…enhancing communities and the

environment through education

Riparian areas along the American River in Sacramento

provide wonderful recreational opportunities for young and old alike.

Accomplishments
2008–09
Partners…organizations with From the President
whom CCFF has a formal relationship Thanks to our partners and funders, the California Community Forest Foundation has
had another great year. As a statewide nonprofit organization, we continue to seek
Project and manage funds for projects and programs that educate Californians about the
Learning stewardship of their community forests and encourage people to get outside.
Tree (PLT) is
One of our longstanding commitments is to co-sponsor the Project Learning
an inter­­­­­national Tree (PLT) program. With a grant from the American Forest Foundation, CCFF
environmental has helped PLT launch a year-long strategic planning activity with the goal of surveying
education program providing materials many users and talking to stakeholders all over the state about what the program
and workshops for educators. The should target during the next five years. This very successful environmental education
program promotes student understanding program reaches thousands of educators each year. We are proud to work closely with
of the environment by emphasizing the the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to make PLT available in
development of students’ critical and California.
creative thinking skills.
http://www.plt.org CCFF has joined the No Child Left Inside Coalition! We fully support the idea of
getting “kids into the woods” and continue to help groups like the Sequoya Challenge
of Nevada City by providing funds for school field trips to the forest. In
The Golden State Environmental addition, we want to see more kids involved with service learning – that is, taking their
Education Consortium (GSEEC) brings classroom lessons and putting them into civic action such as the Sacramento area Youth
together the skills and assets of Energy Summit.
a variety of individuals, major
programs, institutions, These activities are only a few of CCFF’s recent accomplishments. Information on
other CCFF activities is provided in this report. Your thoughts, comments, and ideas
and businesses from
are always welcome. Thanks for your support.
communities
throughout the
state working
collectively to
enhance
environmental education in Hugh M. Merriam
California. www.edgateway.net/gseec President, California Community Forests Foundation

How We Spend
Our Funds

California ReLeaf’s mission is to

empower grassroots efforts and build
strategic partnerships that preserve,
protect, and enhance California’s urban $Funding Sources
and community forests.
 American Forest Foundation (AFF)  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (via
http://www.californiareleaf.org AFF)  United Way (Bay Area)  PG&E Corporation Foundation  Hugh Merriam

Fire Safe Councils help
mobilize Californians to
protect their homes,
communities and
environments from
wildfire. www.
firesafecouncil.org
Photo credits: Elias and Sebastian Antunez de Mayolo.
“Point and Shoot” photographs taken during an outing
for families along the American River sponsored by
Friends of the River Banks.
Collaborators …organizations that cooperate with CCFF on projects
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection  American Forest
Foundation  The Acorn Group  The National Arbor Day Foundation 
California ReLeaf  The Forest Foundation  California Department of Fish
and Game  Water Education Foundation  CREEC-California Regional
Environmental Education Community  Sonoma Ecology Center  Roseville
Exploration Center  Environmental Nature Center, Newport Beach 
Tahoe National Forest  Center for the Arts, Nevada City  Nevada County
Superintendent of Education  BABEC- Bay Area Biotechnology Educators
Consortium  McConnell Foundation  Sierra Health Foundation  Stopwaste.
org  Sam Racadio Highland Environmental Center
Accomplishments for 2008-09
Goals for 2010
Community Education Projects
 Manage new grants provided by
 Provided cash awards and prizes to California’s student winners of the
the American Forest Foundation
annual National Arbor Day poster contest. Managed in cooperation with the
to the California Project Learning
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the 2009 contest involved
1200 children from 59 schools. Tree program in order to expand
the capacity of the program
 Coordinated a touring exhibit of California’s Arbor Day posters winners
to reach a wider audience of
with venues in Sacramento at the capitol during State Scientist Day and the
educators in California.
Forestry Center at Cal Expo during the State Fair.
 Supported training of new Project Learning Tree leaders with a focus on  Expand outreach for the
PLT’s secondary education program. National Arbor Day poster
contest for 5th grade youth by
 Partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Schoolyard Habitat
leveraging additional partnerships
program in the Sacramento area to offer Project Learning Tree training to
with community organizations.
participating teachers and parents.
 Continue partnerships with
urban and community forests
Grant Management organizations including the
 Served as the fiscal agent for the 2009 “Integrating Environmental California Department of Forestry
Education into Teacher Education” conference for university faculty and Fire Protection, the California
in California with funds from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Urban Forestry Council, California
“Environmental Education Training and Partnership (EETAP)” program. ReLeaf, Project Learning Tree,
 Managed grants from the American Forest Foundation to initiate the Project WILD, Project WET,
implementation of the new Biotechnology supplement to PLT’s “Exploring CREEC and other community
Environmental Issues – Focus on Risk” program. groups sharing similar missions and
 Conducted Project Learning Tree workshops in rural and urban areas of the program goals.
state with support from the Hardwood Forest Foundation.  Seek funding for the
 Assisted with the Project Learning Tree initiative to develop a new development of “The Conifer
strategic plan with funds from the American Forest Foundation. Classroom,” a new teaching
tool for California environmental
educators.
Project Sponsorship
 Continue support for
 Provided funds for the South Yuba Independence Trail-Sequoya Challenge
the development of new
environmental education program to connect Yuba County children with the
environmental education
Sierran foothill forests.
leaders.
 Distributed additional “Learning to Live with Fire” educational tool kits, in
cooperation with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to  Continue to support
educational partners in Humboldt, Del Norte and Plumas counties as well as to the organizations engaging youth
new Gateway Science Museum in Chico. in environmental education.
 Provided support to the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools to  Support the national and state
help 150 children participate in the “Inspirations in the Forest” project. efforts to coordinate the “No
 Provided funds to support the Sacramento region “Project YES” (Youth Child Left Inside” initiative
Energy Summit) program. that includes development of a
state environmental literacy plan.
 Supported the Back-to-Natives program in Orange County.
 Funded an environmental education internship with the California  Sponsor a student internship
Department of Forestry. program in Natural Resource
Management and Environmental
Education.
 Expand CCFF’s website to
support outreach efforts.
 Pursue additional funding to
support CCFF’s mission.
Board Members
Kay Antunez de Mayolo
(Secretary)
Environmental Educator,
California Department of Forestry &
Fire Protection
Sacramento

Dr. Wendell Cottle, CFO

Laetitia Vineyard and Winery
Nipomo

Tom Gaman, RPF

CEO
East West Forestry Associates
Inverness
2009 Arbor
Dr. Jon Hooper
Day National
Professor
Department of Recreation and Parks poster contest
Management winner,Tina
California State University, Chico Chen, Union
Chico City

Hugh Merriam
(President) All donations are welcomed.
Analyst
Pacific Gas & Electric Company Please consider us for your annual giving and estate planning.
San Francisco
For additional information, please contact us at
David J. Roger 916/487-5557 or http://www.caltrees.org
(Treasurer)
Urban Forester
City of Riverside (retired) California Community
Riverside
Forests Foundation
Elva Raish P.O. Box 1384
School Energy Efficiency Consultant Sacramento, CA 95812
Visalia