FALL 2016
A LIVING LABORATORY
Catalina’s Community-Based Conservation
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Message from the President Emeritus A
s one of California’s oldest and largest land trusts, the Catalina Island Conservancy has been at the forefront of a conservation movement that restored and protected more than 2 million acres of California’s wildlands, open space, working lands and parks over the past 30 years and millions more acres across the country. These conservation successes provide countless benefits to people, plants, wildlife and the planet’s ecological health.
Conservancy Times is a biannual publication of the Catalina Island Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1972 to protect and restore Catalina Island for present and future generations to experience and enjoy. One of California’s oldest private land trusts, the Conservancy protects the magnificent natural and cultural heritage of Santa Catalina Island, stewarding approximately 42,000 acres of land and 62 miles of rugged shoreline. Twenty miles from the mainland, Catalina Island is home to more than 60 plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. The Conservancy operates the Airport in the Sky, Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and two nature centers. It provides 50 miles of biking and nearly 150 miles of hiking opportunities within its road and trail system.
As we move forward into a century of increasing human population and diverse environmental challenges, the conservation movement faces significant changes that require it to adapt to continue its success. The nation’s population is becoming increasingly diverse and urban, and California is on the leading edge of this change: 95% of Californians live in and around cities. Many have never spent time in nature and have little, if any, interest in conservation. In response, the conservation community is seeking new models to engage local communities and generate interest among younger and more urbanized populations in conserving nature’s great places. Within the conservation community, Catalina and the Conservancy stand out as “living laboratories” for developing these models, and this issue of Conservancy Times provides insight into how they do that. Catalina attracts nearly a million visitors a year, most of them from urban areas. The Conservancy’s programs, described on pages 6 and 7, engage the Island community and reach young people and underserved communities. Nearly 200,000 children and adults annually learn about the Island’s Mediterranean ecosystem and what they can do to improve Catalina and the planet through Conservancy programs, youth
MEMBERS Alison Wrigley Rusack, Chair Anthony F. Michaels, PhD Maria Pellegrini, PhD BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephen Chazen, PhD, Chair Kellie Johnson, Vice Chair John Cotton, Past Chair Robert Breech
For more information, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org
Gordon T. Frost, Jr. Blanny Avalon Hagenah William J. Hagenah Henry Hilty Roger Lang Patrick McAlister Calen Offield
Ann M. Muscat, PhD President Emeritus EXECUTIVE TEAM Tony Budrovich President & CEO Larry L. Lloyd Chief Finance & Business Development Officer
camp partners, hiking, tours and other wild side activities. The Conservancy engages the public in its conservation work through citizen-scientist opportunities, such as its Stop the Spread program and other volunteer activities. While the Conservancy has been a leader among land trusts, it can only continue to prosper by expanding its outreach and enlisting a more diverse group of supporters, by further engaging the local community and by serving as a model for success in conservation. It has a great responsibility not only to Catalina, but to the broader dialogue about how to protect extraordinary places. Taking on these challenges and many others will be Tony Budrovich, the Conservancy’s new president and CEO. My retirement next month is made easier by knowing that the Board has made such a wise choice in selecting the Conservancy’s next leader. While I’m leaving this position, Catalina will forever be a part of me because it has shaped who I am today. My husband, Jack Baldelli, and I met on the Island and have lived here for a total of 21 years. We cherish Catalina and the friendships of so many of you who worked with us to restore and protect this beautiful place. As I write my last letter for Conservancy Times, I want to thank all of you for your support and friendship over the last 13 years. It’s been an honor to work with the many dedicated volunteers, supporters and Conservancy staff. With your help, the Conservancy is stronger, its programs are flourishing and the Island is thriving.
President Emeritus
CONTACT US P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, CA 90704 310-510-2595 320 Golden Shore, Suite 220 Long Beach, CA 90802 562-437-8555 CatalinaConservancy.org EDITORS
John J. Mack Chief Conservation & Education Officer
Matt McClain
Garen Smith Interim Chief Development & Communications Officer
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sharon Gorelczenko Manager, Human Resources
Laura Mecoy
Robin Weisz Design
Conservancy Times is printed on Pacesetter coated paper, which is Forest Stewardship Council Certified, made from 10% post-consumer waste and Elemental Chlorine Free. Printed using soy-based inks.
F O L LOW U S ON :
CONTENTS F E ATURES
Living Laboratory for Research From the research it conducts to the many programs it offers Island residents and visitors, the Catalina Island Conservancy serves as a 21st Century model of science-based conservation in a lived landscape. PAGE 3
Engaging the Community Through Education For Island residents and visitors alike, Catalina Island serves as a natural learning laboratory where they can gain knowledge about the environment and ecology. PAGE 6
Course Catalina A science-based program brings classroom lessons to life by giving hundreds of pre-teens an opportunity to spend a day experiencing Catalina Island as a living laboratory. PAGE 8
The Trailhead COVER PHOTO: JACK BALDELLI
The Catalina Island Conservancy celebrated a major milestone in IMAGINE CATALINA, its long-range strategic vision and master plan, when it broke ground on its new visitors’ center, The Trailhead. PAGE 10
DE PART ME NT S BECOME A CONSERVANCY MEMBER
CONSERVANCY CELEBRATION
Not a member of the Catalina Island Conservancy?
CONSERVANCY EVENT
Don’t miss out on the opportunities and adventure.
CONSERVANCY NEWS
Help protect this great natural resource. Go to: CatalinaConservancy.org or call 562-437-8555 ext. 1224
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New Artists at Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show 15
New Board Members 13 Years of Accomplishments New President and CEO Sustainable Financial Model Toyota’s Generous Donation Donor Honor Roll
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Conservancy Calendar 21
PHOTOS: LAURA MECOY, ROBB RENFELD
Join today!
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A Record-breaking Ball
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A LIVING LABORATORY FOR RESEARCH
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ith studies dating back to the 1890s, researchers have long known that 14 different types of land snails live on Catalina Island. A new look at these often overlooked creatures found one of these species of snails may be unique to Catalina: It may be another of the more than 60 endemic species found only on the Island and nowhere else in the world. “Through DNA analysis, it can be shown that the Catalina form of the snail is very different from what were thought to be populations of the same species on the other Channel Islands,” said Jeff Nekola, PhD, a researcher from the University of New Mexico who identified the new species and plans to publish a paper about it. “And knowing that it was different, it was then possible to spot shell characteristics that separated it as well.” Nekola said he anticipates formally giving the new snail species a name that recognizes the first people known to live on the Island, the Tongva, by incorporating their name for Catalina, Pimu, into the snail’s scientific name.
PHOTOS: JACK BALDELLI, CHRIS MALLORY/NATURALIST
Julie King, Conservancy director of conservation, checks the health of one of the Island’s endemic species, the Catalina Island fox, as part of the ongoing fox recovery program. Right: One of the Island’s more than 60 endemic species, the Catalina Cactus Snail (Xerarionta kellettii).
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I S L A N D AT T R AC T S R E S E A R C H E R S
N “Through its own studies and by hosting other researchers, the Conservancy is advancing our understanding of the natural world.” John J. Mack, Conservancy chief conservation and education officer
ekola is among numerous researchers who have traveled to the Island in their quest to better understand the planet’s animals, plants and ecosystems. Whether they’re studying biology, archeology, geology or any of a number of other fields of scientific inquiry, Catalina Island can serve as a living laboratory for finding the answers to their questions about the natural world. The Island’s remoteness can mean less interference from other factors that might confound an experiment or research project on the mainland. At the same time, Catalina’s approximately 4,000 residents and nearly 1 million annual visitors provide an opportunity to explore the interface between humans and nature. The Island’s unique environment not only fosters scientific inquiries: It can produce findings that are transferable to the mainland.
C O N S E RVA N CY ’ S R E S E A R C H I N F O R M S MAINLAND STUDIES
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or instance, the Catalina Island Conservancy’s innovative contraception program to control the size of the Island’s bison herd is being closely watched by the National Park Service in Yellowstone and others who manage bison herds to determine if it’s a strategy they can use. The Conservancy’s work with the Institute of Wildlife Studies, which restored the populations of the endangered Catalina Island fox and the Island’s bald eagles, was an important contribution in saving the endemic island fox species and restoring bald eagles across all the Channel Islands. This work has also been relevant to questions of animal reproduction in zoos on the mainland. Cheryl Asa, PhD, director of research for the Saint Louis Zoo, had previously worked with the fox recovery program on the other Channel Islands and is now studying the importance of mate choice in managing zoo populations because of what she observed among the foxes.
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
FOX RECOVERY PROVIDES INSIGHTS FOR ZOOS
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he said the foxes that had chosen their mates before being brought into captivity reproduced, reproduced more reliably than the ones born in captivity and then paired with a mate selected by humans. This led her to engage others in the zoo community on how mate choice might be presented to females and the outcomes assessed. “We at the Saint Louis Zoo have been focusing mostly on cheetahs, which we know are choosy,” she said. Asa said the zoo’s staff is using male cheetahs’ urine as a “proxy” for the males to gauge females’ interest. By giving the females this scent to evaluate which mates they may prefer, she said zoo managers are hoping to reduce the number of males that have to be shipped to another location to be introduced to a female, only to be rejected.
P L A N T I N F O R M AT I O N M A D E W I D E LY A V A I L A B L E or botanists and others interested in plant life, the Conservancy is documenting Catalina’s plant life and making it widely available to scientists through its herbarium. Established in 1971, the herbarium has preserved specimens of plants that researchers can use to study Catalina’s native and endemic species. Many of the specimens were collected in the early 1900s, so researchers can compare them to today’s plants to see how the plants may have changed over time. The Conservancy’s staff also has collected pollen samples from 465 specimens and sent the pollen to a researcher who is reconstructing prehistoric and historic environments of Catalina Island. The Conservancy has recently worked to input information about all of its vascular plant specimens into a searchable database. In this way, it is making information about Catalina Island plant life available to researchers around the world. “Scientists have been traveling to Catalina since the late 1800s to understand its unique flora, fauna and geology,” said John J. Mack, Conservancy chief conservation and education officer. “Through its own studies and by hosting other researchers, the Conservancy is advancing our understanding of the natural world.”
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PHOTOS: LAURA MECOY, AMY CATALANO, JACK BALDELLI
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The Island’s remoteness can mean less interference from other factors that might confound an experiment or research project on the mainland.
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A LIVING LABORATORY FOR UNDERSTANDING NATURE
Engaging the Community through Education
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racing her family’s history on the Island back to the early 1900s, Martha Flores says her children have had more opportunities than any previous generation to explore the Island’s wild side and learn about its unique ecosystems. “The Catalina Island Conservancy’s educational programs have given them the chance to do much more than I did as a child,” the 42-year-old mother of three said. “We just went on school trips, and they were nothing like the programs for the kids today. My kids get to go to the interior more often and get exposed to much more instruction about native plants and animals than I did. They have definitely become more interested in science as a result.”
A NATURAL LEARNING LABORATORY
For Island residents and visitors alike, Catalina Island serves as a natural learning laboratory where they can gain knowledge about the environment and ecology. The Conservancy offers hands-on learning adventures for Island residents through after-school programs, internships, Naturalist Training and many other programs. “The Conservancy’s educational programs deepen people’s understanding of the natural world and their appreciation for protecting and restoring this very special place,” said Kristin Howland, Conservancy director of education. The Conservancy collaborated with the Long Beach Unified School District, the community and philanthropic organizations to offer the extensive educational enrichment and internship programs for the local school population through its NatureWorks workforce development and STEM education initiative. NatureWorks serves children from kindergarten through 12th grade. ISLAND STUDENTS BENEFIT
Hands-on lessons, like this one, help increase Avalon students’ understanding of nature and the Island where they live.
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Included in the NatureWorks continuum for local kids is the Island Scholars Program for high-achieving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Classroom instruction is aided by nature-based field experience. The Island Scholars Program is a cooperative effort by the Catalina Island Education Consortium, which includes Avalon School, the Catalina Island Conservancy, Catalina Island Marine Institute and Catalina Island Museum. The Conservancy is also helping to train the next generation of Island leaders through its Rose Ellen Gardner Internship. Created in 2004, the program offers Avalon High School students the opportunity to learn about conservation work and gain valuable job skills that will help prepare them for the future.
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
FREE ACCESS TO THE WILDLANDS
Island families and businesses also benefit from the Conservancy’s educational programs. Its Families in Nature program provides free access to the wildlands for Island families without the type of vehicles needed to travel the wild side. Led by Conservancy-trained naturalists, the trips take place one Saturday per month from September through April. Denise Karstens, who often joins the Families in Nature trips, said her two young children enjoy the outings and the chance to learn about nature while being in nature. “The interior is our backyard, but it’s difficult to get there because we don’t have a large vehicle,” she said. “So we are very grateful the Conservancy offers us this opportunity.” NATURALIST TRAINING EDUCATES BUSINESS
For tour operators, local businesses and its own staff, the Conservancy provides Naturalist Training free of charge. Since it began the program in 2011, the Conservancy has provided Naturalist Training to more than 1,900 people, representing over 50 businesses, several yacht clubs, support clubs, youth camps and others. Among the earliest participants were the guides for the popular Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour. Tobey Hancock, director of the Santa Catalina Island Company’s Descanso Canyon Activities, said more than 40,000 people enjoy the Zip Line Eco Tour each year, and the guides use the Naturalist Training to educate their guests. “The Naturalist Training has provided a real foundational starting point for new staff members, some of whom might even be new to Catalina,” he said. “It allows them to understand the Island’s origins, its environment and its ecosystems and to be able to add information about their own favorite plant or animal.” THE CONSERVANCY IS “EVERYWHERE”
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Top photo: Avalon students learned about botany and nature education through a NatureWorks project for them to create signs about the plants and other aspects of the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Bottom photo: Avalon students explore the wild side with the Conservancy’s educational programs.
“The Conservancy’s educational programs deepen people’s understanding of the natural world and their appreciation for protecting and restoring this very special place.” Kristin Howland, Conservancy director of education
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PHOTOS: ALEXA JOHNSON
Hancock said the Naturalist Training also helps dispel myths and inaccuracies about Catalina and ensure that visitors to the Island get accurate information from all the tour operators, hotels and other tourist-oriented businesses. In addition to its formal educational programs, the Conservancy offers opportunities to learn more through its Nature Centers located in Avalon and at the Airport in the Sky, Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden in Avalon, naturalist-led hikes, Jeep Eco Tours and many other activities. Youth from the mainland also learn about protecting the environment through the Conservancy’s Stop the Spread program. The Conservancy works with the Island’s camps to train campers on how to remove invasive plants and the importance of native plants to the ecosystem. “The Conservancy is very involved and engaged in the community,” said Karstens, who has lived on the Island for 16 years and been active in several programs. “The Conservancy is everywhere, and the community really benefits from it.”
A LIVING LABORATORY
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he youngsters eagerly hiked nearly three miles
roundtrip to Catalina’s Ben Weston Beach, frequently stopping on the trail to ask about plants and bugs and how they fit into the Island’s ecosystem. They dug through the sand at the beach in search of tiny insects they’d never seen before, and they seriously sniffed a twig of coastal sage to understand why it’s sometimes called “cowboy cologne.” With their feet, hands, eyes and noses, the curious 7th grade students from Haskell Middle School in Cerritos spent a day exploring and experiencing the wonders of Catalina thanks to the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Course Catalina. Over the past 19 years, this sciencebased program has brought classroom lessons to life by giving hundreds of pre-teens
COURSE CATALINA
an opportunity to spend a day experiencing the Island as a living laboratory.
Educating Future Scientists
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Willie Richerson, Conservancy NatureWorks program specialist, used an iPad to help explain the difference between plants the students studied during their Course Catalina trip.
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
INSPIRING A PASSION FOR SCIENCE “Seeing all of this firsthand—nothing can come close to that in helping them understand science,” said the Haskell Middle School students’ teacher, Elizabeth Ortega. “Several of these students have a real passion for science, and many of them have never been out of Los Angeles, much less visited an island like this.” Their passion showed. From the moment the 16 students arrived on Catalina, they peppered their guides, two members of the Conservancy’s educational staff, with questions about the plants and animals on the Island. The students took a bus from Avalon to the Airport in the Sky, where they learned about how the Conservancy and its partner, the Institute for Wildlife Studies, worked together to bring the endangered Catalina Island fox back from the brink of extinction. All of them rushed to the outdoor patio as soon as they realized they could catch a glimpse of one of the tiny endemic creatures in the bushes beside it. After eating lunch and capturing countless photos of the lone fox, the students reboarded the bus for the trip to the trailhead for Ben Weston Beach. There, they stopped for photos, shouldered their backpacks and set out for their journey to one of the Island’s prettiest and most remote beaches.
EXPLORING THE WILD SIDE Midway through the hike, Conservancy NatureWorks Program Specialist Willie Richerson climbed onto a huge rock formation to explain the geological forces that formed Catalina Island and to point out the unusual characteristics of the metamorphic rock on which he stood. Arriving at the beach, the youngsters shed their shoes, rolled up their pants and dashed into the surf, reveling in the beauty before them. But soon, they were back at work, completing a short class and workbook on Catalina Island’s ecosystem and exploring a salt grass and salt bush under a field microscope linked to an iPad. Too soon for the youngsters, the lessons at the beach ended, and they had to hike quickly back to the bus. They stopped to see the bald and golden eagles housed in a shelter at Middle Ranch and then returned to Avalon for a pizza dinner and the trip back to the mainland. Joshua Mahar summed up the day for his classmates. “This is way better than any other field trip I have ever been on,” he said. “You can do way more things out here. It’s just pure nature, and you get to experience it!”
From a Conversation to Course Catalina Course Catalina began as a casual conversation about the need to bring young people to the Island, and it grew into an annual trip that’s given hundreds of students a hands-on experience in nature. Dr. George Boone, an orthodontist who became a real estate developer and a leading Southern California philanthropist, was visiting the Island with friends and remarked on the need to bring young people to Catalina. He went on to join the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Board of Directors and to found and fund Course Catalina. Today, his son, Nick Boone, pictured above, is the administrator of the Boone Family Foundation and has continued to support Course Catalina to bring youngsters to the Island and to provide a connection for Avalon students. He often joins the youngsters for their Island treks.
PHOTOS: LAURA MECOY
“I love coming here with them and seeing them experience all that Catalina has to offer—from the boat trip to hiking through the wildlands,” he said. “For many of them, this is their first trip on a boat and their first visit to an island. It’s wonderful to see how Catalina and its beauty can have such a profound effect on them.”
Help support the Conservancy’s many educational programs! Willie Richerson, Conservancy NatureWorks program specialist, explained the Island’s unique plant life to the students. CONSERVANCY TIMES
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Please contact Elizabeth Whitted-Dawson Development Manager, Institutional Giving 562-437-8555 ext. 1238 EDawson@CatalinaConservancy.org
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The Trailhead…
Artist’s rendering of The Trailhead
Your Adventure Starts Here T
he Catalina Island Conservancy celebrated a major milestone in IMAGINE CATALINA, its long-range strategic vision and master plan, when it broke ground on its new visitors’ center, The Trailhead. “The Trailhead is the flagship project for IMAGINE CATALINA, a longterm strategic vision to guide the Conservancy for the next 20-plus years,” said Ann M. Muscat, PhD, Conservancy president emeritus. “The Trailhead will be a game-changer for the Conservancy because it will dramatically increase the organization’s presence in Avalon. It will give us the opportunity to share with visitors the uniqueness of Catalina, why it is an ecological treasure and how they can participate in taking care of it.” The Trailhead will be located on Crescent Avenue, the main thoroughfare for visitors arriving by ferry. Educational exhibits and programs will give visitors and residents insight into the Conservancy’s important work, its mission and the Island’s natural history, ecology and geology.
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PORTAL TO THE WILD SIDE The Trailhead also will provide a portal to the wild side through the Conservancy’s very popular, naturalist-led Jeep Eco Tours, the Wildlands Express Shuttle, the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and its nature centers in Avalon and the Airport in the Sky. It will also be a place to get information about hiking, biking and camping. The Trailhead will be Avalon’s first LEED-certified building, and it will supply a new community gathering spot. Multipurpose meeting spaces will be available for
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
DEVELOPING IMAGINE CATALINA
From left, participating in the groundbreaking ceremony were Catalina Island Conservancy Board Members Blanny Avalon Hagenah, John P. Cotton and Stephen Chazen, PhD; Conservancy President Emeritus Ann M. Muscat, PhD; Conservancy Benefactor Member Alison Wrigley Rusack; Conservancy President and CEO Tony Budrovich, and Avalon Mayor Anni Marshall.
Conservancy events, community activities, corporate meetings and weddings. The Trailhead also will feature a mission-related retail space and a café.
EXPANDING ISLAND HIKING TRAILS IMAGINE CATALINA’s next major project will be Trekking Catalina—A Master Trails Plan. This is a comprehensive plan for a sustainable master trails system, which will create a world-class hiking experience. It will be the biggest addition to the Island’s trail system since the opening of the 37.2-mile Trans-Catalina Trail in 2009. The Conservancy plans to celebrate the launch of Trekking Catalina in October. “We are so grateful to our generous donors and supporters who have made The Trailhead and Trekking Catalina possible,” said Muscat. “Their gifts are helping us fulfill one of the major goals of IMAGINE CATALINA by creating opportunities for people to connect to the land through nature-based recreational and educational opportunities.”
Several years ago, the Conservancy’s Board of Directors, executive team and staff undertook a comprehensive strategic planning process with some of the nation’s leading experts in sustainable design, community planning, landscape design, conservation and land management. It convened and surveyed a wide range of stakeholders—including Island residents and business, nonprofit and conservation leaders—to create IMAGINE CATALINA.
IMAGINE CATALINA’S GOALS ▶▶ Protect and restore Catalina Island by modeling science-based conservation in a lived landscape ▶▶ Connect people to the land and sea through nature-based recreational opportunities ▶▶ Train today’s and tomorrow’s stewards of the natural world through life-long learning experiences ▶▶ Model sustainability in facilities, operations and finances so that the long-term protection and enjoyment of Catalina is ensured
THANKS TO IMAGINE CATALINA’S VISIONARY DONORS Annenberg Foundation
John and Dana Hagenah
Nelson and Mimi Jones
Philip and Maureen Ramer
Anonymous 1 Anonymous 2
Shelli A. Herman In Honor of Ann Muscat, PhD
Alison Wrigley Rusack and Geoffrey Claflin Rusack
Bob and Mai Breech
Jack and Shirley Herron
Don Knabe, Supervisor Fourth District County of Los Angeles
Steve and Pat Chazen
Howard Higholt
John P. and Cindy Cotton
Hank and Diane Hilty
Geraldine Knatz and John Mulvey
Claire A. Stuart Charitable Trust
Ann and Steve Hinchliffe
David and Pat Lamb
Victoria and Dorn Dean
Mike and Gloria Sullivan
Rick and Candace Emsiek
Douglas M. West and Irene E. Ziebarth
Roger Lang
Jim and Vicki Warmington
Drew and Jane Lanza
Richard Woodward
Blanny Avalon Hagenah Patricia and Will Hagenah Susan and Phil Hagenah In Memory of Helen and Phil Wrigley CONSERVANCY TIMES
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Ann Muscat and Jack Baldelli
Patrick and Mari McAlister
Gary and Kellie Johnson
Tony and Claire Michaels
James W. and Anne D. Johnson Family Foundation
James and Misdee Miller
Dick and Alison Johnston
Maria Pellegrini
PHOTO: ROBB ROSENFELD
G.T. and Shannon Frost
Becky and Steve Smith
(As of July 15, 2016)
Calen and Amber Offield
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C O N S E R VA N C Y C E L E B R AT I O N
Top photo and next page: The 21st Annual Conservancy Ball included honors for Ann M. Muscat, PhD, who is retiring in October after 13 years as Conservancy president and CEO. Middle photo: Ball guests applaud the record fund-raising totals. Bottom photo: Members of Las Caballeras, many of whom are also part of the Conservancy’s Catalina Caballeros support group, demonstrated their love for horses and their support for the Conservancy at the Ball.
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CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
21st Annual Conservancy Ball Makes History early 500 guests celebrated a record-setting evening at the 21st Annual Conservancy Ball in April. The evening of dining and dancing in the historic Avalon Casino set a new record in fundraising, grossing more than $687,000 for the Catalina Island Conservancy’s ongoing programs. The event also celebrated the many accomplishments of Ann M. Muscat, PhD, as she prepared for her retirement as president and CEO of the Conservancy. And it looked forward to the future with the official launch of the capital campaign for IMAGINE CATALINA. IMAGINE CATALINA is the Conservancy’s strategic long-term vision and master plan to secure the ecological health of the Island while enhancing the ability for future generations to enjoy its beauty and tranquility. It builds on the successful work of the Conservancy’s past four decades and imagines how this vitally important organization can evolve and advance its expertise, experience and resources to serve not only this beautiful Island, but a greater good that goes beyond its shores. “We thank all our guests and sponsors for their generous support of the Catalina Island Conservancy and their commitment to the future of this beloved Island,” said Hank Hilty, Conservancy board member and development committee chair. “We also thank Ann for her 13 years of service as Conservancy president and CEO as she looks toward her retirement at the end of 2016.” The evening featured dining and dancing to the big band sounds of Society Beat, and many one-of-a-kind items that were available for purchase during the live and silent auctions. The Conservancy thanks its many donors and sponsors for their support, including: Presenting Partner—Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.; Sponsor Reception Partner—US Bank; Cocktail Hour Partner—Tesoro; and Community Partners—Edison International, CocaCola North America, Aon Risk Services, Bluewater Grill and Trader Joe’s.
te a D e h T e v a S ll nservancy Ba o C l a u n n A d 22n l 1, 2017 Saturday, Apri o Ballroom Avalon Casin d Catalina Islan onsorships, rmation and sp . 1239 fo in re o m r o F xt 2-437-8555 e please call 56 rvancy.org CatalinaConse ll@ a B il a m e r O
PHOTOS: SHAUNA CASSADY PHOTOGRAPHY
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C O N S E R VA N C Y E V E N T S
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 2016 TIME: 1:30–2:30 p.m. Priority Preview and Purchases 2:30–4:00 p.m. General Access PLACE: Newport Harbor Yacht Club 720 West Bay Avenue Balboa, CA 92661 TICKETS: For tickets, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org Or call 562-437-8555 ext. 1239
PHOTO: JACK BALDELLI
New Artists and New Art for this Year’s Show W ith new artists and exciting new works, you won’t want to miss the 6th Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show on Sunday, October 23, at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club in Balboa. The event will feature the paintings of 10 nationally recognized plein air painters, who have interpreted Catalina Island’s wildlands, Avalon and Two Harbors in their works. As it has every year since its inception, the show will feature newly created works, painted in the plein air style, which is painting nature while in nature. Four of the artists are making their first appearance at the annual show. They are Brian Blood, Kathleen Dunphy, Debra Huse and Laurie Kersey. Six of the artists have exhibited at previous shows. They are John Cosby, Don Demers, Andy Evansen, Kim Lordier, Ron Rencher and Matt Smith. “The artists capture beautiful portraits of the Conservancy’s protection and restoration of the Island,” said Tony Budrovich, Conservancy president and CEO. “This event is an exceptional opportunity to see and purchase the works of these nationally acclaimed plein air artists and to support the Conservancy’s unique use of art for conservation’s sake.” Proceeds from the sales of the artworks benefit the Conservancy’s programs and support the permanent collection of plein air art that documents the organization’s conservation efforts and progress in habitat restoration.
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Above: “Early Morning Sun,” by Laurie Kersey will be among the plein air paintings available for purchase at the Art Show. Below: Artist Debra Huse captures Catalina’s beauty on canvas in preparation for this year’s show.
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
C O N S E R VA N C Y N E W S
Conservancy Gains Two New Board Members CALEN B. OFFIELD Continuing a Family Legacy Calen B. Offield was born and spent the first nine years of his life on Catalina Island. Now that he’s grown with his own three children, he says one of his most vivid childhood memories is a Jeep tour he took with his father of Catalina Island’s wild side when he was age six or seven. He still remembers spotting his first bison, and his father describing the Island’s plants and animals. His father knew the Island well. He was the late Paxson “Packy” Offield, a great-grandson of William Wrigley Jr. and a long-time Catalina Island Conservancy board and benefactor member. “There is a family legacy,” Calen Offield said. “I plan on taking my kids around and showing them the Island, just like my dad did for me. I definitely plan on passing on the Island knowledge and how unique and interesting a place Catalina is.” As a member of the board and supporter of the Conservancy, he said he wants to ensure the Island is protected for his three young children to enjoy as they grow up. “The Conservancy is the steward of the Island, and it is shaping the way Catalina will look and the options for visiting the Island,” he said. “Because of the Conservancy’s stewardship, Catalina is going to be an even better place for my kids than it was when I was a kid. It will be the untouched California scenery that is so hard to find these days.” Calen Offield is a professional photographer as well as a director of the Offield Family Foundation. Along with his brother, he is involved with the Offield Center for Billfish Studies, continuing the billfish research for striped marlin that his father began. He is also a director of the Peregrine Fund, which works to conserve birds of prey worldwide. He is the great-great-grandson of William Wrigley Jr., and he is married to Amber Offield. The couple live in Laguna Beach with their three children.
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Calen B. Offield
“The Conservancy is the steward of the Island, and it is shaping the way Catalina will look and the options for visiting the Island. Because of the Conservancy’s stewardship, Catalina is going to be an even better place for my kids than it was when I was a kid. It will be the untouched California scenery that is so hard to find these days.” Calen B. Offield Catalina Island Conservancy board member
Patrick McAlister
PATRICK McALISTER Embraces Family Traditions James “Patrick” McAlister grew up spending summers on Catalina Island on his parents’ boat. When he started his own family, he continued the tradition by bringing his wife, Mari, and their two daughters, Megan and Lauren, to the Island on his boat. He’s also continued the family’s tradition of philanthropy. He has been president of the Harold J. McAlister Charitable Foundation since 1998 and serves on its Board of Directors. Started by his grandfather in 1959, the Los Angeles-based organization focuses on education and health care. It also supports the arts and other causes, including the Catalina Island Conservancy. McAlister has continued the family’s tradition of community involvement as well. In addition to joining the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Board of Directors, he is a former board member of St. John’s Hospital, Laguna Blanca School and the Cottage Health System. McAlister brings substantial financial acumen to the Conservancy’s Board of Directors, with more than 20 years of experience as a financial advisor. He retired in 2008 from his position as senior vice president with Morgan Stanley. He and his wife are members of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club and both enjoy horseback riding at Hope Ranch. He also enjoys golf, tennis, skiing and boating. 15
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Catalina Island Conservancy’s Accomplishments LOOKING BACK ON THE PAST 13 YEARS
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s Ann M. Muscat, PhD, prepares to retire next month, we look back at the many accomplishments during her tenure. She joined the Conservancy as president and CEO in 2003 and served 13 years, the second longest tenure of any Conservancy president. Under her leadership, the Conservancy has accomplished the following:
IMPROVEMENTS IN CATALINA’S ECOLOGICAL HEALTH Committed to the protection and restoration of natural habitat on the approximately 42,000 acres of Catalina’s wildlands that it stewards, the Conservancy has improved the Island’s unique ecology through concerted conservation efforts. It has: ▶▶ Removed non-native and highly destructive animal species from the Island, leading to the rediscovery of native plants previously believed to be extinct. ▶▶ Completed vegetation mapping of the entire Island, including non-native and invasive plant species, through its Catalina Habitat Improvement and Restoration Program (CHIRP). ▶▶ Controlled numerous invasive plant species that were eliminating native and rare biodiversity. ▶▶ Expanded the Ackerman Native Plant Nursery’s scope to include landscaping initiatives on the Island, along with restoration, and significantly expanded the native seed collection. ▶▶ Brought the Catalina Island fox back from the brink of extinction and supported the successful recovery of the bald eagle through its partnership with the Institute for Wildlife Studies. ▶▶ Implemented innovative social (repatriation) and scientific methodologies (contraception) for managing the bison herd. ▶▶ Conducted bird and small mammal surveys, discovering nesting sea birds on cliffs and nearby rocks, and implemented protective measures for bat populations. ▶▶ Pursued research partnerships with universities and museums from across the country, including a multi-institution collaboration that resulted in a comprehensive look at the Island’s oak woodlands.
Left: Removal of invasive plants has improved the Island’s ecosystem.
“Under Ann’s leadership, the Conservancy has become a living laboratory of innovation in conservation, education and financial sustainability for nonprofit organizations.” Stephen Chazen, PhD, Catalina Island Conservancy Board of Directors chair 16
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“Ann and the Conservancy have achieved a lot... I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Ann and her team, all of them consummate professionals who are dedicated to getting things done.” Don Knabe, Los Angeles County supervisor
INCREASED PUBLIC ACCESS Working with the Long Beach Unified School District, the community and philanthropic organizations, the Conservancy has greatly increased access to natural and intellectual resources over the past 13 years. It has: ▶▶ Implemented extensive educational enrichment and internship programs for the local school population through the establishment of the NatureWorks workforce development and STEM education initiative for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. ▶▶ Provided free access to the wildlands of Catalina for Island families without vehicles through its Families in Nature program. ▶▶ Implemented a free-of-charge Naturalist Training Program for tour operators and local businesses, as well as Conservancy frontline staff. ▶▶ Established the 37.2 mile Trans-Catalina Trail and secured funding and developed plans for further trail improvements and expansions.
Leadership Extends Beyond Catalina Ann M. Muscat, PhD, has been a leader beyond Catalina. She was a founding board member for the California Council of Land Trusts and served as chair of its board. She also is a member of the Steering Committee for the Southern California Open Space Council and an Advisory Board member of USC’s Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies.
▶▶ Expanded and improved the Jeep Eco Tour program and developed a signage and way finding system across the Island. ▶▶ Added new running and biking events, an Island Ecology Travel Program and Catalina: The Wild Side Art Program to increase access and awareness. ▶▶ Increased volunteer program initiatives to include AmeriCorps, American Conservation Experience and numerous university-level spring break programs. ▶▶ Added a Nature Center in Avalon and a Mobile Nature Station that has served Avalon and Two Harbors, along with interpretive panels in the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and at campgrounds and trailheads. ▶▶ Expanded and revamped its outreach and marketing materials, including maps, field guides, monthly e-newsletters, videos, an extensive photo library and expanded website.
Above: From left, Conservancy Board member Blanny Avalon Hagenah, former Board member Victoria Seaver Dean, artist John Budicin and Ann M. Muscat, PhD, at the Catalina: The Wild Side Salon. Left: The Conservancy’s educational programs increased public access to the wildlands for Avalon’s students.
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PHOTOS: JACK BALDELLI, LAURA MECOY
▶▶ Created a website and launched a successful radio show, Isla Earth, that aired for 10 years on over 320 radio stations across the company.
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TONY BUDROVICH The Conservancy’s New President & CEO
PHOTO: LAURA MECOY
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ony Budrovich, the Catalina Island Conservancy’s new president and CEO, grew up along the Southern California coast, gazing at Catalina and wondering about the Island. As an adult, his passion for scuba diving brought him to the Island more than 40 times in the 35 years before he joined the Conservancy in 2015 as its chief operating officer. “With each trip, my appreciation grew for the Catalina landscape and the Island’s beautiful ecosystems, so I felt very fortunate when I had the opportunity to join the Conservancy as its chief operating officer in 2015,” he said. Shortly after he joined the Conservancy, Ann M. Muscat, PhD, announced her plans to retire at the end of 2016. The Board of Directors launched an extensive national search that resulted in Budrovich becoming the sixth president and CEO in the Conservancy’s 44-year history. Before joining the Conservancy, Budrovich served for 18 years as deputy director of the California Science Center and senior vice president of the California Science Center Foundation. There he was responsible for 350 staff, 150 volunteers and all operations. Among Budrovich’s many accomplishments, he led the construction projects for the Science Center’s second phase, Ecosystems, and for the new building that houses the Science Center’s most popular exhibit, the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Budrovich first developed his skills
in public educational venues through leadership positions at Sea World Inc. and Marineland of the Pacific, a popular attraction on the Palos Verdes peninsula that closed its doors in 1987. He’s also worked with companies as a consultant focused on improving management and guest experiences. He also worked as a consultant in the field of seawater desalination. Since joining the Conservancy, Budrovich has overseen the organization’s operations and secured its largest ever single in-kind gift—13 new vehicles from Toyota. He also began implementation of a new ticketing system in Guest Services. He has led an aggressive program of capital improvements, including the new pier at White’s Landing, employee housing purchases and remodels and the extensive planning processes to expand Catalina’s trail system and construct a new visitors’ center, The Trailhead. “I have benefitted from the solid foundation Ann created over the past 13 years,” he said. “Working with the Board, the Benefactor Members, the executive team and staff, I am confident we will realize the strategic vision for the Conservancy’s future developed by Ann and the team.”
Catalina Island Conservancy’s Accomplishments Continued from page 17 EXPANDED FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES To provide the needed programs and ensure the organization’s long-term financial health, the Conservancy has focused on raising revenues and creating a sustainable financial model that will ensure the Island will continue to be restored and protected for future generations. It has: ▶▶ Increased its operating budget nearly three times through a boost in philanthropic giving and mission-based earned income—allowing 100% of charitable donations to be dedicated to programs. ▶▶ Significantly expanded its donor base and created a reserve fund to address deferred maintenance projects across its 42,000 acres. ▶▶ Made improvements at the Airport in the Sky, across its road and bridge system and in its buildings. ▶▶ Built a new pier and replaced and expanded its vehicle fleet. ▶▶ Revamped its organizational structure, adding new departments and expanding existing functions while providing professional development and training for all staff. The staff has doubled in size and moved to a more customer service/community orientation. ▶▶ Expanded and updated employee housing, adding 14 new units, to support recruitment and retention of staff.
CREATED A LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN
“Ann and her team’s excellent stewardship work at the Catalina Island Conservancy is leading edge and has served as a model for many other land trusts.” Darla Guenzler California Council of Land Trusts executive director
▶▶ Developed IMAGINE CATALINA, a long-term strategic vision and master plan to guide the Conservancy into the future. IMAGINE CATALINA builds on the Conservancy’s work of the past 44 years and imagines how the organization can evolve and advance its expertise, experience and resources to serve the Island and a greater good beyond its shores. 18
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or his marriage proposal, Shaun Tucker chose his favorite spot in the world: a peak overlooking Two Harbors on Catalina Island. The spot was magical for both him and Katy, his bride-to-be. They are now celebrating their third year of marriage. For Tucker and his family going back four generations, Catalina Island is such a special place that they have not only been visitors: They have been philanthropists who funded and built the Little Red Schoolhouse at Two Harbors.
“WORLD-CLASS ORGANIZATION” Tucker, a senior vice president at the Capital Group, one of the world’s leading investment management firms, has continued that tradition with generous support for the Catalina Island Conservancy. “It’s a world-class organization,” he said. “I work with a lot of nonprofits, and I’m impressed with the Conservancy’s ability to use its financial strengths to fulfill its mission.” The Conservancy is a pioneer among land trusts in creating a sustainable financial model which allows 100% of charitable donations to be dedicated to the support of programs to protect and restore the invaluable natural, cultural and recreational assets of Catalina Island. This is possible because of the diversity of funding sources the Conservancy has developed since its formation in 1972.
importantly, each of these activities helps the Conservancy fulfill its commitment to providing appropriate public access to its land. Most of the revenues from these activities are used for maintaining the Conservancy’s infrastructure—which is substantial. The Conservancy has vast responsibilities for maintaining buildings, roads, bridges, a pier and an airport on the 42,000 acres of wildlands under its stewardship.
SUBSTANTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS The Conservancy also has the benefit of endowments established by the Wrigley and Offield families to support the nonprofit land trust. Lloyd said the Conservancy carefully stewards those funds to ensure they’re available in perpetuity. “We have established a sustainable financial model that will ensure the Conservancy can fulfill its mission for generations to come,” he said.
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Donates 13 Vehicles Toyota Motor Sales, USA, made the largest-ever single donation to the Catalina Island Conservancy: 13 vehicles from its sales fleet with a total value of over $500,000. Toyota donated a Tundra Truck, Tacoma Truck, Sequoia SUV, 4Runner SUV and nine RAV4 EV Compact SUVs. “This is an amazing gift from Toyota of much-needed vehicles for the work we do every day on Catalina Island,” said Tony Budrovich, Conservancy president and CEO. “The vehicles will be used by the Conservancy’s conservation biologists, road crews, guest services staff, rangers and others. They will replace aging vehicles that spend more time in our repair shop than on the roads.” Toyota was the Presenting Partner for the 21st Annual Conservancy Ball. PHOTO: MATT McCLAIN
Pioneering a Sustainable Financial Model
Guests visiting the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden help support the Conservancy’s mission.
DIVERSIFIED REVENUE STREAMS “We are somewhat unique in that we have a more diversified stream of revenues than most land trusts,” said Larry L. Lloyd, the Conservancy’s chief finance and business development officer. These include lease revenues from the youth camps, communication towers and yacht clubs on Conservancy property. The Conservancy also collects landing fees at the Airport in the Sky, admission fees at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and revenues from its Jeep Eco Tours and Wildlands Express, as well as fees from other Island-based operations that provide tours of the wild side. More
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HONOR ROLL OF DONORS *Listing includes annual support from January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016, exclusive of auction items donated to or purchased at the Conservancy Ball and Catalina: The Wild Side art purchases. Excludes gifts made to the IMAGINE CATALINA campaign. Gifts listed in order of amount.
$100,000 and Above
Sam Piffero
$1,000–$2,499
Blake Bokosky
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
Catalina Island Yacht Club Foundation
Tom Box
$50,000–$100,000
Patrick and Mari McAlister
Drew and Jane Lanza
Geoffrey Claflin and Alison Wrigley Rusack
Nelson and Mimi Jones
Todd and Jean Walker
Shaun and Katy Tucker
John and Cindy Cotton
The Capital Group Companies
Las Caballeras
Jim and Sally McClure
Employees Community Fund of Boeing California
Offield Family Foundation Steve and Pat Chazen $25,000–$49,999
Charlie and Ellen Steinmetz
Helen Rich
Connolly-Pacific Co.
Gary and Kellie Johnson Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation The Seaver Institute Victoria and Dorn Dean
Estate of Donna Matson Frank and Joann Randall Rusty and Mary Lynn Turner T.C. Collins & Associates, Inc. Tesoro Southern California
Judy Banning Marianne Horn Martin and Bernardine Curtin The Lighter Side Santa Barbara Equine Practice Balboa Yacht Club Peter and Maria Bauman
$10,000–$24,999
$2,500–$4,999
Guided Discoveries Trent and Linda Anderson
Annenberg Foundation
Geraldine Knatz and John Mulvey
US Bank
Coca Cola Foundation
Edison International
Jared Ficker
Douglas West and Irene Ziebarth
John Hagenah Family Fund
Bruce and Lisa Gelker
Curt and Alita Rethmeyer
Maria Pellegrini
Western Los Angeles Council, Boy Scouts of America
City National Bank
Tricia and Will Hagenah
The Elliott Family Foundation Fund
Fine Line Construction
Robert and Julie Woolley
Roger Lang
Aon Risk Solutions
Scott and Sue Redsun
Ann and Olin Barrett
Calen and Amber Offield
Anonymous
Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, LLP
Ross and Kristi Turner
Board of Supervisors— County of Los Angeles
Mutual of America
$5,000–$9,999
Gary and Sonja Gray
Santa Catalina Island Company
Graham Tingler
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Ron and Cheryl Roberts
Lee Harrison Tom and Gerda Sparks Jordan and Elizabeth Cohen Jonathan Weiner and Diane Silvers Richard and Becca Waycott Andi Culbertson Bill and Pat Podlich Gary and Mary Gordon Gary Goodgame Hank and Diane Hilty James and Mary Buckingham Leslie Lassiter Lonnie Gialketsis Mary Lou Jefferson Tourism Cares, Inc.
Gregg Elliott
Andy and Gaye Saxon
Larry and Terry Grill
Blanny Avalon Hagenah
Earl B. Gilmore Foundation
Bob and Mai Breech
Tod and Linda White
Ruben Rojas
Jeanne Beesley and Andrew Tao Kevin Shannon
MVE + Partners, Inc. Steve and Linda Glanville Lynne Brickner and Jerry Gallard G.T. and Shannon Frost
CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
CONSERVANCY CALENDAR MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR ADVENTURE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE EVENTS, GO TO CATALINACONSERVANCY.ORG OR CALL 562-437-8555
Members of Los Caballeros, accomplished horsemen who are also members of the Conservancy’s Catalina Caballeros support group, will enjoy the 67th Annual Catalina Trek. For more information, please visit LosCaballeros.org.
Las Caballeras Catalina Ride September 27–October 2 Las Caballeras will celebrate their annual Island ride with camping, camaraderie and cowgirl fun. Las Caballeras are a Catalina Island Conservancy support group. For more information, please visit LasCaballeras.com.
Catalina Film Festival September 28–October 2
Catalina Eco-Marathon November 19
Join the stars and other luminaries at the Catalina Film Festival, five days of film premieres, nightly parties and industry networking on the Island. Recent honorees include William H. Macy, Andy Garcia, Sharon Stone, Kate Bosworth, Jon Favreau, Patricia Arquette and many other renowned actors, writers and directors. For more information, please visit CatalinaFilm.org.
Billed as the “hardest race you will ever love,” the EcoMarathon offers runners the option of either a 13.1-mile or 26.2-mile course. Both courses feature rugged and breathtaking trails with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Island’s wildlife. For more information, please visit RunCatalina.com.
6th Annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show October 23 A passion for Catalina Island and plein air art come together in one extraordinary afternoon. The show features nationally acclaimed plein air artists, who will display their interpretations of Catalina’s rugged wildlands and scenic beauty. Proceeds from the sale of these unique paintings support the Conservancy’s programs and its permanent collection of plein air artwork which documents its restoration efforts over time.
Annual Conservation & Education Symposium November 18 Join Conservancy biologists, educators and invited researchers and scientists for intimate discussions of Catalina Island natural history discoveries and scientific advances at this annual, daylong, eagerly awaited series of presentations in Long Beach.
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Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon March 11, 2017 This event will feature the exciting marathon course used historically on Catalina’s wildlands, including much of the rugged terrain, spectacular vistas and special challenges enjoyed by noted runner Hans Albrecht and friends in the earliest days of the event. For more information, please visit RunCatalina.com.
22nd Annual Conservancy Ball April 1, 2017 Join us for one of the biggest events of the year on Catalina Island. The 22nd Annual Conservancy Ball promises to be another exciting and elegant evening of dining, dancing and fun benefitting the Conservancy. For more information, please visit the Conservancy’s website or call 562-437-8555 ext. 1239. To ensure you receive a formal invitation to the ball, please e-mail your mailing address to Ball@CatalinaConservancy.org.
BZ Jones Hike April 8, 2017 Join the Marineros support group for a hike that honors the legacy of a dedicated Conservancy supporter and volunteer, the late Graham “BZ” Jones. The BZ Jones Hike is an annual, one-day trek that usually covers about 12 miles across the width of Catalina Island. Transportation, lunch midway through the hike and a celebratory dinner in Avalon are included in the registration price. For more information, please contact Spencer Campbell at 562-437-8555 ext. 1224 or SCampbell@ CatalinaConservancy.org.
Explore the Channel Islands Summer/Fall 2017 Join the Conservancy next year for a boat trip to one of the Channel Islands and a hike. This annual tour gives participants a rare chance to learn more about the other islands. Lunch will be provided. Keep an eye out for additional details and a date.
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PHOTO: SCOTT STOLARAZ
Los Caballeros Catalina Trek September 21–25
P.O. Box 2739 Avalon, California 90704
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 1782 SANTA ANA CA 92799
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL
Sunday, October 23, 2016 1:30–2:30 p.m. Priority Preview and Purchases 2:30–4:00 p.m. General Access ewport Harbor Yacht Club N 720 West Bay Avenue Balboa, CA 92661 For tickets, please visit CatalinaConservancy.org Or call 562-437-8555 ext. 1239