For more than 100 years, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has worked to preserve our nation’s most significant and beloved places. Through our Protecting America’s Legacy campaign, NPCA is joining forces with partners, donors, and members to ensure national parks have the resources and protections they need to thrive for the next century.
Please join us for a panel discussion to learn about NPCA’s efforts to protect the greater Los Angeles area’s natural and cultural treasures for future generations. Moderated by NPCA’s Vice President of Regional Programs, David Lamfrom, you will learn about the importance of the Rim of the Valley proposal, which would more than double the Santa Monica National Recreation Area, protecting some of the last wild lands and historic sites in the region, and improve wildlife connectivity to other natural areas.
OPTIONAL GUIDED HIKE:
The event will also feature an optional guided interpretive hike on the Gillette Ranch Loop Trail, leading up to Inspiration Point. This moderate hike is a 1.5-mile loop trail with 246 feet of elevation gain and will take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
For those who want a more adventurous hike, there will be an optional extension from the Gillette Ranch Loop Trail along the Ridgeline Trail with scenic views. This moderate hike extension is 2.7 miles in length with an elevation of 394ft.
Restrictions: All participants participating in the optional guided hike will be required to sign NPCA's standard liability waiver, and any minor attending as a guest must have a parent or guardian sign on their behalf. Any minor participating in the hike must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All NPCA Staff-led experiences will be defined by the NPCA staff member. You agree and acknowledge that you will only undertake activities that you are comfortable with and are appropriate for your health, abilities, needs, and skills. We ask that you pay your own park entry fee or use your own annual pass to enter the park. Park entry fees are an important source of revenue for the National Park Service and will go towards upkeep and staffing within the park you are visiting.
PANELISTS:
David Lamfrom (Moderator)
Since 2008, David Lamfrom has worked for National Parks Conservation Association first in the California desert, then in the Southeast, and currently serving as the Vice President of Regional Programs. In this role, David works on campaigns, policy, legislation, media, building community, DEIJ, and connecting voices to the administration and congress. David is a published author and photographer and formerly worked in wildlife biology and environmental science. He volunteers with the Center for Diversity and the Environment, and Training Resources for the Environmental Community. David Lamfrom serves as NPCA’s Vice President of Regional Programs, working on campaigns, policy, legislation, media, building community, DEIJ, and connecting voices to the administration and congress. David is a published author and photographer and formerly worked in wildlife biology and environmental science.
Sally Garcia
Sally Garcia was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles and served as an intern at the Los Angeles Audubon Society’s Education Program at the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area upon completing high school. The program— which introduced third and sixth graders to native plants, animals, and birds—helped ignite a fire in her that led to her passion for outdoor education and access to nature for underserved communities. She comes to NPCA with over 13 years of experience in the field, with previous employment as a naturalist for Community Nature Connection and a planning project manager for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). Sally started her involvement with NPCA as a member of our LA Young Leaders Council and then served on the Next Generation Advisory Council.
Antonio Solorio
Antonio J. Solorio, MA Geography, is a Park Ranger and SAMO Youth Program Manager for the National Park Service at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation. He has worked at Yosemite National Park, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, Deschutes National Forest in Oregon, Los Angeles Natural History Museum, and the Griffith Observatory. He manages the SAMO Youth employment-mentorship program at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, where he advocates for the safe and positive development of diverse youth so they can explore, enjoy, and become better environmental stewards for parks and their communities.
Joey Algiers
Joey Algiers is the Restoration Ecologist for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a national park service unit in the Los Angeles area. Joey holds a MS degree in Biology from California State University Northridge and has more than 17 years of resource management experience. Joey leads the restoration of damaged and degraded natural areas. This includes returning rare and critical habitat through the rebuilding of native plant communities, and overseeing the invasive plant control program, which includes weed treatments of the park's most ecologically damaging species. Joey works with the park’s native plant nursery manager where native plants are grown for restoration, education, research, and conservation. For years, Joey has been managing, training, and educating technicians, students, partners, and the public in restoration ecology practice and theory.
If you have any questions, please contact Alex Boyda at [email protected] or 202.909.8796.
Photo: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, CA © Guobeihua, Dreamstime
Date and Time
Saturday, October 19, 2024
- 9:00 AM – Breakfast Reception and Panel Presentation - King Gillette Ranch Auditorium
- 10:30 AM - Guided Interpretive Hike - Gillette Ranch Loop Trail
Location
King Gillette Ranch Auditorium
26800 Mulholland Hwy
Calabasas, CA 91302
The event is free and open to the public but requires advanced registration.
To donate by mail, send in our printable donation form.
To donate by phone, please call toll-free 800.628.7275, Mon-Thu 8:30-5:00 ET.
Your contribution to NPCA is tax-deductible as allowed by law. Charitable solicitation disclosures.
NPCA, 777 6th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001
