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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm

Sanctuary Forest

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Sanctuary Forest

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Sanctuary Forest, Environmental conservation organisation, 315 Shelter Cove Road, Whitethorn, CA.

Sanctuary Forest is a non-profit land and water trust whose mission is to conserve the Mattole River watershed and surrounding areas for wildlife habitat and aesthetic, spiritual and intrinsic values, in cooperation with our diverse community.

10/07/2026

Big thanks to Friends of the Lost Coast for presenting the Natural Science Day event last Saturday, October 3 at the Garberville Town Square! This was the third year that FOLC brought together non-profits and public agencies in the name of science and education, with educational activities and good times galore! The SoHum community persevered through 100* heat and showed up to check out booths from BLM King Range, CA State Parks, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Sequoia Park Zoo, HumCo Office of Education, Friends of the Eel River, Sanctuary Forest, Trees Foundation, Friends of the Dunes, Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association, Eel River Recovery Project and Northern Mendocino Ecosystem Recovery Alliance, Astronomers of Humboldt, SoHum Society for Young Naturalists, Early Head Start, and more!

Sanctuary Forest’s booth asked youngsters to use their imagination, playdough and various vegetation to create a beaver dam in a bowl! We were impressed, as always, with the imagination and thought behind each tiny beaver dam. Thanks for playing, SoHum! See you next year! 🦫🌲

10/06/2026

The story of Luna and Julia Butterfly Hill continues to inspire people around the world. 🌲🦋💚

In Lyon, France, through December 19, an exhibit inspired by Julia's story shares that inspiration. Again and again we are reminded how important one person's actions can be, and how the energy of one special tree can shape the future.

A short film titled La Nuit du Papillon (The Night of the Butterfly), directed by Nadja Anane and produced by Deborah da Silva, brings the story of Julia Butterfly to life, and curator F***y Robin brings together 15 artists in an exhibition titled "Des faits comme defis" (Facts as challenges") whose works explore different forms of activism, our relationship with the living world and our ability to take action in the face of environmental challenges. Thank you to the Fondation Bullukian for hosting this heartfelt call for collective reflection. 🙏

10/01/2026

The Mattole River headwaters was measured yesterday, September 30, at our measuring site upstream of the bridge by Whitethorn Construction. It was found to be flowing at a rate of 0.39 cubic feet per second, or 174 gallons per minute. This flow is considered Critically Low. However, it is roughly 18 gallons per minute more than 1 month ago. This increase is due to the 2.35” of rain we received in September—base flows are still reflecting a bit of that precipitation. There is no rain in the forecast for the next 10 days for our area, though we are expected to receive a few inches by the end of October.

Today also marks the first day of the 2026-2027 Water Year. 💧🎉

09/30/2026

Join us this Saturday! 🌲🌱💚

Natural Science Day Returns to Garberville Town Square October 3

Celebrating environmental education and its intersection with science and the arts, Natural Science Day returns to the Garberville Town Square on Saturday, October 3 from 1pm-5pm. Organized by Friends of the Lost Coast, this showcase of the natural sciences features educational activities, informational displays, and nature art programming for all ages. FOLC’s Environmental Education Coordinator presents hands-on natural science lessons, alongside offerings from numerous non-profits and public agencies – all geared towards kids. Spanish translator on site. Concessions benefit Skyfish School/Briceland Learning Center. Visit lostcoast.org for more information and don’t miss Natural Science Day at the Garberville Town Square on Saturday, October 3.

2026 participants include:

Bureau of Land Management, King Range National Conservation Area

CA State Parks

Redwood Coast Energy Authority

Sequoia Park Zoo

Humboldt County Office of Education

Friends of the Eel River

Sanctuary Forest

Trees Foundation

Friends of the Dunes

Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association

Eel River Recovery Project & Northern Mendocino Ecosystem Recovery Alliance

Astronomers of Humboldt

SoHum Society for Young Naturalists

Early Head Start & more TBA

+ Phenology fun with Wild Ginger!

Nature Art Activities: Laci Dane + Venessa Kay & Darcie Maassen

Snacks & drinks to support Skyfish School & Briceland Learning Center

Email [email protected] for information.

This event is supported in part by Redwood Coast Energy Authority and a grant from the Ink People Center for the Arts, Humboldt Creative Alliance & Humboldt County’s Measure J.

09/16/2026

🙏🙏Thank you to everyone who came out for our Stacking Strategies: A Watershed-Wide Approach to Restoration Hike last Sat, Sep 12!

We explored several restoration projects we have completed in Vanauken Creek watershed:

🌲110-acre shaded fuel break/burn prep area
🌲40 acres of riparian forest thinning
💧2 lined ponds totaling 8 mil gallons of water storage for streamflow augmentation
🐟4,000-feet of instream restoration & habitat enhancement through the installation of log & boulder weirs and large wood loading
🥾and we discussed our current planning project for the future Whitethorn Community Forest!

❤️This was our first public tour since completing restoration projects on the property and much has transpired since our Save Van Arken Campaign begun in 2016! Thanks to all of our supporters, we are now able to say that the forest & our community has a decreased risk of wildfire spread, increased forest health, increased water availability for salmon and other aquatic creatures, and enhanced habitat through the dry season! We can’t wait for the next stage of implementing hiking, mountain biking and ADA trails for our community to be able to enjoy this special property!

If you’re interested in learning more, we will be hosting a Fungi Foray in Vanauken Creek this fall with the Humboldt Bay Mycological Society – email [email protected] to sign up! Date is TBA & attendees will be limited. We will be focusing on fungi, but we will also share info on these projects!

🙏Thank you to our funders: Wildlife Conservation Board, State Coastal Conservancy via Humboldt Resource Conservation District, CA Fish & Wildlife Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, Dept of Water Resources & the Urban & Multibenefit Drought Relief Program, Firedoll, Weeden & Grace Us Foundations

🙏Thank you to our subcontractors: Restoration Forestry, Edwards Excavation, Mattole Salmon Group, Greenwired, Emerald Technologies, Redwood Community Action Agency, Wildland Trails, Stillwater Sciences, Northpoint Consulting

09/10/2026

✨Join us for this very special ceremony in the headwaters of the Mattole River. Honoring those who have donated to Sanctuary Forest in the last year, and those who they have chosen to honor or memorialize, this ceremony of gratitude also honors nature, life, love, death, music and the joy of community. Anyone is welcome to join – but please RSVP as soon as possible so we can prepare enough refreshments and seats! Saturday, September 19, 6pm, Ancestor Grove. Please contact us for directions and more information: [email protected]. 🙏

09/07/2026

📣THIS WEEKEND! 📣

Join Sanctuary Forest on Saturday, September 12 for a tour of the Vanauken Community Forest Project titled “Stacking Strategies: A Watershed-Wide Approach to Restoration, led by Walker Wise, Tasha McKee and Cam Thompson. Participants will be introduced to Sanctuary Forest’s restoration work in the Vanauken Creek tributary of the Mattole River, including our streamflow augmentation ponds, instream habitat improvements, riparian forest thinning, upland shaded fuel break and plans for public access.

Meet at the Sanctuary Forest office in Whitethorn at 10 a.m.; the tour is estimated to end by 3 p.m. Bring lunch, plenty of water, dress in layers and wear sturdy hiking shoes. This hike will be moderate difficulty and will be a slow-moving tour of about 2 miles total, over uneven ground with some steep sections, with lots of time for discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to carpool. This hike is free of charge, though donations are gladly accepted and help Sanctuary Forest to offer this program year after year. For questions or to RSVP, email [email protected] or call (707)986-1087 x 9 #.

Support from volunteers and local businesses have made this program possible! Local businesses and individuals that have made generous contributions are: 101 Netlink, Blue Star Gas, Charlotte’s Perennial Gardens, Chautauqua Natural Foods, Fern & Find – Local Online Marketplace, Grandma LaVerne, Gyppo Ale Mill, Humboldt Redwood Company, J Cafe, Lost Coast Tree & Habitat, Madrone Realty, MerMaid Coastal Cleaning, Ned Harwood Construction, Randall Sand & Gravel, Redwood Properties, Ridgeline Farms, Seascape Property Maintenance, TOP Properties NorCal, Whitethorn Construction, Whitethorn Winery, Wyckoff’s Plumbing.

Address

315 Shelter Cove Road
Whitethorn, CA
95589

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17079861087

Website

http://www.sanctuaryforest.org/

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