The Ventura County Mobile Library visits the trailhead of Harmon Canyon Preserve on the second Thursday of every month. A free story and activity time for children starts at 10:30 am. You can check out a book to read under Harmon's oak trees, get a library card, pick-up book holds, check out and return items.

Dr. Andrea Huvard, California Lutheran University Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, has been conducting a long-term study of microfibers to examine the accumulation of microfibers in marine sediments, invertebrates, and fish. Dr. Huvard’s presentation on this research will tie in with the Museum of Ventura County's exhibition on laundry opening in late June 2023.

Learn more about Dr. Huvard's work at www.callutheran.edu  and here in this video.

Ventura Land Trust’s Environmental Speaker Series is one of the many ways VLT works to educate the public about important environmental topics. These events are free to the public in partnership with the Museum of Ventura County. RSVP below to let us know you'll be there!

Enjoy a guided walk along the Ventura River Parkway path to view Ventura Land Trust's Willoughby Preserve, the Ventura River, and the coastal estuary at Surfers Point. This is a great time of year to learn about local birds, so bring a pair of binoculars if you have them. We'll also look at the changes to the preserve and river since the early January & February flood events, and learn about the cultural and natural history of this unique riparian and coastal habitat. Meet at the West Main Street parking lot. This walk is led by Lead Educator Amy Davis. Register today!

$15/VLT Member

$25/Non-VLT Member

Reserve a spot via the following Eventbrite link: Link Here

Chip in for Charity is a non-competitive golf event where participants "chip" at sponsored targets to raise money for the Ventura Land Trust!

Chip in for Charity is designed to be a non-competitive golf event where participants chip golf balls towards sponsored targets located at the driving range. With each target being sponsored through a financial contribution by a local business, participants and local businesses collectively “CHIP IN” to raise money for our local non-profit beneficiary.

This year we are proud to name Ventura Land Trust as our 2023 non-profit beneficiary.

To learn more about Ventura Land Trust and their local impact, Visit their website

In 2018, Brandon Wasilewski, a resident and business owner from Ventura, came up with the idea of organizing a family-friendly event called Chip In For Charity as a way to support local businesses and non-profit organizations in his community. With a background in real estate sales, B2B consulting, and local philanthropy, Brandon was eager to use his skills to give back to his community. During his first ever visit to Top-Golf, an idea struck him: to create an annual charity event that emulated the fun and excitement of Top-Golf, but raised money for local charities. That same night, he began formulating the concept for Chip In For Charity, defining its mission and objectives.

Chip In For Charity has been highly successful in achieving its mission and key objectives. In the first year, over $6,000 was raised for Clean International, which helped provide clean water and sanitation solutions to more than 1,100 families in underserved communities. In the second year, nearly $7,000 was raised for Pier Into The Future, an organization dedicated to preserving the Historic Ventura Pier. This event has attracted more than 150 participants of all ages and abilities, making it a truly inclusive and community-driven initiative.

PURCHASE TICKETS AND GET INVOLVED

Join Ventura Land Trust on the summer solstice for a drum circle facilitated by Drumtime's John Lacques. Connect with nature and honor our relationship to the seasons in this fundraiser to support the stewardship of Harmon Canyon Preserve. Bring your own drum, or use a drum provided by Drumtime.

About John Lacques

John Lacques, Founder and Principal Facilitator of Drumtime, has devoted his professional life to using music as a tool for empowerment and transformation. With Drumtime, John combines his unique talents and expertise as an educator, professional drummer and theater artist, to facilitate drum circles that encourage and support others to become creators—not just of music, but creators of joy, health, success and community.

TICKETS $25-$125 ON EVENTBRITE

$25 Individual Ticket - Bring Your Own Drum

$50 Individual Ticket - Includes Drumtime Drum Reservation

$75 Family Ticket for 4 - Bring your Own Drums

$125 Family Ticket for 4 - Includes Drumtime Drum Reservation

Join the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society and geologist Tim Garvey for Geology of Harmon Canyon Preserve. You'll learn geologic concepts about the local “dirt” on which we hike.

Did you know that much of the strata exposed in Harmon Canyon is part of the thickest Plio-Pleistocene marine sedimentary sequence in the world? Harmon Canyon’s creek beds and trails reveal the folded, uplifted and eroded nature of this strata.

Did you know that the Ventura foothills lie within the Transverse Range geologic province, a province that has one of the only east-west trending mountain ranges in western North and South America, and has “uplift rates” that rival the fastest growing mountains in the world? Come learn!

This event is free and open to the public.

The 2023 Wild & Scenic Film Festival is coming to you on Saturday, August 26th! 

Arborist Dave Muffly joins Ventura Land Trust at the Museum of Ventura County for a special OAKtober Environmental Speaker Series presentation.

Dave is a partner in Ventura Land Trust's coast live oak care and restoration in Harmon Canyon Preserve. For more than 30 years, he has been on the forefront of oak tree regeneration in California. With nearly 4,000 oaks established, oak regeneration at Stanford University and in the Bay area has been a resounding success, deeply founded in science. In this talk, Dave covers the details - techniques, lessons, and warnings - that have made this project a success, where so many others fail.

VLT's free, quarterly Environmental Speaker Series is one of the many ways VLT works to educate the public about important environmental topics. Although free to the public, a $10/person donation is suggested at the door. RSVPs are encouraged.

Speaker Dave Muffly

Dave Muffly has been planting and caring for trees in the Bay Area for 33 years. Dave earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, then branched into native oak plantings at Stanford, urban tree plantings, and fruit trees with the local group Magic. In 2007, Dave became a Board Certified Master Arborist, and designed the thousand-tree 101 Freeway Soundwall planting led by the non-profit Canopy. The Soundwall plantings became the proof of concept for the even more radically diverse plantings at Apple Park in Cupertino, where Dave spent 7 years as Apple's Senior Arborist.

Ventura Land Trust receives numerous outreach-related invitations throughout the year. Unfortunately, it is impossible for VLT Staff to be everywhere all the time.  Since this is a common occurrence, VLT seeks to recruit a team of committed outreach ambassadors who truly enjoy captivating and engaging the public while advocating for the continued preservation of wildlands.  

What does it take to become a Ventura Land Trust Ambassador?

1. LEARN about Ventura Land Trust and engage the community
2. TEACH people about our mission and programs
3. RECRUIT other members and volunteers.

Ambassadors will represent VLT while sharing the organization's mission and values at various community events.  For example, an outreach ambassador can introduce folks to the organization by sharing some of the 2022 accomplishments highlighted on the infographic below.  Additional training will be provided.  If interested, please RSVP at the bottom of this page.  If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].