In Our Own Back Yard

The In Our Own Back Yard educational program connects Sonoma County students with properties that are protected by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. The program teaches students about natural resources and allows them to participate in land management and conservation. Local elementary, middle and high schools join the program for three years at a time, and teachers work with the LandPaths staff to create lessons on Discovery and Exploration, Watersheds, Habitat, and Stewardship. Classes adopt sites and visit four times during the year an participate in activities such as removing invasive plants, adopting trees, and installing bird boxes.

The goal of the In Our Own Back Yard program is to cultivate connection to, comfort in, and informed appreciation of the outdoors among participants.

Nearly 4,500 socioeconomically and ethnically diverse students from across Sonoma County have participated in the In Our Own Back Yards program. During the 2009/2010 school year, more than 755 students from 29 classes will participate in the program. Many of the themes and activities of the program correlate to the California State Science Standards. Participants in the program visit, maintain, and help care for eight open spaces across the county including Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve, Taylor Mountain, Glen Oaks Ranch, the Laguna Uplands, Bayer Farm, Jacob's Ranch, Ranchero Mark West (aka Doerksen Ranch), and Riverfront Park.