25 years of providing equitable access to California’s redwood forests
Each year, Save the Redwoods League funds trips to the redwood forest for an incredible lineup of community and education organizations. Looking at our list of 2024 grantees, we can already envision how their outdoor programs could shape the lives and futures of young people. In fact, several of our grantees are past recipients, with stories of proven impact and inspiration to share:
For Brothers on the Rise (BOTR), bringing young boys from Oakland on multiple trips to the redwoods has been a way to support their mental health, while also teaching about the history of redwood trees and the importance of seeing more Black and Brown faces in green spaces. The League has now supported BOTR for seven years, helping to bring over 400 young boys into redwood forests to explore, learn, conduct stewardship projects, and simply have fun.
Last year, while under the redwoods canopy, BOTR leadership took the opportunity to present two graduating seniors with watches—to mark the significance of time and the importance of not squandering it.
For Civicorps, receiving the League’s Redwood Connect Grant last year enabled them to reignite their Camping and Wilderness Exploration Program. This important program introduces Corpsmembers to California’s parks and efforts to preserve and protect these iconic locations. Grant funding also provided an opportunity for young people of color to have safe and equal access to our state’s natural spaces. As the youth in their program train for “green collar” public service careers in conservation, these formative experiences are critical to their education and future efforts to build climate resilience. The League is happy to support Civicorps again this year so their Camping and Wilderness Exploration program can continue to grow and flourish.
2024 Redwood Connect Grant recipients
This year, the League awarded Redwood Connect Grants to 16 organizations that span the redwood and giant sequoia range and serve youth from school age to young adult. The grant money will support a variety of experiences in the redwoods, including team building, health and wellness, redwood ecology, and stewardship and conservation.
Check out our list of grantees and learn more about these wonderful organizations:
- Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco – Redwood Forest Weekend Immersion
- Brothers on the Rise – Trail Brothers – Standing Tall and Proud
- Civicorps – Civicorps’ 2024 Spring Camping and Wilderness Exploration Trip
- Community School for Creative Education – First Forest Program
- County Park Friends – Youth Outdoor Leaders Revel in the Redwoods
- First Place for Youth – Summer Bridge Program
- Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks / San Mateo County Parks Foundation – Redwood Outings with BIPOC-led Community Partners
- Greenfield Community Workshop – The Valley to the Redwoods: A Voyage to the Land of Giants
- LandPaths – In Our Own Backyard, Redwood Immersion and Stewardship Program
- McDowell Elementary School – 6th grade outdoor education
- Queer SOL Collective – A Queer Ecos Fieldtrip
- Santa Lucia Conservancy – Redwood Education in Potrero Canyon
- Santa Monica Mountains Fund – SAMO youth stewardship and camping
- Vida Verde – Outdoor overnight camp
- WildCare – Redwood field trips to Muir Woods
- Wilderness Arts and Literacy Collaborative – WALC in the Redwoods
