About UsSanta Cruz Island Fundraiser & Service Project
for The Nature Conservancy
April 25-27, 2008One Time Only!
Special! Watch for the date of an evening presentation by The Nature Conservancy staff at Southwind Kayak Center in early 2008. You'll learn more about this service project, The Nature Conservancy's global projects, and receive an update on the Santa Cruz Island project.
Southwind Kayak Center is joining with The Nature Conservancy to offer a unique beach hiking and kayaking experience - and an opportunity to help make the environment safer for sea animals and sea birds - on Santa Cruz Island. Our primary goal for this service project is to pick up trash which has washed up over the years on some remote beaches in the Southwest part of the island. On this three-day trip we'll drive through the valleys and mountainous interior of the island to our camp site at the historic Christy Ranch and to access various beaches on the Southern coast. Conditions permitting (roads, wind and surf), experienced kayakers with sufficient skill will paddle segments of the coastline, landing on beaches to collect trash. All guests will walk the beaches to collect debris.
Staying at the Christy Ranch (complete with kitchen) is a special opportunity for our participants. Exploring the remote, southern beaches is a privilege rarely granted. Too, we will receive a tour of the historic main ranch, with its historic displays, chapel, tack room and other structures. We will see so much of the island that you will appreciate what a very unique place it is, both now and historically. Overall, a very special experience!
As we collect trash, look around and imagine these beaches as they were when native people lived here thousands of years ago or during the early ranching days of California. As we load the trash into a truck, enjoy realizing that much of the trash we collect will be plastics and other materials which not only detract from the scenic beauty of the beaches, but kill sea life and birds by entanglement and ingestion. We'll find everything from tennis balls (hit off passing cruise ships and mainland tennis courts) to plastic fishing line, nets and floats. None of what we collect will cause harm to the island's creatures again! The Nature Conservancy owns and manages 76% of this island - the largest of the Channel Islands - located within Channel Islands National Park. You'll learn about their stewardship, including restoration and protection efforts affecting plants, animals, archaeological and historic sites throughout the island. And, best of all, you'll join Southwind in supporting The Nature Conservancy with all donations going directly toward island conservation. Please ask us for more details.
April 25-27, 2008
Age 16+
Skills Required: Sport Level (if paddling; No kayak skills required
to join the service project without paddling)
2008 Donation: $450 by check payable to "The Nature Conservancy"
Includes: Three beach hiking and cleaning days, two nights camping, kayaks, island shuttles, round trip motor boat transport from Ventura, one year membership in The Nature Conservancy and receipt for a tax deduction (as allowed by law).
Cancellation Policy: Please consider your donation to The Nature Conservancy as final. If you are not able to join us on this special service project, for any reason, or if the trip itinerary is cancelled because of weather or altered for any reason, rescheduling or refunds are not possible. This is a one-time only opportunity.