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The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets
which it must turn over to the next generation increased in value. - Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States OUTREACH: K-12 and community
In addition, the Reserve collaborates with these entities to protect the state's natural resources and to develop and coordinate environmental education programs throughout the region. Reserve personnel also provide technical consultation on such important community concerns as watershed protection, fire suppression, regional resource management, and potential land-use impacts. While Reserve use is by permission only and all uses of the Stunt Ranch Reserve must be consistent with UCLA’s teaching and research objectives, the Reserve makes every effort to allow the general public to visit and learn of the work conducted there. K-12
The three-hour school programs focus on chaparral and fire ecology, geology, and early local Native American and homestead history. When students arrive, they are led on a 1.5 mile hike on the Stunt High Trail. Once in the educational zone of the Reserve they take part in a rotation of interactive activities including viewing a mural of Chumash village life, taxidermied animals native to the area, acorn grinding, "cave wall" painting, playing of Chumash games and demonstrations of tool making. Students bring brown bag lunches and return to their vehicles by trail with more interpretation along the way. COMMUNITY Santa Monica Mountains Education Consortium (SMMEC) : The Stunt Ranch Reserve has been instrumental in the formation of SMMEC and is a member of the founding SMMEC Steering Committee. SMMEC is comprised of various organizations and agencies in the Santa Monica Mountains who have the shared purpose of creating a supportive environment for members to implement a comprehensive and collaborative Education Plan for the Santa Monica National Recreation Area.
This past year Felixson assisted the RCD-SMM in the coordination of a visit by a delegation of 22 government officials from China. They were here on a professional and cultural exchange on challenges to regional planning in populated areas and balancing economic growth with nature conservation. The day’s activities included brief stops and presentations by representatives of local environmental agencies at the Peter Strauss Ranch, King Gillette Ranch, and the Malibu Lagoon. An East/West themed lunch was provided by the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.
2008 Bioblitz: The Stunt Ranch Reserve helped to plan, coordinate, and participate in the Santa Monica Mountains BioBlitz, presented and sponsored by National Geographic and the National Park Service in collaboration with Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and California State Parks. During the 24-hour species inventory, teams of scientists, naturalists, and volunteers (some two dozen from UCLA) combed more than 150,000 acres (60,700 hectares), observing and recording as many species as possible. Some 6,000 people, and 125 scientists, took part.There were over 150 inventory teams. Local schools brought 1,400 children, many of whom had never been to the mountains before. The number of species found totaled 1,732. They were broken down as follows: 50 algae, 5 amphibians, 627 arthropods, 132 birds, 33 fish, 4 fungi, 5 lichen, 26 mammals, 168 marine invertebrates, 5 other invertebrates, 655 plants, 18 reptiles, 3 tardigrades, and 1 unidentified species. |
Teaching and research are the principal activities at Stunt Ranch and these endeavors benefit the public indirectly. However, the Reserve also serves the public directly by making its site available to government agencies, conservation groups, and other appropriate organizations.
The Reserve and Cold Creek Docents are dedicated to the education and training of the next generation of well informed citizens, land managers, and scientists. The Docents are committed to spark a sense of respect and awe for the mystery of life in the students who visit the Reserve. Towards that end, the CCD provides an annual seven-week training for new and “seasoned” docents. Topics range from native plants and their insect partners, to Chumash world views and cosmology; from how a healthy world functions to the nuts and bolts of interpretation and activities for kids.
The reserve is accessible by prior permission only. Teachers who want to book Cold Creek Docent led tours of the UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve should call the MRT office at 818-591-1701 extension 130. The Cold Creek Docents charge a nominal fee, which in some cases is waived, to cover their supplies and services. The reserve itself does not charge for its use. 
Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCD-SMM): Carol Felixson continued her term as a director of the RCD-SMM. The RCD-SMM is a special district organized under the State Public Resources Code that is authorized and directed to promote and provide conservation education, to conduct research, and to advise and assist other public agencies and private individuals in the areas of land-use planning, soil and water conservation, wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration, control of exotic plant species, and watershed restoration.
Mediterranean Climate Region posters: Since their first
printing in 2001, the Reserve has distributed thousands of the
Mediterranean-Climate Regions posters. Stunt Ranch partners such as the
Cold Creek Docents, National Park Service, Resource Conservation
District, and the UCLA Botanical Garden have helped the Reserve to
supply this educational tool to schools and environmental agencies and
organizations around the world. The poster identifies the five
Mediterranean regions, their patterns of global occurrences, their
convergent as well as unique characteristics, and the threats they face
as areas of irreplaceable biodiversity.