Southern California Mountains Foundation
The Southern California Mountains Foundation is a 501c3 organization founded in 1993, originally focused on assisting with conservation issues and education needs connected to the millions of annual visitors to the San Bernardino National Forest. Initially, SCMF focused on public outreach related to both forest recreation and need for stewardship; then in 2006, the Foundation added the Urban Conservation Corps (UCC) and Forest Care programs to its list of services. Both programs gradually expanded over time into regional resource conservation and educational work, solidifying SCMF’s focus on youth development through education and hands-on training; protection of natural resources through regular forestry-focused programming for a range of ages and activity levels; and helping continue safe, responsible outdoor recreation through interpretive services underscoring need for stewardship of open spaces. Since the addition of the UCC, the SCMF has managed programs resulting in donation of more than 1.5 million service hours, critical more than ever as funding for national forests and surrounding areas has continued to fall