Learn of Our Partnership with the Mishewal-Wappo Tribe at Sugarloaf
Desi Harp, our Educator and Events Assistant at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, describes doing traditional Wappo ceremonies at Sugarloaf as "one of the most impactful things that I have done in my life."Sonoma Ecology Center recognizes that our work is done on the...
An Update On Sonoma Valley’s Water Supply from our Senior Scientist
It’s been an incredible year for water in California. The influx of rain has eased the prolonged megadrought. Yet, our state of water is more complex than abating the drought. As we head into another wet season this year, we spoke to Sonoma Ecology Center’s Senior...
Sonoma Ecology Center Awarded Two CAL FIRE Green Schoolyards Planning Grants To Lead Greening Designs for 12 Schools
We are delighted to announce that Sonoma Ecology Center was recently approved for two CAL FIRE Green Schoolyards planning grants to prepare designs for greening 12 elementary school campuses in the Bay Area. In collaboration with our partners, we will design plans to...
Alma Shaw, Our Bilingual Program Coordinator Recognized by Los Cien | Alma Shaw, nuestra coordinadora de programas bilingüe reconocida por Los Cien
[Español abajo]Our Bilingual Program Coordinator, Alma Shaw, was selected as one of the top 5 nominees for the prestigious Puente y Ganas award by Los Cien Sonoma County. The Puente y Ganas Award honors and recognizes the service of Sonoma County individuals and...
Sonoma Ecology Center Volunteers Represent Three Nominees and Two Recipients of the 3rd Annual Heart of Sonoma County Awards
Two of Sonoma Ecology Center’s Volunteers, Faline Howard and Jonathan Ling (standing to the outermost right), with other recipients of the 3rd Annual Heart of Sonoma County Volunteer Awards.This past June, we were honored to attend the 3rd Annual Heart of Sonoma...
Meet Bob: Sonoma Ecology Center’s Design and Implementation Project Manager
Like many of our staff here at Sonoma Ecology Center, Bob Schneider nurtured his love for the natural world through many years and roles: think botany, animal tracking, permaculture, construction, and more. We sat down with Bob to learn more about how these...
SEC Expanded the Montini Trail Network through partnership with the City of Sonoma and American Conservation Experience | SEC expande la red de senderos en Montini a través de una colaboración con la Ciudad de Sonoma y American Conservation Experience
[Español abajo]Sonoma Ecology Center has been stewarding Montini Open Space Preserve, a hilly 98-acre property at Sonoma’s northern edge, for over 10 years as a part of our mission to steward Sonoma Valley's natural heritage. We recently expanded the network of the...
The Sheep Return to Montini
Last updated May 25, 2024 Together with the City of Sonoma, we are partnering with Perennial Grazing to bring grazers to Montini Open Space Preserve from May 25-June 4, 2024. By grazing at the Preserve, the sheep will perform much-needed fire fuel reduction work. Last...
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...