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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaView from Sandstone Peak looking east
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Public Restoration Programs
 
A student assists a restoration ecologist with redeveloping native plant habitats in the Santa Monica Mountains.

EcoHelpers: Service Learning

High School, Grades 9-12

EcoHelpers is an ecological restoration program that provides field trips for Los Angeles and Ventura County high school students. Students help restore disturbed parkland to enhance wildlife habitat, while learning about the importance of habitat conservation.

EcoHelpers Brochure (.pdf)

EcoHelpers Application (.doc)

EcoHelpers Teacher's Manual (.pdf)

 
A group of students and rangers help to restore Zuma Canyon.

Planting in the Park: Community Program

Organized Groups, all ages

Come spend a few hours with us restoring your local parkland! During this free community program participants will plant native plants and take a guided walk in the woods. Your efforts will provide habitat and food for local wildlife, increase the unique scenic value of the area, and reduce damage caused by erosion and fire.

Planting in the Park Brochure (.pdf)

Planting in the Park Application (.doc)

 

For All Programs

Locations: Field trips take place at lower Zuma Canyon in Malibu, Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, and Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park.

Transportation: Free bus transportation may be provided (subject to funding). Parking is available for personal vehicles and buses.

Information and Forms: For more information and to schedule a field trip, please see the brochures and applications. To submit, save to your files and submit as an e-mail attachment, or print form to fax.


Contact Information

EcoHelpers Coordinator
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
401 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Phone: (805) 370-2314
Fax: (805) 370-1851
E-mail: samo_ecohelpers@nps.gov

Sue Nelson, Jill Swift, and Margo Feurer were instrumental in the movement to create a national recreation area near Los Angeles.  

Did You Know?
Four state parks were the triumph of a grassroots movement to protect open spaces minutes from Los Angeles in the 1950s & 60s. Three women, Sue Nelson, Jill Swift, and Margo Feuer further galvanized the movement that helped make Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area a reality in 1978.

Last Updated: October 17, 2009 at 15:21 EST