Join VLT staff to help remove non-native, invasive plant species, pick up trash that would make it into the river and water new plantings at the Ocean Friendly Garden along the bike trail. 

River Restoration events are a part of VLT's ongoing efforts to bring the Ventura River back to its natural state and make it more welcoming to human and wildlife visitors alike. 

Meet VLT staff at 9 a.m. next to the Land Trust's beautiful informational kiosk at the Main St. Bridge along the bike path near downtown Ventura (at Main St. & Peking Streets).

Please wear pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and bring a shovel, refillable water bottle and a friend!

 

Want to contribute more than sweat-equity? The Ventura Land Trust now offers affordable River Restoration Sponsorship opportunities. Environmentally-minded individuals and businesses are invited to support our habitat restoration work by financially contributing to the costs of cleaning, clearing and restoring the land. There's no better way to put your money to work!

Because of the physical nature of the work, volunteers should be at least 12 years of age. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Ventura Land Trust will kick off its 2019 Environmental Speaker Series with the return of the ever-popular Dr. Sean Anderson. Dr. Anderson, Departmental Chair of the Environmental Science and Resource Management Program at California State University Channel Islands, will present a lecture entitled “California’s Year-Round Wildfire Season – The New Abnormal.” The program, sponsored by Ventura County Community Foundation, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura, 3451 Foothill Rd.

Dr. Anderson, a highly-esteemed and broadly trained ecologist and conservation biologist with dual BAs from UCSB, a PhD from UCLA and Postdoctoral and Research Fellowships from Stanford University, will share a one-year post Thomas Fire recovery report card, discuss the impacts from the Hill & Woolsey Fires, explain why California’s year-round wildfire season is now our “new abnormal,” and talk about ways we can work to reverse this alarming trend. 

In January, 2018, one month after the Thomas Fire, more than 250 people attended Ventura Land Trust’s post Thomas Fire lecture hosted by Dr. Anderson. His ability to combine research, science and humor while educating about important environmental topics makes him a very popular and highly sought-after speaker.

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. Refreshments will be served and although free to the public, a donation of $10 per person is suggested.  

RSVPs are highly encouraged. 

This event is sponsored by Ventura County Community Foundation. 

[Image Credit: Plover with Chick by Larry Wan]

On Saturday, March 16th, from 9 am - 12 noon, join Ventura Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy for a spring cleaning at The Nature Conservancy’s beautiful Ormond Beach property in Oxnard, CA. Ormond beach represents one of Southern California’s most important coastal habitats for recovery, with several threatened and endangered plants and shorebirds—including the loveable snowy plover!

Join VLT and TNC volunteers as we pick up trash in these sensitive habitats and learn about this special place with a guided hike by a local naturalist. We will bring the gloves and the bags, you bring the enthusiasm! 

Due to the sensitivity of this area, we are limiting the group size to 15 volunteers. If you are interested and available, RSVP to save your spot!

Meet us at 9 am at the East entrance of  Ormond Beach Preserve at 301 E McWane Blvd. Oxnard, CA 93033. We will then familiarize you with property and outfit you with everything you’ll need to help us clean up. Please wear sturdy shoes, long pants, a hat, sunscreen and bring a water bottle. We will have water on hand for refills.

*must be 15 or older to attend

On Saturday, May 30th, from 9 am - 12 noon, join VLT for a fun family-friendly milkweed planting event at our Big Rock Preserve. Monarch butterflies need milkweed plants to survive - their caterpillars only eat milkweed and Monarch moms lay their eggs on the milkweed plant. Milkweed habitat loss is the biggest short-term threat to the migration of Monarch butterflies.

Join VLT volunteers as we pitch in to provide essential habitat for the migrating Monarchs. We will bring the gloves, shovels and milkweed plants; you bring the enthusiasm!

Meet VLT staff at 9 am at the North Entrance of Big Rock Preserve next to the kiosk. To get there, walk south on the bike path from Foster Park. We will escort you to the planting area where we will do a short Monarch presentation and provide a planting demonstration.

Please wear sturdy shoes, long pants, a hat, sunscreen and bring a water bottle. We will have water on hand for refills.

On Saturday, April 20th, all are invited to join the Ventura Land Trust to help prepare the property for future public use. Harmon Canyon suffered significant fire damage and invasive grasses and forbes are trying to out compete the native species for the prime real-estate. 

Ventura Land Trust is currently in the escrow for this fantastic preserve, this process could take over a year before we can purchase the property. In the meantime, there is plenty of work to be done! We will be working on clearing brush to reduce fire hazards and building trails for the public to enjoy once we have our grand opening.

All volunteers should wear pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, and don't forget sunscreen and a water bottle! We will have water for refills available. We provide the tools; you provide the enthusiasm!

This property is currently CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC except for special volunteer restoration events.

Trespassing could impact the purchase process, please don't take the risk! 

Join VLT staff at the Ventura River estuary to help chop, pull, and lop non-native, invasive plant species and/or remove trash and refuse that are wreaking havoc on our native riparian ecosystem! In May, we will be working at the Willoughby Preserve.

River Restoration events are a part of VLT's ongoing efforts to bring the Ventura River back to its natural state and make it more welcoming to human and wildlife visitors alike. Please wear pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, and don't forget sunscreen and water. We'll provide the tools, you provide the enthusiasm!

 

Meet VLT staff at 9 a.m. next to the Main St. Bridge along the bike path near downtown Ventura (at Main St. & Peking Streets). We will gather next to the Land Trust's beautiful informational kiosk. Please wear pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, and don't forget sunscreen and water!

 

Please note: River cleanup volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Due to the nature of tools used and bio-hazardous materials occasionally found in the river estuary, we do not encourage young children to participate in these events. Please see our Events Page for more family-friendly outings!

 

Want to contribute more than sweat-equity? The Ventura Land Trust now offers affordable River Restoration Sponsorship opportunities. Environmentally-minded individuals and businesses are invited to support our habitat restoration work by financially contributing to the costs of cleaning, clearing and restoring the land. There's no better way to put your money to work!

We are looking for 12 volunteers to help serve tasty Firestone Walker beer to thirsty marathoners near the finish line of the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon. For the 4th year running, M2B organizers have generously invited VLT to serve the beer and keep the profits. This one day brings in thousands in valuable funding for our organization!

We are looking a total of 12 committed volunteers - four people working the taps during three 2-hour shifts. ALL VOLUNTEER SERVERS MUST BE RBS (Responsible Beverage Server) CERTIFIED.

To become certified/recertified, you must attend the FREE Project Safer Special Event Training being held in Ventura on Wednesday, April 24th from 6 - 8 PM. RSVP to the class here.

If you have taken the Project Safer class within the past two years, check your I.D. card to ensure that your certification is still valid. If it has expired, you must retake the class.

This is a very fun volunteer event. Hope you can join us!

In July, we need your help cleaning up trash at our Willoughby Preserve. Additionally, we will chop, pull, and lop non-native, invasive plant species that are wreaking havoc on our native riparian ecosystem! Our Willoughby Preserve has come a long way over the years, but it's up to us to keep it trash free and chalk full of native plants. 

River Restoration events are a part of VLT's ongoing efforts to bring the Ventura River back to its natural state and make it more welcoming to human and wildlife visitors alike. Please wear pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, and don't forget sunscreen and water. We'll provide the tools, you provide the enthusiasm!

 

Meet VHC staff at 9 a.m. next to the Main St. Bridge along the bike path near downtown Ventura (at Main St. & Peking Streets). We will gather next to the Land Trust's beautiful informational kiosk. Please wear pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, and don't forget sunscreen and water!

 

Please note: River cleanup volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Due to the nature of tools used and bio-hazardous materials occasionally found in the river estuary, we do not encourage young children to participate in these events. Please see our Events Page for more family-friendly outings!

Want to contribute more than sweat-equity? The Ventura Land Trust now offers affordable River Restoration Sponsorship opportunities. Environmentally-minded individuals and businesses are invited to support our habitat restoration work by financially contributing to the costs of cleaning, clearing and restoring the land. There's no better way to put your money to work!

TICKETS GO ON SALE SOON

This year's festival will be bigger, better, and even MORE FUN! We are thrilled to once again host our popular film festival at an outdoor venue. 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. All proceeds from this event will help support the mission 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 work to similar environmental efforts around the globe. In addition to viewing films, attendees also enjoy live music, special guests, 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!