REI Funds Restoration Trips to Anacapa Island

A young volunteer plants cactus!

For the third year in a row, outdoor retailer REI has supported the Anacapa restoration project by providing a grant to CIR for native plant installation on the island.  The funds were granted to Channel Islands Restoration, which works in partnership with the National Park Service on the project.  Over the course of six trips, 30 volunteers planted several hundred plants including sage brush alkali rye grass and coastal prickly pear cactus. 

CIR Volunteer, Doreen Jones, keeping the Anacapa Island
nursery plants happy.

The volunteers who helped on these trips were all associated with local conservation groups or were employees or members of the local REI stores.  Participating groups includes Santa Barbara Audubon Society,  Ventura Surfrider Foundation and the Santa Barbara Zoo. 

 Most of the trips were led by Kelle Green, the CIR nursery manager and all around NPS volunteer.  The groups worked hard, and also had an opportunity to take a short walk on the island following the restoration work.  CIR thanks all the volunteers and REI for making these trips possible!

Volunteers from the Santa Barbara Zoo plant natives near the historic lighthouse.

CIR Awarded Grant for Anacapa Restoration

Volunteers on Anacapa Island with invasive iceplant.

CIR has received a second annual grant award from recreational equipment retailer REI, as part of CIR’s work on the Anacapa Island Restoration Project, undertaken in partnership with the National Park Service.  REI awarded a generous amount of $6,000 which will allow us to take volunteers to Anacapa Island on another series of restoration trips this fall.  REI employees and members of the Santa Barbara and Oxnard stores will be among those invited to participate.  We will also recruit volunteers from local conservation groups like the Surfrider Foundation, the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, and the Santa Barbara Zoo.  Last year, REI trips were comprised of enthusiastic volunteers and experienced NPS volunteer work leaders and CIR staff, who cleared large areas of 3 types of invasive iceplant.  This year, volunteers will have the opportunity to plant native plant species grown in the on-island nursery.  CIR staff will be busy this month preparing  for these volunteer trips.

Volunteers at Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island.

The funding from REI will pay for round-trip boat transportation, plus the cost to organize and lead the trips.  Volunteers will receive training on the identification of native and non-native plants and on proper techniques before work begins.  CIR will also present volunteers with information on the impacts of non-native species in natural areas and the history of the introduction of invasive iceplant to Anacapa Island.

Through our partnership with REI, we intend to build a greater awareness of our efforts to care for and showcase Anacapa Island—part of the Channel Islands National Park, and a recreational paradise enjoyed by hikers, paddlers, birders, and campers.  We are proud to partner with this sponsor and excited to share the news of their investment in our organization and mission.  CIR is proud to work with the National Park Service and REI on this important restoration project.