About Sierra Nevada Journeys Land Transfer
Expanding outdoor education youth camp with protected land
Fast Facts
- 1,025 acres adjacent to the existing Sierra Nevada Journeys camp
- Transferred to Sierra Nevada Journeys in 2025
- Rare or threatened species include bobcat, pine marten, a variety of owls, and the endangered Willow Flycatcher
- Protected for: Water, Wildlife, Biodiversity, Climate resilience, Kids in nature, Open space
- Landowner: Sierra Nevada Journeys
Water & Ecology
The open space of this beautiful landscape offers vistas along the Feather River Scenic Byway, adjacent to the City of Portola. The land is part of the Big Grizzly Creek Corridor, which connects Lake Davis and the Wild and Scenic Middle Fork Feather River, a critical source of water to the State Water Project serving downstream agriculture and drinking water to millions of Americans. The newly conserved land includes multiple perennial springs and 1.2 miles along the west side of the creek.
FRLT/Kristi Jamason
Flora & Fauna
The 1,025-acre property provides important wildlife habitat with high-quality forage and shelter for mule deer. It is home to more than 100 bird and animal species that live, breed, or migrate through the property including: sandhill cranes, flammulated owls, martens, screech owls, barn owls, great horned owls, bald eagles, bats, river otters, mink, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, osprey and the willow flycatcher, which is a California-listed endangered species.
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Photo by Betty Bishop (all rights reserved)
Courtesy of Sierra Nevada Journeys
Norm Williams
Conserving ecologically important lands in the Feather River region and connecting kids to nature is core to our mission. This property features outstanding wildlife habitat, springs, and Feather River tributaries, and we’re thrilled it will remain intact and be a place for kids to learn and explore.
—Corey Pargee, Executive Director of FRLT
History & Culture
The property is within the traditional territory of both the Mountain Maidu and Washoe people. The piece of land transferred to Sierra Nevada Journeys was originally owned by Sierra Health Foundation—a private philanthropy investing in partnership and programs that improve health, racial equality, and racial justice in Northern California—as a camp for youth with disabilities. For the past 15 years (since 2010), Sierra Nevada Journeys has brought fifth and sixth-grade students to camp for outdoor school and hosted a variety of community partners for leadership and youth development programs.
To us, this is far more than a land transaction; it’s an investment in the future of our children and the health of our forests.
—Sean Hill, CEO of Sierra Nevada Journeys
Working together to protect Sierra Nevada Journeys
The expansion and conservation of Sierra Nevada Journeys was a unique collaboration, bringing together multiple partners. This property was conserved in partnership with the California Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Sierra Health Foundation. The conservation easement FRLT holds permanently protects ecological and cultural resources, and guarantees that the property cannot be subdivided or developed in the future.
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Stewardship of Sierra Nevada Journeys
As the conservation easement holder, FRLT meets with the landowners annually to review management plans and visits the property to evaluate any potential impacts on conservation values and ensure that the terms of the easement are being upheld. Sierra Nevada Journeys will be working actively to manage the property for prevention and forest health, providing important fuel breaks and mitigating the risk of wildfire in this mountain community.
Recreation & Access
Sierra Nevada Journeys hosts more than 10,000 students and families participating in hands-on outdoor science learning at Sierra Nevada Journeys, with fifth- and sixth-grade students traveling by bus with their schools from across the region—from the Bay Area and Central Valley to the Greater Sacramento Region and Northern Nevada. While this is a youth camp, it is not open to the general public for visiting.
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Conservation FocusYou Can Count On Us
As a nationally accredited land trust, we are built to last. We leverage your donations with state, federal, and foundation dollars and strategic partnerships to achieve the greatest possible impact for the lands, waters, and people of the Feather River region. You can count on us to make careful and effective use of your support.
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