About LandPaths

LandPaths is an environmental education and conservation leader with the mission to foster a love of the land in Sonoma County. We believe everyone should have access to the awe and inspiration of nature.

Annually, we engage thousands of participants like you in joyful, caring, and transformative relationship with the land. We do this mainly through creative outings led in both English and Spanish, environmental education, nature camps, and people-powered land stewardship of local open spaces.

Land Acknowledgement

Our community gardens, office, and preserves throughout Sonoma County are located on the ancestral homelands of the Pomo, Coast Miwok, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, and the Wappo people, past, present, and future. We recognize them as the First Peoples and the First Stewards of this land.

 

Initiatives

Rooting Youth in Nature

LandPaths significantly reduces the barriers and expands opportunities to get outside so that more youth are able to experience wonder, joy, awe, belonging, and connection in nature.

Branching Out Conservation for Everyone

LandPaths expands the amount of people in Sonoma County who benefit from healthy land, understand the value of nature, and cultivate a sense of wanting to care for the land that gives so much back to us.

Community Care

Growing Community with Nature

Wildfires, flooding, and other challenges have dramatically increased globally and locally because of human-caused climate change. Reciprocal and joyful relationships between people and the land is a solution to climate disruption. From volunteer land stewardship days to community gatherings in local open spaces, you’ll find a range of creative, impactful opportunities to participate with LandPaths and make a difference.

Featured Outings

A Day of Pond Stewardship and Summer Celebration at Rancho Mark West

Day: Friday, June 13

Time: 9am -2pm

Place: Rancho Mark West, Santa Rosa

 

Celebrate the beginning of summer with us at Rancho Mark West! Come on out and help us prepare the pond for summer camp swimming and canoing by getting out on a canoe yourself to remove azolla and other invasive plants! Or rake up from the shore! Plus, food, swimming and water games, and maybe even turtle sightings! This event is family friendly and open to participants of all ages.

SIGN UP

Get to Know the Wild Side of Lafferty Ranch

Day: Saturday, June 14
Time: 9am – 11:30am
Place: Lafferty Ranch, Petaluma

Join LandPaths Docent Mike Noël and Michael Colacchio for a beautiful hike at Lafferty Ranch. We will venture to several vista points on southwestern Sonoma Mountain and weather permitting we may see the Petaluma River flowing into San Pablo Bay, Mount Tamalpais and even the city of San Francisco.
We will look at some wildlife photos captured on the our trail cameras, with emphasis on sightings of mountain lions and their hidden sojourns on Sonoma mountain and up Sonoma Valley.

SIGN UP

Garden Day at Ocean Song Preserve

  • Day: Sunday, June 15
  • Time: 10:30am -3:30pm
  • Place: Ocean Song-Myers Preserve, Occidental

The pollinator and habitat garden at Ocean Song/Myers is a truly magical place. You are invited to experience the land as you help tend the garden, which is home to dozens of plant and animal species!
Activities depend on the season, and might include pruning, mulching, mowing or other seasonal needs. Your abilities will guide the task!  Volunteer land stewardship days like this are the best way to experience Ocean Song Preserve, which is closed to public access. The day will be led by LandPaths’ wonderful volunteer garden steward Jan Lochner.

SIGN UP

Star Party and Stewardship Campout at Bohemia Ecological Preserve

  • Days: Friday, June 20 at 6pm – Saturday, June 21 at noon
  • Place: Bohemia Ecological Preserve, Occidental

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a campout that gives back to the land! We’ll gather at the entrance to the preserve (address below) at 6pm Friday and then head up to Hut Hill where we’ll set up tents and eat a light potluck dinner.  LandPaths will provide cold drinks and trail snacks. We’ll have a flat top grill set up and ready for cooking so bring something to grill for yourself and extra if you’d like to share! Salads and vegetarian dishes super welcome as well. After that, we’ll head out to tend the grasslands, mainly by pulling Yellow Star Thistle, under the night sky. After the potluck and evening stewardship sesh, the telescope will be out to explore the night sky or go on a night hike around the preserve! 

In the morning, after breakfast, you’re invited to do a couple more hours of grassland tending until about noon, before it gets too hot, though you can leave earlier if you need too! Bring your favorite camping breakfast food! LandPaths will provide coffee and tea!

SIGN UP

Stories + News

Stories of Impact

Why Do We Conduct Prescribed Burns?

May 29, 2025

Reflections from Jim & Betty Doerksen, Land Partners at Rancho Mark West

February 14, 2025

Tags: , , , ,

Jim and Betty Doerksen purchased Rancho Mark West in 1967. The Doerksens have worked tirelessly, planting upwards of “one million trees,” according to Jim. They also started […]

Volunteer Spotlight: Carol Carr, Wildlife Corridor Project

February 10, 2025

Tags: , , , ,

After the Glass fire in 2020, Carol Carr was looking for ways to make a difference in her community by helping out with fire recovery efforts. Her […]

Scroll to Top