As 2017 wraps up, we reflect on the accomplishments of 2017.

• 2017 was the 25th anniversary of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust and we had a wonderful dinner celebration with guest keynote speaker Dr. Charles Lester.  See below for a recap of that event.

• The Stewards and Jr. Stewards had a great year with 2,596 volunteers from numerous schools, colleges, clubs, troops, companies, and individuals on 31 volunteer days.  We planted 2,644 native plants from both Coastal Sage Scrub and native grassland habitats in the illegal trails that had formed over the summer months.  We also sowed countless native grass and wildflower seeds and pulled hundreds of pounds of trash and invasive non-native vegetation out of the Reserve.  Sage Kolpin and Katrina Cone both graduated from the Jr. Stewards program this year and each led their own volunteer days as part of the graduation process.
• We had 4 Adopt-A-Plot groups join us in 2017 to commit to tending their very own plot.  Cub pack 541 and Fountain Valley High School Sealeaf Club joined us for a second year, and Rancho Alamitos High School Ecology Club and La Quinta High School KIWIN’s club joined us for the first time.
• The Growing Space project under the Stewards and Jr. Stewards habitat restoration Program came alive!  We now have a great shade structure on site to grow our own native plants, run experiments, and use as an education hub.  Thanks to Luke M. and his troop for erecting the actual non-destructive frame and table cages!!!!
• The Miracles of the Marsh program saw 1,959 3rd and 4th grade students from 22 schools from 12 surrounding cities.  We had 25 wonderful docent volunteers who gave 39 tours to all these students!!  We added 3 new docents to our team, and are so happy to welcome even more for the upcoming 2018 season!
• We are closer than ever towards our $1 Million goal for the Ridge and Goodell Fund.  We had a successful Peer-to-Peer fundraiser for Ridge and Goodell online which was the first one we have ever done!  Thank you to all the BCLT ambassadors for all their hard work!
• The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve was visited by a number for unique feathered visitors including a juvenile Bald Eagle who was born on Catalina Island, a fly-by by a Frigatebird, the two Long-tailed Ducks who stayed for quite a while, and the current visitor, the Tri-colored Heron who seems to enjoy giving the photographers ample opportunity to snap a photo or two or a dozen, just to name a few of the critters.

We couldn’t have done all of this in 2017 without our great supporters like you, so Thank You!!  Here’s to looking forward to another great year in 2018!!  See you on the trails!