On Thursday, July 25 at 7 PM, join Ventura Land Trust at the Museum of Ventura County's Pavilion (note new venue) for a free community lecture entitled: Fascinating Discoveries from the Deep Blue Sea. This next installment in VLT's ongoing Environmental Speaker Series will feature Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Development Officer Melissa Baffa, who served as a Science Communication Fellow with the Ocean Exploration Trust, sailing on the E/V Nautilus in 2015, 2016, and 2018.

Despite their vast importance throughout human history, only about 5% of the world’s oceans have been studied in great detail. Melissa Baffa will shares stories of her amazing adventures exploring the deep sea alongside pioneering ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard. In 2015 she accompanied Dr. Ballard to the Galapagos Rift Zone during his first trip back to the hydrothermal vents he discovered in 1977. Since then, she has also explored the deep basins and ridges along the Southern California coastline and a seamount off the coast of Monterey.

Melissa blends a background in biology, a passion for the ocean, and a gift for public speaking with effortless ease. Don't miss out on this chance to listen and learn about one of our earth's last unexplored wilderness areas - the ocean.

Ventura Land Trust’s Environmental Speaker Series, now in its fourth year, 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 highly encouraged. Reserve your seat today!

Join VLT for an evening of food, drink and "fun"raising at one of Ventura's tastiest restaurants - Himalaya. Instead of a night in the kitchen, enjoy an evening of cuisine and drinks from India, Nepal, and Tibet. Anup Rimal, founder of Himalaya, has graciously offered to donate 25% of proceeds from the evening to Ventura Land Trust, and we want to pack the house! So grab your friends and family and meet us at Himalaya on August 1st.   

No tickets to buy, no flyer to bring - just come on down and enjoy a delicious dinner at Himalaya, the chance to hang with your favorite VLT friends and the opportunity to help raise money for open space preservation in the process. How easy is that? Hope to see you on August 1st!

As a continuation of the Boogie Nights Summer Run Series, please join us for an exclusive opportunity to run the 2nd Annual Harmon Canyon Sunset 5K!

Click Here for Info & Registration

This event is sponsored and made possible by Mile 26 Sports. Thank you for everything!

Please do not visit Harmon Canyon unless accompanied by a VLT representative. The property is closed to the public and trespassing is not allowed.

Ventura Land Trust is looking for 75 helpful people to pitch in at our biggest fundraising event of the year - the 2019 Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Help is needed with a variety of tasks including set-up, check-in & ticket sales, parking, ushering, beer and wine sales/serving - must be RBS (Responsible Beverage Serving) certified, raffle ticket sales, break-down and so much more. All volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years old and anyone serving alcohol must be at least 21 years old.

Volunteering is a fun way to work alongside a great group of like-minded people, connect with your community and contribute to the preservation of open space all at the same time. Sign up today! 

Volunteers shifts vary in length. Please choose the shift that works best for you.

• 9 AM -1 PM (set-up)
• 3:30 - 8 PM (before the films begin)*
• 9:30 - 11:30 PM (break-down)

*If you are RSB certified and would like to help with beer or wine serving, please sign up for the 3:30 - 8 PM shift and also send a separate email indicating your interest to: volunteer@venturalandtrust.org

Volunteers receive our heartfelt gratitude AND free entrance into the Festival!

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

This year's festival will be bigger, better, and even MORE FUN! We are thrilled to once again host our popular film festival at a beautiful outdoor venue on the campus of the Ventura County Credit Union. Bring your low-back chairs and blankets, and prepare for a night to remember!

With live music, food trucks, outdoor games, and more, this year's festival will be one night of fun for the whole community to enjoy. Proceeds from this event support the projects and programs of Ventura Land Trust. 

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival offers audiences the chance to enjoy a series of award-winning short films that celebrate the beauty and bounty of our natural world.  This popular festival, which sells out every year, helps to connect the Land Trust’s local work to similar environmental efforts around the globe. In addition to viewing films, attendees also enjoy live music, food, beer, wine and the chance to win high-end items in a raffle that includes original artwork, outdoor gear, dining-out certificates and much, much more.

Doors Open at 5 PM, Films Begin at 8 PM, Fun Lasts All Night!

Kick-Off Reception for 1st Annual Ventura Land Trust Nature Exhibit.

Photograph by Dan Holmes

Join Ventura Land Trust on the patio at Rincon Brewery in Ventura as we kick-off our Nature Photography Exhibit. The Opening Night Reception will include beer, light snacks AND the unveiling of the 40 photographs that were selected for inclusion in the exhibit . On top of that, our judges will announce the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winning photographs/photographers and the three Honorable Mention shots. 

All winning and finalist photographs will be available for sale. They will remain on exhibit on the walls of Rincon Brewery, 4100 Telegraph Rd, Ventura, CA 93003, from September 5 - November 30, 2019.

Please join us as we celebrate the many talented photographers who submitted their work for consideration and, most importantly, an amazing array of beautiful images that highlight the importance of appreciating and protecting our natural world!

Please RSVP to give us an idea of how many people will be joining in the fun. Hope to see you there!

The mission of the Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.

On Thursday, September 19, Rick Halsey, director of the California Chaparral Institute, will present “Exploring the Chaparral and Rediscovering Yourself through Nature,” a community lecture beginning at 7 PM at the Museum of Ventura County. A part of Ventura Land Trust’s ongoing Environmental Speaker Series, Halsey will discuss how connecting with nature through local native habitats offers us a way to achieve what so many philosophers through the ages have identified as essential to achieving a meaningful existence – "to know thyself.”

“For more than two million years, evolution took place out in nature and was driven by our instincts,” said Halsey. “Today, as we try to reconcile the conflict between the demands of civilization, social expectations, and our ancient, wild selves, nature often provides the best remedy.”

Halsey is a writer, photographer, and the director of a non-profit research and educational organization dedicated to the preservation of California's native chaparral ecosystem and supporting the creative spirit as inspired by nature. He has given more than 500 presentations and written numerous papers and articles over the past 15 years concerning the importance of reestablishing our connection with nature and understanding local habitats, especially the chaparral.

Ventura Land Trust’s Environmental Speaker Series, now in its fourth year, is one of the many ways VLT works to educate the public about important environmental topics. Reservations are highly recommended and a $10/person donation is suggested at the door.