| Connecting the community to habitat restoration through service learning and native plant education. |
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Back to Natives assists in the recovery of Orange County’s
biodiversity through the restoration of open spaces, and the
development of habitat gardens. Our environmental education programs educate students and community members about the importance of native plants and biodiversity.
Download our brochure: Inside and Outside
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Through our efforts we increase public understanding and appreciation of our quickly diminishing resources, and as a result, inspire the public to use wilderness resources wisely and respectfully, and to assist in the effort to protect our
wild land areas. Back to Natives works to create public awareness of the rich environmental resources the County and the State have to offer, and the need to preserve them for generations to come.
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“To encourage and actively participate in the restoration
and conservation of Orange County and California wildlands,
through education and restoration programs featuring native
plants and biodiversity as a centralizing theme.”To that end, Back to Natives serves the growing number of land managers in need of restoration services by facilitating dialogue with the community, promoting awareness of and public support for restoration and restorative management; and, of course, bringing about the recovery of damaged ecosystems through ecological restoration! |
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- Restore open space (private and publicly held land) with
appropriate plant species, while reaching out to the
community through restoration-based education programs and volunteer opportunities.
- Coordinate with land managers to provide
service-learning programs using curriculum aligned with the California state science and social science standards.
- Assist land managers with the recruitment, training and
retaining of volunteers to assist with the task of
restoration and education at their sites.
- Promote native plant gardening to local schools and
public facilities.
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Upcoming Board Meeting! |
 Board meetings are held once each month immediately following our monthly volunteer events. All are welcome to attend!Meetings are open to the public. To attend a meeting,
you may RSVP to info @ backtonatives.org or call
949-509-4787, to be sure we have
adequate space to accommodate all attendees.Location:
Back to Natives Nursery @ Santiago Park (or at locations as designated in prior Board Meetings). RSVP for directions.RSVP to
info@backtonatives.org as soon as possible. |
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| Past Board Members |
2017-2018 Board of Directors
- Naomi Gruenthal, L.A., B.S, B.S., Community Services Project Planner at the City of Anaheim, President
- Mark Bowler, B.S., Engineer, Boeing, Secretary
- J. Mark Sugars, Ph.D. UC Irvine, B.S. and B.A. UC Irvine, Treasurer & Jr. Vice-President
- Stephenie Duncan, sole proprietor of a small local business for 25 years. Senior Vice President
- Reginald Durant, B.A. UC Irvine, U.S. Army, Executive Director
2016-2017 Board of Directors
- J. Mark Sugars, Ph.D. UC Irvine, B.S. and B.A. UC Irvine, President
- Mark Bowler, Engineer, Boeing, Secretary
- Naomi Gruenthal, L.A., B.S, B.S., Community Services Project Planner at the City of Anaheim,
- Stephenie Duncan, sole proprietor of a small local business for 25 years. Treasurer
- Lori Whalen, M.A. Cal State University Fullerton, B.S. Cal Poly Pomona, Director/Director of Education
- Reginald Durant, B.A. UC Irvine, U.S. Army, Director of
Restoration/Executive Director
2015-2016 Board of Directors
- J. Mark Sugars, Ph.D., B.S., President
- Mark Bowler, B.S., Secretary
- Naomi Gruenthal,L.A., B.S, B.S., Treasurer
- Alice Apkarian, Ph.D.
- Stephenie Duncan
- Lori Whalen, M.A. B.S.
- Reginald Durant, B.A.
2014 – 2015
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John Kaiser, Ph.D., M.S., B.S., President
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Peter Conlon, M.A., B.A., Treasurer
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Mark Bowler, B.S., Co-Secretary
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J. Mark Sugars, Ph.D., B.S., Director-at-Large
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Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
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Reginald Durant, B.A.,Executive Director
2013 – 2014
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Naomi L Gruenthal, L.A., B.S, B.S., President
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John Kaiser, Ph.D., M.S., B.S., Vice President
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Peter Conlon, M.A., B.A., Secretary
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Peter Collisson, J.D., B.A., Co-Treasurer
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J. Mark Sugars, Ph.D., B.S., Director-at-Large
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Craig Torres, Director-at-Large
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Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
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Reginald Durant, B.A.,Executive Director
2012 – 2013
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Naomi L Gruenthal, L.A., B.S, B.S., President
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John Kaiser, Ph.D., M.S., B.S., Vice President
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Peter Conlon, M.A., B.A., Secretary
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Peter Collisson, J.D., B.A., Co-Treasurer
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Kevin Doherty, B.A., Co-Treasurer
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J. Mark Sugars, Ph.D., B.S., Director-at-Large
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Kathleen Shanfield, M.S., B.S., Director-at-Large
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June Yamada, M.S., B.S., Director-at-Large
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Craig Torres, Director-at-Large
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Bob Miller, Director-at-Large
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Erik Roberts, Director-at-Large
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Carol Roberts, Director-at-Large
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Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
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Reginald Durant, B.A.,Executive Director
2011 – 2012
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Erik Roberts, President
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John Kaiser, Ph.D. Vice President
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Carol Roberts, Secretary
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Naomi L Gruenthal,L.A., B.S, B.S., Treasurer
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Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
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Reginald Durant, B.A.,Executive Director
2010-2011
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Erik Roberts, President
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Dennis Litton, Vice President
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Carol Roberts, Secretary
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Naomi L Gruenthal, L.A., B.S, B.S., Treasurer
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Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
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Reginald Durant, B.A.,Executive Directo
2009-2010
- Edgar Becerra, MBA President
- Dennis Litton, Vice President
- Sandy DeSimone, Ph.D. Secretary
- John Bellendir., Treasurer
- Robert Carreon, Director, Past-President
- Stephen Barker, Ph.D.*, Director
- Delilah Snell, Director
- Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
- Reginald Durant, B.A.,Executive Director
2008-2009
- Robert Carreon, President
- Sandy DeSimone, Secretary
- John Bellendir, Treasurer
- Stephen Barker, Ph.D.*, Director
- Delilah Snell, Director
- Robert Carreon, Director
- Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
- Reginald Durant, B.A., Executive Director
2007-2008
- Patricia (Trish) Smith, President
- Sandy DeSimone, Secretary
- John Bellendir, Treasurer
- Stephen Barker, Ph.D.*, Director
- Delilah Snell, Director
- Robert Carreon, Director
- Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S. Director/Director of Education
- Reginald Durant, B.A.,Executive Director
2006-2007 Founding Board
- Patricia (Trish) Smith, President
- Lori Whalen, M.A., B.S., Secretary/Director of Education
- Reginald Durant, B.A., Director of
Restoration/Executive Director/Treasurer
- Stephen Barker, Ph.D.*, Director
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Office Staff:
949-509-4787
Reginald I. Durant, Executive Director
Intern III:
Intern II:
Intern I:
Kathy Nguyen: Horticultural Intern
Priscilla Putzel: Horticultural Intern
Shirley Benavides: Native Plant Intern
Brayan Cruz: Native Plant Intern
Position available!
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Our Fiscal Year ends June 30th!
To apply for Board Candidacy visit and fill-out the:
Prospective Nominee Application Form.
2018-2019 Board of Directors
- Tina Sommers-Bernhardt, Retired Teacher, Homemaker, Social Sciences Interdisc. & Physical Education, San Francisco State University, President
- Nicholas Latimer, O-3 U.S. Army, Chapman University, Secretary
- Cassandra Owen, AIM Coordinator Southwest Conservation Corps Four Corners Office, B.S. Biology Pomona College, Treasurer & Vice-President
- Reginald Durant, B.A. UC Irvine, U.S. Army, Executive Director
Honorary Board of Directors
- Sandy DeSimone, Ph.D.*
- Stephen Barker, Ph.D.**
* Director of Research and Education,
Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary
**Nephew
of Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management and the U.S.
wilderness system.
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Advisory Council Members
- Mark Bowler, B.S., Engineer, Boeing, past BTN Board Secretary
- Deborah Brin, Geneticist, Environmental Educator
- Debra Clarke, Wilderness/Trails Manager, District Volunteer Coordinator, Cleveland NF, Trabuco Ranger District
- Frank Colver, Retired Engineer
- Peter Collison, Attorney
- Peter Conlon, M.A. Claremont Graduate University, B.A. Pomona College, past BTN Board Treasurer and Secretary
- Don Cribb, Park Santiago Community Leader
- Kari Dahlgren, Marketing Director, Flint
- Judith M. Gielow, Retired
- Stephenie Duncan, sole proprietor of a small local business for 25 years, past BTN Board Treasurer and Vice President
- Glenn Gregerson, College of Southern Nevada, Montroy Sign & Graphic Products
- Naomi Gruenthal, L.A., B.S, B.S., Community Services Project Planner at the City of Anaheim, past BTN Board President, Treasurer and Vice President
- John Kaiser, Ph.D. and M.S. Stanford, B.S. Virginia Tech, Retired University Professor and Aeronautical Engineer, past BTN Board President, and Vice President
- Robin Keber, Biologist, Avian Specialist
- Mary Pax Lenney, Ph.D., ArcGIS Specialist, College Professor
- Karen OBrien, Ph.D. University California San Diego and Irvine, Director (Theatre/Film/Video/Live Entertainment), Performance Creator & Content Creator/Curator, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- J. Mark Sugars, Ph.D. UC Irvine, B.S. and B.A. UC Irvine, past BTN Board President, Treasurer and Vice President.
- Gerald Tiritilli, Park Santiago Community Leader
- Craig Torres, Artist & Native American Educator. Past BTN Board Member
- Molly Varela, B.A Communications Advertising, CSUF
- Jean Watt, Non-profit Management and Leadership
- Lori Whalen, Lori Whalen, M.A. Cal State University Fullerton, B.S. Cal Poly Pomona, Past BTN Director of Education, Communication and Community Relations, Board Member
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Honorary Board of Directors
- Sandy DeSimone, Ph.D.
- Stephen Barker, Ph.D.*
*Nephew
of Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management and the U.S.
wilderness system. |
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