Celebrating One Year: Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center
One year ago, the doors of the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center opened wide—and more than 500 community members and visitors poured in to explore our new hub for ecological learning in the Northern Sierra.
That opening day was the culmination of a 20-year collaboration between the Feather River Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and the Northern Sierra Partnership. Together, we acquired the land for the 2,575-acre preserve and shaped a vision for its future as a center for ecological learning and a gateway to the natural wonders of Sierra Valley. And together we worked to raise funds and recruit the architectural, construction, and interpretive teams to translate that vision into reality.
From the very beginning, it was clear the Nature Center was something special. At the grand opening, guests explored exhibits on biodiversity, soil health, meadow systems, and rivers, as well as the histories and stewardship of the Mountain Maidu and Washoe peoples—developed in partnership with Tribal community members. Serrell Smokey, Chairman of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, spoke at the dedication about the collaboration: "You didn't have to do it. No one does it. But you reached out time and time again to involve us and make sure the exhibits were exactly what we wanted. We really appreciated that."
One year later, the Nature Center has truly taken root. Under the leadership of Public Programs Director Jenna Holland, the Nature Center is now a cornerstone of Feather River Land Trust's Learning Landscapes curriculum—a conservation and education program that connects young people to nature through place-based learning and hands-on stewardship. FRLT has hosted over 20 school field trips in Spring and Fall 2025 for local and regional schools, with over 15 more scheduled for Spring 2026.
What Visitors are Saying:
"What a magical setting the Sierra Valley is!"
"How fortunate we are to have this center here!"
"I had no idea about the watershed."
"Thank you for including the First People in your exhibits."
Kate Ulberg, volunteer docent, captures it best: "It's a joy to welcome visitors and watch their delight as they listen to animal calls, marvel at the bird exhibit, and pause in awe at the sweeping views. From school groups and birders to families and travelers from around the world, guests leave with a deeper appreciation for the Sierra Valley, its watershed, and its rich biodiversity. I especially love seeing people relax on the shaded veranda, sharing stories of what they spotted along the trails. It's an honor to be a small part of the magic that happens here every day."
The Nature Center is also a vibrant community gathering place with workshops, concerts, and stargazing nights for people of all ages, interests, and skill levels. The first year has been full of memorable moments:
· A concert with Musica Sierra featuring Juilliard-trained vocalist Majel Connery performing her environmental composition Elderflora, and other musical events
· A star party to view the Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet
· Workshops on basketry, botanical illustration, plant medicines, acorn processing, plant dyes, and woodblock printing
· Bird walks and botanical walks
· Longer workshops on issues like riparian grazing management
· Science talks on forest fuel treatments, fungi, and elk in the Sierra, among many others
· A book launch with naturalist John Muir Laws for Sierra Birds (2nd edition), with over 100 guests in person and livestreamed nationally to thousands more.
· A featured stop on the annual Sierra Valley Art & Ag Tour
The Nature Center also offers a variety of weekly and monthly programs for the community including:
· Weekly nature-based yoga
· A monthly children's art program exploring different themes and mediums
· A monthly CA Native Plant Society speaker series
· Monthly plein air painting and nature journaling clubs
· Monthly Indigenous plant medicine workshops
· Quarterly full moon hikes
Looking ahead, the Nature Center will continue to expand its offerings. In Spring 2026, Jenna looks forward to hosting the California Naturalist Certification Program, along with more field trips, workshops, and community events. The goal remains clear: to inspire broader and deeper public understanding of the natural world and support for conserving natural systems in the Sierra Nevada and beyond.
As Tanya Funk, President of the Lost Sierra Chamber of Commerce said at the dedication: "The Sierra Valley Preserve and Nature Center is not just a place of learning for kids and adults, OR a magnet for visitors, OR a refuge for people and wildlife, OR an important new place for all of us to gather and build community, it is ALL of those things."
One year in, that vision has become a reality. The Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center is inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders, enriching the lives of community members and visitors and attracting new visitors to this spectacular but economically challenged part of the Sierra. This is just the beginning. Here's to many more years of discovery, wonder, and connection.
To see upcoming events, click here: https://www.frlt.org/get-involved/events/