On April 21, Sierra Club Military Outdoors and Adventure Scientists brought together 25 conservationists at the San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary to serve the Sierra Club’s mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet. The group collected 42 soil samples as part of Adventure Scientists’ California Biodiversity project to support the state’s 30×30 goal.
With a bright sun, cloudless sky, and flowers in peak spring bloom, the San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary is an exemplar of land management that serves the public, protects the land, increases access to nature in urban environments, and supports wildlife via restoration of native species. We came together as a band of strangers and left connected to the land, connected to each other, and energized to protect the environment.
The outing offered me a chance to reflect on the last time I was in San Bernardino County approximately 6 years ago with my daughter – which happened to be the first day we met upon my return from a deployment to the Middle East. Everything about the day reminded me why our sacrifices as servicemembers are worth it, how nature is the best place to find community, and that we’re never alone. It reminded me of my commitment to ensuring the planet will continue to be protected for people just like me.
Our day started with a tour by longtime volunteer land manager, Martin Lemon, who introduced us to the diverse flora and fauna of the land in addition to sharing the story of how the Redlands Conservancy filled a need via private philanthropy to protect the land and maintain the sanctuary, resulting in an accessible green space open to all. Our newly minted scientists then had the opportunity to explore two different ecosystems on either side of the Cocomaricopa Trail – hilly chaparral to the northeast and riparian wetland to the southeast along San Timoteo Creek.
“Volunteer-collected data is crucial for documenting species present in all of the more than 200 ecoregions of California. Through community efforts, we’re providing scientists access to data that would otherwise be too difficult or expensive to collect on their own,” said Alison Ormsby, Associate Director of Design at Adventure Scientists. California is one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots: places that are rich in biodiversity, but also threatened. The soil samples will be analyzed by a lab at the University of California Santa Cruz to find and document organisms in the soil.
The goal of this collaborative field day, co-hosted by the Military Outdoors campaign, was to coordinate efforts between national, state, and local partners to uplift conservation initiatives in California and encourage more members of the military community – which is quite large in the region – to take action to protect the biodiversity in their backyards. We know that southern California is the epicenter of U.S. Military operations as the home to ~159,000 active duty service members across all branches of service. We also know that 41% of all servicemembers are of ranks “E4” and under which means that they’re likely 19-25 years old, making under $42,000, and living away from home for the first time.
Uplifting projects like these to that demographic will be crucial in our efforts to cultivate champions for conservation and uplift veteran voices for the environment. We know that access to nearby nature, transit to trail, and special outreach to the military community is crucial to the health of our veterans and servicemembers and look forward to uplifting this success as a prototype. The results of this Earth Day field day definitely showed that people of all ages will turn out for purpose-based projects with enthusiasm.
“Now, more than ever, it is essential for us to lean into the strength of our community and work together to advance our shared vision of a sustainable and healthy planet,” said Andrea Iniguez, a Sierra Club field organizer with the Angeles Chapter. Andrea and other members of the Angeles and San Gorgonio Chapters participated in the event as well.
Together we did the right thing, in the right place, for the right reasons, at the right time. Together we made a difference. In the short term we served the immediate needs of an ecosystem undergoing restoration, the California Biodiversity Project of Adventure Scientists, and our own desire to explore new spaces. In the long term, we developed the skills, relationships, and transferred a love for the outdoors across generations in a manner that will ensure a passion for conservation lives on during challenging times for our plant. Together under the sun we generated hope and reaffirmed that nature is worth fighting for.
As the effects of climate change, wildfires, and other factors transform existing ecosystems, it is crucial to have records of plants, fungi, and animals to inform conservation priorities and actions across the state. Adventure Scientists’ California Biodiversity project runs through August 2025 so there’s still time to get involved. Check out the project page for more information on how to join.
