Santa Monica Mountains Fund

Did you know the National Park Service manages more than 85 million acres? There are NPS units in every state - from CA to DC and beyond. #funfactfriday #FactFriday #FunFact. More info about how we support your local national park here: https://samofund.org

Here’s another way to help Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area! From our Amazon wishlist you can order items of equipment for the wildlife and education teams. They will be delivered to Samo Fund and we will distribute them to the teams. Items include hand puppets, microscopes or maps for the education team. Or maybe you want to help the wildlife team with purchases of backpacks, sandals or batteries! Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1LF7ZZAMYTHRH For more ways to donate: https://samofund.org/donate

Passionate about photography and the Santa Monica Mountains? If so, now is your chance to enter the OUTDOORS Photo Contest. By participating, your photo could end up on the front of the OUTDOORS wall calendar. For more info: https://forms.gle/efKhuCvwPgJEvAzEA Submit photos by September 10th 2021. Email photos to: [email protected] Photo credit: @belac_licious, winner of Sunset category.

Very sad news about Bay - known and loved by many volunteers and friends. R.I.P.

Get the babysitter! Join us at Paramount Ranch for Date Night Drive-In / Silents Under the Stars this Saturday. Enjoy LIVE MUSIC before the feature with Will Ryan and the Cactus Cowboys. And award-winning composer Michael Mortilla playing a live musical accompaniment to Buster Keaton’s ‘Our Hospitality’ - one of his most endearing comedies. Here’s Will Ryan and the Cactus Cowboys’ video of their song ‘The Outlaws are Coming’ which was filmed at Paramount Ranch. Get your tickets here: https://samofund.org/datenight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVgHHWDjDJo

Happy 4th July! Why not celebrate with a picnic at one of the NPS sites in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area! But please #leavenotrace.

Paramount Ranch has been a historic place in film since 1927. It us the only NPS site dedicated to interpreting American film history. Tomorrow, travel the world with NPS Ranger Master and take a sneak peak behind the scenes of Hollywood filmmaking at Paramount Ranch. Register now as space is limited: https://samofund.org/outdoors-calendar

Great news! The California state budget includes $7 million for the 101 Wildlife Crossing! This is monumental! Our thanks to Governor Newsom, Speaker Rendon, P...ro Tem Atkins, Assemblymember Richard Bloom, and Senator Henry Stern for recognizing the importance of this critical wildlife crossing that will help save mountain lions and preserve biodiversity in the Santa Monica Mountains. Please show them your gratitude! This now leaves us with an estimated $27-$34 million left to raise so we can stay on schedule and break ground this fall! Help us make this crossing a reality by donating at https://savelacougars.org/giving/

Silent movies were made at Paramount Ranch during the 1920s. So, to honor that history we’re teaming up with Hollywood Heritage Museum to host the Date Night Drive-In Silents Under the Stars event on July 10th. All proceeds go towards rebuilding historic structures at Paramount Ranch that were destroyed in the Woolsey Fire. Buster Keaton’s movie ‘Our Hospitality’ is one of his most endearing comedies about a family feud raging for generations. Live musical accompaniment - j...ust like in the good ‘ol days - will be played by award-winning composer Michael Mortilla. Come enjoy a starry evening at Paramount Ranch, a historic tour and the band Will Ryan and the Cactus Cowboys before the main feature. More info and tickets: https://samofund.org/datenight Thanks to our sponsors Music in Motion, Morgan Stanley The Lakewood Avenue Group, CR Print.

Calling all aspiring junior archeologists! Come and join NPS resident archeology Ranger at Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch this Sunday July 4th. With at least 10,000 years of human history in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area there’s lots to learn! Join a mock excavation and earn your Junior Ranger pin! More info: https://www.samofund.org/outdoors-calendar

Fantastic news! A story of incredible resilience in the face of terrible adversity.

Happy #TrailTuesday! Today’s #TrailSpotlight is Zuma Canyon to Ocean View. Start at the southern end of Zuma Canyon, walk along the creek bed a ways. Climb up Canyon View trail and descend via Ocean View trail. Stunning ocean vistas for much of the 4 plus mile hike. #hiking #walking

Here is what you get to see if you plant Narrow-leaf Milkweed in your yard - a Monarch butterfly! Did you know that Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed when migrating. Milkweed is the only food monarch larvae can eat. But they eat enough to increase their weight by 2,700 times in two weeks! That’s equivalent to a human baby growing to the size of a gray whale in just 14 days! #MonarchMonday #milkweedmonday #monarchbutterfly #milkweed

Join Ranger Aaron this Sunday on a hike to explore and possibly find some fascinating creatures of the night such as scorpions. UV lights will be provided. More info: https://www.samofund.org/outdoors-calendar

Pictured here are gum plant seedlings that are currently being grown at the Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa native plant nursery. Seeds are hand-collected from the Santa Monica Mountains, then sown using a variety of techniques. To learn more about native plant seed sowing, sign up for the ‘Intro to Native Seed’ class via samofund.org/native-plant-nursery. #samorestoration #WhatYouCanDo #whatyoucandowednesday #plants #nature #horticulture #gardening

¿Ha soñado con volar? Unese con Adriana Barrera, una líder de SAMO Youth, mientras ella lee Oso Quiere Volar en español. Este libro, escrito por Susanna Isern..., ilustraciones por Silvia Alvarez y traducido por Jon Brokenbrow, se trata de un oso quien quiere volar muy alto en el cielo. Alerta de spoiler: El sueño de Oso se vuelve realidad con la ayuda de sus compañeros. Este programa presenta un aspecto especial por Anna Flores, una interna con SAMO Youth. Have you ever had a dream to fly? Join SAMO Youth leader Adriana Barrera as she reads "Oso Quiere Volar" in Spanish. The book, written by Susanna Isern, illustrated by Silvia Alvarez and translated by Jon Brokenbrow, is about a bear who wants to fly high in the sky. Spoiler alert: Bear's daring dream comes to life with the teamwork of his forest friends. This reading features a special appearance by current SAMO Youth intern Anna Flores.

So many trails - over 500 miles of them - to enjoy in and around Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. This from one of our staffer’s first hike of 2021. #TrailTuesday #hiking #hikingadventures

Here’s a symbol of hope for 2021. This photo shows P-93 and P-94, two of the 13 mountain lions born between May and August 2020 in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Their mother is P-80 and the father is believed to be be P-63. They are both currently believed to be alive. #mountainlion #Mountainlionmonday #nature #wildlife

Part 2 of our series of videos about oak tree restoration in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqKr7MeZ8zo

As we leave 2020 behind, let’s remember that, although it’s been tough, we’ve been able to benefit from the outdoors for respite, recreation and a place for reflection. We’re all hoping for a brighter and healthier 2021. And we’re excited for new projects and look forward to sharing them with you!

Congratulations @belac_alicious, winner of the Sunsets category in the OUTDOORS Photo Contest 2020. His photo will appear in the OUTDOORS Calendar 2021. Contact [email protected] for more info.

Three days till Run Walk Ride starts! This year continues to be tough for us all. With that in mind, Run Walk Ride is a great opportunity to take some time out on the trails and help us reach our target of $25k for wildlife research in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. So sign up at https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/WILDLIFE

Congratulations to Jeanne Eby for her photo Dew Covered Lupine Wood Canyon Trail taken at Pt Mugu State Park. She won the Monochrome category of the OUTDOORS Photo contest. This photo will be included in the OUTDOORS calendar 2021. If you would like a calendar please contact [email protected].

You don’t need to be as athletic as Steve Lewis to take part in Run Walk Ride for wildlife research in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Any activity will do - from a long mountain bike ride to a walk round the block! So sign up at https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/WILDLIFE, Inspire your friends and join the fun! 4 days till it starts! #hiking #hikingadventures #biking #running #wildlife #help #wildlifeconservation

Named by Lonely Planet as one of California’s 10 best hikes, the Backbone Trail is one of the highlights in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. But yesterday wasn’t the best time to check it out as Sascha explains... #TrailTuesday #hike #hikesafe #safetyfirst #safetytips #Safety https://lonelyplanet.com//ar/california-best-hiking-trails

With Halloween just round the corner, this is a spotlight on our creepy friend, the Golden Orb Weaver. These spiders are carnivores that eat anything that gets stuck in their web, occasionally feasting on small lizards. The males are much smaller than the females and after mating, the female sometimes eats the male to boost her protein levels. To find out what other creepy creatures are lurking in your backyard visit: https://www.nps.gov//Field-Guide-to-the-Insects-and-other- #halloween2020 #halloween #spiderweb #wildlife #nature #naturelovers

Congratulations to Kevin Ayers, winner of the Waterfalls, Creeks and Ponds category in the OUTDOORS Photo Contest. All winning photos will be included in the OUTDOORS Calendar 2021. To obtain a copy contact [email protected].

The story of how a former slave became the first African-American to settle in the hills above Malibu and how the name of the mountain on his former property was re-named in his honor. #tbt #tbthursday #ThrowbackThursday #throwback #throwbackpic https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JWG0Z3D0pfMT

Congratulations Jessica Dyer Photography for winning the Fauna category of our OUTDOORS Photo Contest! Her photo will appear in the OUTDOORS calendar. Contact [email protected] if you’re interested in obtaining a copy of this limited edition calendar 2021.

Amazing new pictures of the proposed wildlife crossing over the 101 freeway at Liberty Canyon. Let’s hope they can start building next year. And let’s hope this is the first of many throughout California. Please help: https://savelacougars.org

Register for P-22 Day! This year it’s online October 24th. Lots of fun activities and information about the world’s most famous mountain lion and other local wildlife. Check out our virtual booth on the day and find out how you can Break The Poison Chain to protect our wildlife and pets! #whatyoucando #whatyoucandowednesday #wildlife #naturelovers #nature

Help P22 Mountain Lion of Hollywood reach this week’s goal of $22k for the wildlife crossing. Support Beth Pratt’s hike to Griffith Park at www.savelacougars.org

Congratulations to Mike McDonnell who won the Sheila Braden Memorial Award and the Recreation category in this year’s SAMO Fund /Western National Parks Association OUTDOORS photo contest. All winning photos will be published in this year’s OUTDOORS printed calendar. Contact [email protected] for information.