The Southern California Mountains Foundation is a non-profit that is passionate about our mission and community. We strive to:

• Support youth development through conservation initiatives integrating environmental education, training, and hands-on service projects;
• Protect our natural resources through adult and family-led programming; and 
• Provide interpretive services that focus on outdoor recreation, responsible use, and stewardship of our natural environment.

We achieve our mission by raising money, organizing critical volunteer resources, and creating and managing programs focused on health, stewardship, and sustainability of our Southern California mountains and urban “forests”.

Over the past 30 years, the use of national forests has increased while funding has dramatically declined. The Mountains Foundation works to bridge that gap and add value to our local mountains through the visitor experience. It takes the efforts of our staff and more than 700 trained volunteers to support that work.

For the past 20 years, the organization has made a critical difference, executing volunteer programs that donated 1.5 million hours of service valued at $32,685,000.00.

Looking back at the last 25 years . . . The organization, founded and incorporated in 1993, was the idea of a group of stakeholders associated with the San Bernardino National Forest. With millions of recreational visitors per year and a year-round population of hundreds of thousands, the Southern California Mountains represented one of the U.S. Forest Service’s greatest challenges. At that time, meeting these recreational demands with quality services seemed beyond Forest Service resources.

The solution the stakeholders generated was to create a non-profit to support the work of the San Bernardino National Forest, assisting with the mandate for responsible recreation, undertaking conservation to safeguard the Forest’s future, and providing education that promotes stewardship. The San Bernardino National Forest Association was born.

The organization started out by interpreting the forest to visitors along off-highway vehicle trails and in historic fire lookout towers through their Off Highway Vehicle Safety and Education and Fire Lookout programs, respectively. At the same time, the National Children’s Forest was developed to engage young people.

The San Bernardino National Forest was threatened and under attack by an 8-year drought, massive infestation of the bark beetle and what began with the wildfires of 2003 followed by the devastating fires of 2006. This extreme call-to-action created a fundamental shift in their priorities from a focus on interpretive programming and natural resource protection to an on-the ground restoration team that was shovel-ready with the organizational capacity and reputation to get the job done; primarily led by youth.

Hence, the Forest Care and the Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire (UCC) were launched in 2006 in response to assisting homeowners create more fire safe mountain communities and to expand their commitment to youth development. They accomplished this charter through the Urban Conservation Corps by engaging inner city and at-risk youth from both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in conservation projects by integrating education, hands-on work and job readiness training. In the process, the organization has helped young people succeed while creating healthier and sustainable urban public lands and mountains loved by so many Southern Californians. In addition, our restoration efforts expanded the role and voice of youth at Children’s Forest in public lands management.

In 1998 the Big Bear Discovery Center was opened and co-managed with the U.S. Forest Service as a gateway to the forest through visitor services, family-oriented programming and interpretative tours and services designed to teach responsible recreation and foster a respect and appreciation for our public lands through stewardship education. In 2017 the mountains partnered with the Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation and is currently undergoing a merger to add the seventh program to our portfolio that will support trail stewardship throughout the Big Bear Valley.

Over 750 volunteers support the Mountains Foundation on a year-round basis. The Foundation supports public lands and our partners through grants, corporate sponsorships, memberships, private donations and fundraisers.

Bonnie Hunt, Grant & Compliance Manager  

Bonnie is a lifelong resident of Southern California who has lived everywhere from the L.A. Beach Cities to the Inland Empire and several cities in between. After several years working in accounting roles for for-profit corporations, she began seeking a position that would be more meaningful and allow her to contribute to causes she believed in. Working with a non-profit organization focused on helping young people, public lands, and local communities seemed like a perfect fit, so she happily joined the Southern California Mountains Foundation team in 2019. She enjoys spending time with her family, being anywhere near an ocean, river, or lake, and yearly camping trips to Kings Canyon.

Angel Mariscal, UCC San Bernardino Conservation Manager 

Angel’s passion for nature led him to complete his degree in Environmental Studies at  California State University San Bernardino in 2016.  That same year he started with the UCCIE as a Corpsmember, eventually being promoted to a Crew Supervisor, then Restoration Coordinator, and now Conservation Manager. Over the years, the UCCIE has encouraged and cultivated his interest in the care and restoration of our local forest.  He thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to provide the same education and encouragement to others at the UCCIE. He currently manages several supervisors and crew leads with years of experience and the dedication to make a difference in our community. Together we are committed to learning, growing, and working hard every day to accomplish the mission of the Urban Conservation Corps. 

Wayne McILroy, UCC San Bernardino Recycling Manager 

Wayne McILroy, Recycling Manager, joined SCMF in 2019. His  work experience is 25+ years in Operations management, in the restaurant industry and recycling industry. He is also involved With Desert Aquatics in the Victor Valley area, where he volunteers on the Board of Directors as Vice President and President of Coaches. Also loves sports college football and baseball and outdoors.

Martwon Morgan, UCC Coachella Valley Facilities Manager  

Martwon was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Martwon joined the UCC as a volunteer in 2011, and then became a corpsmember. Through his hard work and dedication, Martwon’s leadership skills led him to be promoted to Supervisor, and then to his current position. He is passionate about mentoring young adults in the UCC, helping them on their path to achieving their personal and career goals. Having played baseball and football for years, he is an avid sports fan. Martwon enjoys spending time with his family, especially traveling, bowling and playing beach volleyball.

Gaby Nunez, UCC Corpsmember Development Senior Manager

Gaby Nunez is the Senior Manager for Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire. Born and raised in the city of San Bernardino, Gaby has a passion for helping make change in her city during work hours and in her personal life. With a sociology degree as her educational background, Gaby enjoys overseeing a team of amazing individuals who help change lives through environmental education programs and support services. Her hobbies and passions include spending time with loved ones, hiking or exploring the desert, road tripping, gardening and an obsession with mid century culture, including fashion, music and cars.

Sierra Harvey, Discovery Center Manager 

Sierra received a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University in Secondary-Education and was a middle school teacher before joining SCMF in 2023. She enjoys talking to people within the community, reading, and learning from those around her. Sierra is a California Naturalist Instructor. She manages a dedicated group of volunteers, environmental education and interpretive programs, as well as the Big Bear Discovery Center, a visitor center and gift store for the San Bernardino National Forest, and all of its associated events! Sierra and her team work to ensure that every visitor leaves with an unforgettable experience and more knowledge about the San Bernardino National Forest and its diverse ecosystems and dynamic uses. Come to the Discovery Center, meet Sierra and the BBDC volunteers and learn how you too can participate in stewardship practices and be an advocate for conservation, preservation, and recreation on our public lands!

Lisa Underwood, Restoration Manager 

Lisa worked at camps in the San Bernardino and Sierra Nevada ranges early in life, which sparked her love for the mountains and her enthusiasm for sharing outdoor experiences with others. She worked with bats, bighorn sheep and birds for the Forest Service, ran her own backpacking business, and was a spelunking guide in college. She enjoys the science of habitat restoration and is always learning. She graduated from Cal State, San Bernardino, with a BA in Environmental Studies. After raising her boys in Texas, she returned to Big Bear to work in habitat restoration. Lisa is a co-bird nerd with her husband, a backpacker, avid reader, and when she has to, a home renovator.

Jordan Lowe, Trails Manager  

Jordan was raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where he developed a love for being out in nature. After obtaining a Recreation Resource Management degree from Utah State University he worked as a  Utah Conservation Corps Member, invasive species technician, and wildland firefighter in the intermountain west. Jordan moved to Big Bear during the Covid-19 pandemic where he continued to pursue his love of nature working as a snowboard instructor/ dock hand. Jordan joined SCMF in 2023 and loves working with volunteers to educate, monitor, and maintain trails in Big Bear Valley. Catch him lounging out on the lake or laying trenches in the powder.

Patrick Young, Bookkeeper 

Patrick Young graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Business Management.  After working for several companies, both large and small, between the coast of California and the Wasatch mountains of Utah, he concluded that there must be more to business than everyone working hard to benefit a few.  He was tremendously attracted to SCMF because of utilizing the mountains and nature to benefit the whole rather than the few.  Hobbies include Tennis, Snowboarding, Hiking & Swimming.

Marco Michel, Restoration Coordinator 

Marco was born and raised in Lake Elsinore, CA. After working various jobs in the landscaping, construction and arborist fields, he found a calling for restoration work with the Urban Conservation Corps in San Bernardino. After working hard to stand out in the UCC as a corpsmember and then as a crew lead, Marco was given the opportunity to join the SCMF Restoration team in April of 2023 and has been dedicated to the foundation’s mission ever since. His hobbies include hiking, camping, playing tabletop games, and singing karaoke. 

Melinda Herrera, Restoration Coordinator 

Melinda Herrera was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She has always had a love and passion for nature since she was a child. She was given the chance to work for the Urban Conservation Corps in 2018 and was able to grow out of her shell as well as gain tons of knowledge by gettings hands-on experience with fencing, slashing, seed collecting, and much more and variety of places she’s never been before such as Baldy Mesa, Lytle Creek, Deep Creek, etc. She was fortunate enough to be a part of the first bilingual naturalist class at the UCC and receive a certification. Melinda was later on promoted at the Urban Conservation Corps as crew lead and shortly after supervisor. As Supervisor she was able to share her love and knowledge of the outdoors with newly hired corpsmembers and become a role model as well as someone they could confide in. She is now working with the SCMF monitoring all front country areas and leading conservation crews in many projects to help protect the beautiful national forest in hopes to teach others about the importance of conserving our land. Melinda loves to spend time with friends and family, enjoys walking her dogs, helping others, and watching scary movies.

Richard Luna, Trails Coordinator  

Richard was born and raised in Long Beach, California.Growing up, Richard shared a passion for wanting to help others in need. During this journey it led him to join the Urban Conservation Corp of the Inland Empire doing various restoration projects. Richard worked in the organization until moving into the Trail Coordinator position with the Southern California Mountains Foundation. This role exposes young adults to the Big Bear Trails system and surrounding areas with efforts in restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation. Outside of work, Richard’s hobbies include running, playing board games, attending concerts, traveling, flying drones, and gaming with friends.

Andrea Mendoza, HR & Payroll Coordinator 

Andrea has been with the Southern California Mountains Foundation for over 5 years. She began as a corpsmember and transitioned to the administrative staff after completion of her studies at Cal State San Bernardino in Human Resources Management. She enjoys working at an organization that helps the local community and advocates for conservation efforts.

John Sanders, UCC Facility & Fleet Assistant 

John Sanders serves as the Fleet and Facilities Supervisor for the Southern California Mountains Foundation’s Urban Conservation Corps, where he has been a vital part of the organization for over three years. In this role, John oversees the maintenance and management of the Foundation’s vehicles, equipment, and facilities, ensuring operational efficiency and safety across all programs. With a strong background in fleet operations and facility logistics, John plays a key role in supporting the Corps’ mission of providing young adults with meaningful work experience in conservation and urban forestry.Outside of work, John channels his mechanical expertise into restoring classic cars—a lifelong passion that reflects his appreciation for craftsmanship, history, and hands-on problem-solving.

Cita Wilson, UCC San Bernardino Corpsmember Development Coordinator 

Prior to coming to the Corp I worked at ESRI for 15 years, I volunteered with the U S Forestry for one year. Started with the Corp June 2014 as Administrative Receptionist. August 2022 became Corpmember Development Coordinator. My passion is guiding individuals to be successful in society, helping them to achieve their goals. I truly enjoy working closer with the corpsmember. My job is no longer a job, it’s a MISSION.

Marsha Funez, UCC Coachella Valley Corpsmember Development Coordinator

Prior to coming on board with SCMF, I previously worked for The County of Riverside in the social services field for over 20 years, primarily in children services providing support and services for children and families in the Coachella Valley.  My passion is guiding individuals to be successful in society, helping them to achieve their goals and dreams so they can be positive role models for others to follow. I was drawn to SCMF and the UCC because the program offers our local youth with great opportunities they may not otherwise have access to. Since childhood my parents took us camping and hiking in our local mountains. I enjoy the outdoors, going on walks, beach trips, spending time with friends and family and am also active in my church.

Josh Duran, UCC Coachella Valley Conservation Coordinator

Joshua Duran is a dedicated Conservation Coordinator committed to preserving natural resources throughout the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas. He collaborates seamlessly with the Urban Conservation Corps, US Forest Service, and other partners to implement conservation projects. Prior to this role, Joshua spent two impactful years as a wilderness park aide at Mt. San Jacinto State Park. His deep appreciation for the outdoors drives his mission to make a meaningful, lasting contribution to his community. When he’s not engaged in conservation initiatives, Joshua enjoys playing the drums, reading, and exploring nature through hiking and camping.

Andrew Goodman, UCC San Bernardino Corpsmember Development Coordinator

Andrew Goodman Corpsmembers Development Coordinator San Bernardino, was born in San Bernardino but was raised in Rialto Ca,  Andrew has been with the organization for 14 years, he started as a volunteer for the Youth Corps in 2010. He volunteered for 3 months before he was hired as a corps member on a trials crew.  Working with the youth corps, that’s when he developed a passion for working with our youth and young adults.  Teaching them the basics on how to conduct themselves in a professional manner while on the job, practicing good behavior and positive attitude, providing different types of training like how to operate a chainsaw, First Aid and CPR, and job readiness.  Andrew also enjoys spending time with his kids, likes hiking, working out at the gym, and watching sports. Go Commanders

Carie Mitchell, UCC Coachella Valley Recycling Coordinator

Born in Long Beach, CA and raised in Banning, CA. Carie started her venture in the Corps programs in 1996 with the CCC in Santa Clara, CA doing 2 1/2 yrs of service. After completing her service with the CCC in 1998, she completed eight months as a crew leader with the San Francisco Conservation Corps plus a year with Americorps. She went on to become a Field Supervisor with San Francisco Conservation Corps for 7 years and then moved onto 3 years with the North Bay Conservation Corps as a Recycling Operations Supervisor. She is happy that she made the decision to return to service with the Urban Conservation Corps in 2023 after a 11 year hiatus. Her hobbies include camping, hiking, dancing, and trips to Lake Havasu, and the Colorado River during the summer.

Pedro Quintero, UCC San Bernardino Project Coordinator

Pedro Quintero is a graduate from the University of California, Riverside where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. During his time at UCR, Pedro balanced rigorous academic studies and labor intensive jobs in construction and tree service. These early experiences instilled a strong work ethic and appreciation for labor and the environment. He takes pride in mentoring individuals on and off work to create better versions of themselves. Following graduation, Pedro took on a leadership role as a supervisor for the Urban Conservation Corps, a position that combines mentoring youth while making a positive environmental impact. Now in his fourth year with the organization, Pedro serves as a Project Coordinator for Rancho Cucamonga initiatives, continuing his mission to foster environmental stewardship while empowering the next generation of leaders. Outside of the organization, Pedro enjoys spending time with his family and playing soccer recreationally.

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