Sonoma Ecology Center (SEC) is proud to announce we have been awarded a $14,000 Impetus Grant from Impact100 Sonoma to support the permanent implementation of an important community resource: the Outdoor Gear Lending Library at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, which SEC launched last year as a pilot program. This project addresses a longstanding equity gap by providing free access to high-quality camping equipment—tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads—for local K–12 students in Sonoma Valley.
Many students miss out on overnight outdoor trips because they don’t have access to basic camping gear. This initiative removes that barrier and ensures all students can participate—regardless of income. The gear library will be the first of its kind in Sonoma County.
These overnight trips are not just recreational experiences—they are the capstone of Sonoma Ecology Center’s K–6 environmental education curriculum. Since 2002, Sonoma Ecology Center has provided hands-on environmental learning to students across Sonoma Valley through the Watershed Education Program.
Starting in second grade, students explore everything from local wildlife and native plants to pollinators, agriculture, water systems, and climate change. Each year builds on the last, culminating in an overnight campout at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in sixth grade.
Sonoma Ecology Center’s Education Program Manager, Tony Passantino, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
For students in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Ecology Center’s environmental education pathway—provided at no cost to families or schools—brings classroom learning to life through real-world experiences in nature. However, the lack of accessible overnight outdoor education remains a problem, particularly for schools with limited resources. Traditional campouts often require expensive gear, creating financial hurdles for students, teachers, and schools—and leaving many unable to participate in this vital, hands-on learning experience.
In response, Sonoma Ecology Center has launched the Outdoor Gear Lending Library at Sugarloaf, the first of its kind in our region. The idea is simple but powerful: in addition to providing the place and the programming, Sonoma Ecology Center provides free access to high-quality camping gear—so that no child misses out because of cost.
The project has already seen early momentum. With support from partners like the Catalyst Fund, the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, and the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Ecology Center built a storage shed, purchased gear, and launched a pilot this past fall. Over 150 fifth- and sixth-grade students camped at Sugarloaf using the new equipment—most for the very first time.
Sonoma Ecology Center’s Development Manager, Amanda Hubbard, presented the Outdoor Gear Lending Library to Impact100 Sonoma members.
“These aren’t just campouts—they’re capstone experiences, the culmination of years of hands-on environmental learning in classrooms and on trails,” said Amanda Hubbard, Sonoma Ecology Center’s Development Manager. “They’re powerful, formative, and for many students—absolutely unforgettable.”
The $14,000 grant from Impact100 Sonoma will allow Sonoma Ecology Center to expand and formalize the program. Funding will support inventory management software, essential kitchen and safety gear, and outdoor leadership training for teachers and nonprofit staff. The goal is to create a sustainable lending library that supports equitable access to outdoor education for years to come.
Sonoma Ecology Center’s Education Program Manager, Tony Passantino, who has spearheaded this project and leads the team of Environmental Educators facilitating these capstone campouts, accepted the award on behalf of Sonoma Ecology Center. “On behalf of every student zipping up a tent and looking up at the stars, thank you!” Passantino said.
Students from El Verano Elementary School were one of the first to benefit from the Outdoor Gear Lending Library in its pilot program phase last fall. Photo courtesy of Tony Passantino.
“With a sleeping bag, tent setup instructions, and a little encouragement, students build confidence and learn the power of teamwork,” said Hubbard. “They form meaningful connections to nature—the kind that stay with them hopefully for a lifetime. Most importantly, the gear library removes a critical equity barrier, ensuring that outdoor learning isn’t a privilege—it’s a right. Every child deserves the chance to step into nature’s classroom, get their shoes dusty on the trail, and see themselves as part of the natural world.”
Sonoma Ecology Center anticipates the lending library will serve over 600 local students this year alone—and aims to build a lasting model for equitable outdoor education in Sonoma County and beyond.
Just as the Gear Lending Library opens the door to overnight experiences for all students, our Summer Scholarship Fund ensures that cost is never a barrier to discovery at Summer Science Camp. Like an overnight campout with their school, a week at camp can plant the seed that sparks a lifelong love of nature—and even grow the next generation of environmental leaders and earth stewards. Sponsor a child’s journey into nature this summer and help us create more moments of wonder, confidence, and connection. Consider making a gift to our Summer Scholarship Fund—now is the last chance for your contribution to make a direct impact and send a child to camp this summer.