The Fire Lookout Volunteer Program, one of the many volunteer programs of the Southern California Mountains Foundation (SCMF), is now recruiting volunteers to staff fire lookouts for the 2022 fire season. Fire Lookouts help protect the forest, local mountain communities, as well as communities along the forest boundary from the threat of fire. Fire Lookouts…
Join us for a spooky celebration of community and civic engagement! The Southern California Mountains Foundation Trails Program is hosting a community Halloween trick-or-treating event on Rathbun Trail. Booths will be set up along the trail with candy and information on the Trails Program. We will highlight the work we have done this past year…
As Americans, we enjoy the privilege and bear the responsibility, of being stewards to more than a million acres of National Forests, Wildlife Refuges, Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas, Trails, and more. Together, these form our National Public Lands, and Big Bear is surrounded by them. On Saturday, September 25, 2021, the Southern California Mountains Foundation…
Update - The San Bernardino National Forest will be closed until midnight September 22, 2012. Click HERE for more information. The San Bernardino National Forest is included in the Regional Order that is closing 17 National Forests in California at the end of the day today, August 31, 2021. With so much fire activity currently…
Restoration means creating and maintaining healthy, resilient forests capable of delivering all of the benefits that people get from them: clean air and water, carbon sequestration, habitat for native fish and wildlife, opportunities for outdoor recreation, and more. SCMF has a thriving restoration team working hard this past year! During the pandemic, forest visitation rose…
Majestic views, solitude, and quiet, heroic vigilance— fire lookouts of the San Bernardino National Forest capture a romantic part of California’s past. The Southern California Mountains Foundation proudly oversees its preservation. Today, there are seven fire lookout towers in the San Bernardino National Forest manned by dedicated Southern California Mountains Foundation volunteers. These volunteers go through informative…
The Big Bear Discovery Center is now open for visitor information and nature programs in our outdoor spaces. The indoor areas are still closed for remodeling but staff and volunteers are operating out of the Discovery Center Amphitheater. Visitors can get Forest information, purchase Adventure Passes and limited merchandise, attend nature walks, listen to a…
Unfortunately, we have had to cancel our Music in the Mountain concert series this year, but don’t worry ‘bout a thing, ‘cause every little thing’s gonna be alright. The good news is, in 2022, we plan to turn the beat around with a fun, exciting season of Music in the Mountains, stronger than ever in…
Join the Southern California Mountains Foundation (SCMF) Trails Program for the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® June 5, 2021 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on multiple trails throughout the valley. Hospitality kiosks will be located at Cougar Crest, the Pacific Crest Trail at Cushenberry Summit, Aspen Glen, and the Woodland Trail. Visit a…