized wildlife corridor across the Sonoma Developmental Center in 1998, and the eventual transfer of 600 acres of SDC's open space lands to Jack London State Historic...
Fall and Winter Garden Maintenance
By Jon Nord Kanagy A great transition is afoot in our gardens as frosts prompt many species to drop their leaves, and moisture from the recent rains cause other plants to grow and allow seeds to germinate. It continues to be a great time to install new plants, and...
Climate Watch: New Climate Column from Sonoma Ecology Center
This post was originally published in the Sonoma Index-Tribune Climate Column on November 3, 2022. The Sonoma Ecology Center is excited to share our voice on this new, monthly Climate Column. By Richard Dale A friend in Sonoma noted that last year, when the actor...
Watershed Education Program Returns to Fully In-Person Instruction for 2022-2023! | ¡El programa de educación de la cuenca hidrográfica regresa en persona a las escuelas durante el 2022-2023!
First field trip of the year: Sassarini Elementary 5th graders attending our Water Wonders field trip at Sugarloaf Park this September. The group hiked down to the waterfall, discussing watershed-related topics including the headwaters, water quality,...
Fall Planning for the Native Landscape | Planeando en el otoño para el jardín o paisaje nativo
By Jon Nord Kanagy The passing of the recent heat wave, a harvest moon, and the approaching autumnal equinox all have us looking toward shorter, cooler days and additional fall rains. These conditions, coupled with soil that continues to hold some summer heat, combine...