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In early February, the Feather River Land Trust purchased the Leonhardt Ranch, conserving a Learning Landscape for Quincy's schoolchildren, forever!

The 42-acre ranch, just across the street from Quincy Jr./Sr. High School, provides a unique, living classroom for hands-on learning and stewardship experiences. The property's meadow, riparian, and wetland habitats support a diversity wildlife species including American badger, beavers, frogs, Sandhill Cranes, waterfowl and unique songbirds like Bullock's Oriole and Yellow-breasted Chat.

Protecting the Leonhardt Ranch was made possible by funding from the CalTrans Environmental Enhancement Mitigation Program, a generous donation from Cindy and Grant Edwards, and a significant bargain sale donation from the Leonhardt Family. Rick and Tiffany Leonhardt also donated a 4-acre conservation easement for educational use.

Right off of Quincy's bike path, you may have noticed a nice pathway, sign, and seating area. This is the Leonhardt Ranch's outdoor classroom designed to make it easy and effective to bring students outside for enhanced learning. Generosity from the Stewardship Council, landowners Rick and Tiffany Leonhardt and Juliette and Troy Williams, as well as the expertise of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, and local builder Bob Hatzell made it possible.

Students are already taking leadership on the Leonhardt Ranch. Our staff and Stewardship Committee are working with the QHS Leadership Class on a stewardship and operations plan for the property. Plans include:

• Student-led restoration projects
• An historic-style barn
• Continuing sustainable cattle grazing 
• An educational farm

During Earth Week, QHS students and teachers will be doing service-learning projects to clean up and restore the ranch. On April 18, QHS will hold a school-wide dedication of the Leonhardt Ranch Outdoor Classroom.

This Spring, students and teachers at schools throughout the Feather River Watershed are jumping into learning on their newly improved outdoor classrooms, complete with signs, trails, and seating areas.

Learning Landscapes, FRLT's partnership with local school districts and landowners, is designed to enhance children's learning and relationship to the natural world.

With support from the Stewardship Council, Plumas Bank, the Stein Family and other local donors, we've been working with Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, local contractors and suppliers, and students to install signs, trails, and seating areas on outdoor classrooms at 10 schools throughout the watershed.

Greenville High School's outdoor classroom was completed on March 8, and by noon the next day, student body president Julianna Arteaga was happy to report that two classes had already been held outside.

Julianna kicked off the foundational work for Greenville High School's outdoor classroom for her senior project. She surveyed students and teachers about their needs and wishes and coordinated a school community cleanup and restoration day that included minor trail work, fuels reduction, eradicating invasive Scotch Broom, and planting 94 native plants.

Students at Fletcher Walker Elementary get ready to dedicate their new outdoor classroom

In December, students from Fletcher Walker Elementary School in Westwood and Westwood High School dedicated each school's new outdoor classroom.
Check out the photos.

Get in on the action with this video of the dedication.




Children are getting outside, learning from the land. Physical activity, curiosity and wonder, place-based learning, and developing a land stewardship ethic are all part of the mix for supporting healthy children and healthy land.

FRLT and Plumas Audubon Society teamed up to create the Sierra Valley Birder's Guidebook. The full-color, pocket sized booklet includes:

• Sierra Valley and why it's important to conserve it
• Paintings of 20 birds you're likely to see at FRLT's Maddalena Property
• Special Status Bird Species found in Sierra Valley
• Sierra Valley birding checklist - includes 230+ species
• Map and directions to birding hotspots

Perfect for novice and advanced birders alike.

Get your copies today: Drop by our office at 75 Court Street in Quincy or call (530) 283-5758 or email us frlt@frlt.org.

Suggested donation: $2 per guidebook.

Please make checks out to FRLT and write "Birder Guidebook" in the memo. Or donate online and write "Birder Guidebook" in the special instructions."

 

P.S. Get yours now - suggested donation goes up to $5 on May 19! 

 

April 14-21: Earth Week Events

April 21: Earth Day Celebration
Leonhardt Ranch Learning Landscape
Volunteers needed! Call Karen 283-5758

May 18: Work Day at Maddalena
Sierra Valley. Call Gabe 283-5758

May 19: Birds, Boats and BBQ
Maddalena, Sierra Valley
Volunteers needed! Call Karen 283-5758

June 15: Monthly Giving Luncheon
Spanish Creek. Join Monthly Giving!

June 23: Maidu Cultural Hike at Heart K in Genesee Valley

Sept 15: Indian Valley Chamber's Art on the Land, Heart K Ranch

October 6: Heart K Fall Barbeque

 

With your help, the Feather River Land Trust is working to conserve the most strategically important lands in the Feather River region, and to steward their ecological and cultural values for current and future generations.

 

P.O. Box 1826
Quincy, California 95971
Feather River Land Trust