Eastern Sierra Land Trust   ◊   June 2017 E-Newsletter
Eastern Sierra Land Trust
 
Have you had one of those days recently?

You know the type: the rare day when you can set aside your to-do list and all of life's challenges, and take time to appreciate the world around you?

I had one not long ago. Sara, Sus, and I were out at Conway Ranch leading a volunteer workday and tour for the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua, and afterwards I was going to find a quiet place to work before dinner.
 
But I realized that I could work another day, and that in this moment I had the chance to go to my absolute most favorite place at Mono Lake. So I took the afternoon to take a walk in the desert with a longtime friend, soaking in the sun and floating in the lake among the brine shrimp with gulls soaring above me.

The peaceful view from my favorite place at Mono Lake.
 
Yes, it was one of those days.
 
I felt my soul open up as I listened to the incredible surge of Rush Creek and saw how much this place has changed over the years. I've walked this route so many times, it was as though my feet knew the way through the sage to the shore.  Once there, my brain stopped churning and I sat in silence, feeling the magic.

Peace in nature - is there anything better?
 
I hope to see you this summer ,
Kay Ogden,  Executive Director
Celebrate Conservation at Lands & Legacy
Get ready for our Party of the Year, taking place August 11 - 13 in the Eastern Sierra
 
Join us as we celebrate the lands and waters you've helped protect forever!
 
At our annual Benefit Dinner on August 12, come together with friends for a festive evening and raise a glass to the many successes made possible thanks to you.
 
Plus, join us for one of two walking tours that same weekend: Friday afternoon at our Green Creek Powerhouse Preserve, or Sunday morning at Benton Hot Springs Ranch. Special guests  will join us both days to share insights about the rich history of these special places.
 
Look for an invitation from us next week - we'll be sharing more details about this fun weekend, along with a link to purchase your tickets!
Calling All Kids: Let's Get Creative!
Join us July 29 for Crayons & Paint: a free family day of fun, learning, and exploration in nature

Are you and your kids looking to escape the heat and explore the Eastern Sierra this summer?
 

If so, we hope you'll join us on July 29 for our first-ever Crayons & Paint: a family day out on the land you've helped protect forever. Crayons & Paint will be an opportunity for families with children between the ages of 5 and 15 to have fun getting creative in nature.

 

Participation is limited, so please contact Indigo at indigo@eslt.org by July 21 to RSVP.


Looking Back: Protecting  Karen's Preserve
Thanks to supporters like you, this special place is protected forever - and you can visit today
 
For mule deer and mountain lions, songbirds and eagles, and people of all ages seeking adventure and a spectacular view, Karen's Preserve offers a true refuge.
 
But it wasn't always this way. In the mid-2000's, this scenic hillside overlooking Crowley Lake was slated for development.
 
Thankfully, when this property came up for sale, our conservation community was poised to take action.

Helping Conservation Grow
With your support, the Sunflower Garden Project is connecting local kids to the magic of nature

"Just a few days ago, I was reading a third-grader's Sunflower Project journal - and all of a sudden, I caught myself grinning from ear to ear.
 
"The student's task had been to illustrate a story about plants and pollination. I expected to see colorful and imaginative pages from her and her classmates. But when I flipped open this first journal, I was astonished."
 
Curious about what ESLT's Education Coordinator & AmeriCorps Member, Indigo Johnson, discovered in those pages? Read her blog post about the Sunflower Garden Project by clicking below!
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
 
Volunteer Day at Conway Ranch
Saturday, July 15 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Conway Ranch ( map)
 
Help make sure the iconic meadows of Conway Ranch provide a safe home for wildlife! We'll be flagging barbed wire fences with reflective markers and adding perch deterrents to fence posts to keep sage-grouse chicks out of harm's way. RSVP to indigo@eslt.org or (760) 873-4554.

Crayons & Paint
Saturday, July 29 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Karen's Preserve ( map)
 
Join us for a free family day of activities, learning, and exploration! Families with children aged 5 through 15 will have fun playing games and doing guided art projects that teach kids about local wildlife, plants, and the natural world. RSVP by July 21 to indigo@eslt.org or (760) 873-4554

Volunteer Day at Benton Hot Springs Ranch
Saturday, July 29 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Benton Hot Springs Ranch ( map )
 
Not afraid to get your feet wet? We'd love your help as we dig out bulrush, then move it to a place at the Benton Ponds where it will thrive and help crowd out an aggressive invasive plant. RSVP to indigo@eslt.org or (760) 873-4554.

Lands & Legacy Celebration
Friday, August 11 - Sunday, August 13
Parallax Restaurant at Mammoth Mountain ( map)
 
Save the Date and join your friends, family, and fellow conservation supporters as we raise a glass in honor of the magical lands and waters you've helped protect forever. There's lots in store for that weekend - stay tuned for an invitation from us next week.

EASTERN SIERRA LAND TRUST
 
ESLT works with willing landowners to protect vital lands in the Eastern Sierra region for their scenic, agricultural, natural, recreational, historic, and watershed values.

250 N. Fowler Street, Bishop CA 93514

www.eslt.org  |  (760) 873-4554  |  info@eslt.org