Ventura Land Trust Programs
Photo by Chris Ryan
Conservation Science
From stewardship to public access, all of our programs require a science driven baseline to understanding how our natural systems work. We are committed to monitoring the ecological resources in our preserves to evaluate and adapt the impact of our management practices on biological diversity and ecological function.
Stewardship
Our stewardship program endeavors to support our conservation goals while balancing responsible public access. Restoring sensitive species and degraded ecological communities, managing invasive species, removing trash from our river corridors, and maintaining low impact infrastructure on our preserves are key priorities to enhance our natural systems while facilitating sustainable public access.
Outdoor Education
If we don’t provide opportunities for children to love nature, how can we expect them to grow into adults that will conserve nature? Nature exploration program Ventura Wild, reaches the next generation of environmental champions, offering hands-on environmental education, restoration, and stewardship experiences in local wild places. Ventura Wild programs are designed to connect children to nature and instill a deep sense of belonging, by nurturing awareness, knowledge, skills and stewardship in the natural world.
Community Outreach
Community outreach and engagement are cornerstones of Ventura Land Trust’s mission to protect and preserve open space throughout Ventura County. VLT hosts or participates in over 45 community outreach events annually. These include tabling at local events, offering guided hikes through our preserves, and hosting environmental educational sessions. By engaging with the community, we can raise awareness of the issues impacting the environment upon which we all depend.
We pursue our mission mindful of seven core values:
EDUCATION: We educate the public on the values of open space, ecological health, and biodiversity for the sustainability and long-term prosperity of our region.
INTEGRITY: We work with integrity to ensure our long-term credibility and to merit our members’ and donors’ trust.
COLLABORATION: We work collaboratively with organizations, community members, and public institutions to fulfill our mission.
COURTESY: We foster a culture of civility and respect within our organization and in our preserves.
DIVERSITY: We serve a diverse, vibrant community and value the myriad of perspectives that diversity brings.
PERMANENCE: We take our promise of stewarding our lands in perpetuity seriously; our actions reflect our intent to protect and care for these lands forever.
RESPONSIBILITY: We hold a deep sense of accountability to our community, our staff and volunteers, and the natural inhabitants of our lands.
Photo: Christina Kennedy