Join Ventura Land Trust for the first Preserve 5K Challenge! Participants are challenged to run or walk one, two, or three 5K's on the various Ventura Land Trust nature preserves between September 28th - October 4th. Track your time and mileage, and receive medal and T-shirt to commemorate the challenge! Register today at www.runsignup.com/venturalandtrust

The three preserves are the Big Rock Preserve along the Ventura River, Willougby Preserve near Surfer's Point, and Harmon Canyon Preserve in the Ventura hillsides. The rules are simple: run or walk one, two, or three 5K routes in any order, at any time, over seven days. You'll discover the distinctive beauty of these local open spaces, protected by Ventura Land Trust and open daily for free public access to nature.

The Challenges

• Triple Challenge - Complete all three routes over the 7 day period
• Double Challenge - Complete two of the three routes over the 7 day period
• Single Challenge - Complete one of the three routes over the 7 day period.

Big Rock Preserve hugs the Ventura River and Ventura-to-Ojai bike path. Race participants will run or walk along a dirt path that touches the river's edge before turning back out to the Ventura-to-Ojai bike path and heading north past Foster Park. In Big Rock Preserve, cool water flows year-round in this section of the Ventura River and native California plants line the preserve paths. The route begins and ends where Casitas Vista Road meets the Ventura-to-Ojai bike path. Big Rock Route: www.plotaroute.com/route/1252034 

The Ventura River flows through Ventura Land Trust's Willoughby Preserve and to the estuary near Surfer's Point. This coastal route takes participants over the Main Street bridge, located directly over Willoughby Preserve, and along the ocean. Ventura Land Trust and our partners hold beach clean-ups throughout the year to help protect the ocean, river watersheds, and coastal public spaces. The route begins and ends at the West Main Street Bike Path parking lot. Willoughby Route: www.plotaroute.com/route/1252070 

On the newly-opened Harmon Canyon Preserve, runners and walkers will find rich plant and animal habitat, dry creek crossings, and gentle hills. At 2,100 acres, Harmon Canyon Preserve is Ventura's first large-scale nature preserve, with six miles of dirt roads for hiking, biking, and enjoying nature. Harmon Canyon Preserve is located at 7511 Foothill Road. Free street parking is available on the west side of Kimball Road. The route begins at the trailhead, marked by a large kiosk. Harmon Canyon Route: www.plotaroute.com/route/1258202 

Register today at www.runsignup.com/venturalandtrust.

Save the date!

Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2020 will take place via digital livestream on Friday, October 16th, 2020. SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival inspires environmental activism and a love for nature–through film. Wild & Scenic shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet.

This year, guests can enjoy the film festival from the comfort and safety of home with the same great food, drinks, and fun of the live event. Special ticket packages will feature local Ventura restaurants, breweries, raffle items. Hosts from Ventura Land Trust will guide the experience. Stay tuned for more - ticket sales open at the beginning of August!

Ventura Land Trust and the Ventura Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation are teaming up to host the our Annual Ventura River to the Sea Coastal Cleanup. Volunteers from both organizations are invited to join us as we clean up trash from Emma Wood Group Camp and the Ventura River Estuary. 

We will gather together at 9 am at the Emma Wood Group Camp. Look for the VLT pop-up near the bathrooms. After a brief safety meeting, we will break into groups and head to a few different trash sites that have been opened up through California State Park's invasive species removal project. Our goal is to clear out as much trash as possible from the lower Ventura river floodplain BEFORE the rainy season begins and washes the trash onto nearby beaches and into the ocean.

All volunteers should wear long pants, long sleeves, close-toed shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Children younger than 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. We will provide trash pickers, trash bags and supervision. You provide the stoke!

All minors under age 18 must submit a volunteer agreement form signed by their parent prior to volunteering.