Friends of the Lost Coast

Friends of the Lost Coast Inspiring passion for nature since 2000 throughout the Lost Coast and beyond! Sharing our passion for the environment is what our programs are all about!

Our organization was founded by a group of community-minded nature lovers in 2000. In our 20+ years, we have grown from interpretation to include education, outreach, restoration projects, hikes, lectures and more! The mission of Friends of the Lost Coast is to inspire a passion for learning about, understanding and preserving the natural life of the Lost Coast in students, the local community an

d visitors. Vision: We envision a time when residents and visitors understand, value and appreciate the unique environment of the Lost Coast region and reflect this in their personal lives. The Lost Coast Education Center will soon open at the King Range National Conservation Area office, where we will offer tours of our native garden, lectures, workshops and school field trips. Funding: Funding for our programs comes from grants from the following: Humboldt Area Foundation, Conservation Lands Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, the Cereus Fund of the Trees Foundation, Coastal Commission Whale Tail program, the GraceUs Foundation and from Donors like you! We welcome private donations of any amount (please see the "Donate" section for details). Partners: As a "friends" group, FOLC works closely with the BLM. We are also part of the Conservation Lands Foundation Friends Grassroots Network and are a member of the Trees Foundation and the King Range Alliance. Board of Directors:
Cheryl Lisin (President)
Christina Huff (VP/Treasurer)
Tina Leskar (Secretary)
Carl Hansen
Ransom Reid
Beth Wells
Andy Barnett

Staff Members:
Taylor Faye Benedict (Environmental Education Coordinator)
Justin Crellin (Administrative Coordinator)

Get Involved! If you are interested in becoming involved with the FOLC, please contact us.
-Become a volunteer
-Make a private donation (tax deductible as we are a 501(c)3 organization)
-Help us educate: please share this page with your friends. As our goal is to provide education and information here, we're striving to reach as many people as possible. Learn all about Friends of the Lost Coast and sign up for our newsletter at our website: www.lostcoast.org
Details about the King Range National Conservation Area can be found at
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata/kingrange/index.html

Friends of the Lost Coast and our fellow partners in the King Range Alliance (Mattole Restoration Council, Sanctuary For...
06/09/2026

Friends of the Lost Coast and our fellow partners in the King Range Alliance (Mattole Restoration Council, Sanctuary Forest, Mattole Salmon Group) were recently awarded a 2026 Innovation Award! This biennial award was presented to us by the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) at the recent Friends Summit in Denver, in recognition of our innovative and forward-thinking approach to addressing current and future community-based problems and public lands challenges as they evolve. We couldn’t be more appreciative and humbled by the honor, as this was one of only 4 awards that were presented at this event! The other 2026 award winners were: Conservation Leadership – Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Advocate of the Year – Kim Garrison Means of Friends of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument and Friends Group of the Year – Grand Staircase Escalante Partners.

The larger Summit offered great speakers, panel discussions, and networking with over 150 in attendance, representing 54 of the 90+ Friends Groups in the Conservation Lands Foundation’s Friends Grassroots Network. On behalf of Friends of the Lost Coast and everyone in the King Range Alliance, many thanks to Conservation Lands Foundation for hosting the Summit and for acknowledging our innovative work with this award! And special thanks to Anna Rogers for sharing photos from our annual King Range Alliance retreat!

We’ve still got room for young campers ages 10-13 (and a few spaces for campers ages 7-9) at this year’s Summer Adventur...
06/07/2026

We’ve still got room for young campers ages 10-13 (and a few spaces for campers ages 7-9) at this year’s Summer Adventure Camp! Please see the schedule below for details! If you have a pre-teen or child in your life that you’d like to see unplug and reconnect with nature this summer, contact Michele Palazzo at 707-223-0112 or email [email protected].

Summer Camp runs from 10AM-4PM for six weeks, starting the week of June 22nd and ending the week of July 27th. Each day takes place at a new location throughout the greater southern Humboldt area from Richardson Grove, up to Rockefeller Forest on Avenue of the Giants, and all the way out to the ocean in Shelter Cove. A new outdoor adventure awaits daily, featuring activities like lawn games, daily journaling, swimming in the Mattole and Eel River, arts and crafts, hiking through redwoods, fort building, teambuilding exercises, and so much more!

A week of camp is $275 per camper, with scholarships available. If you are interested in making a donation to help sponsor a child’s summer camp experience, please consider donating at www.lostcoast.org/donate and make a note that your gift is for Summer Adventure Camp. Any amount is helpful and appreciated!

2026 Camp Schedule:
WEEK 1: 4-6 year olds, June 22nd-26th, 10AM-4PM (FULL)
WEEK 2: 7-9 year olds, June 29th-July 3rd, 10AM-4PM (FULL)
*WEEK 3: 10-13 year olds, July 6th-10th, 10AM-4PM
WEEK 4: 4-6 year olds, July 13th-17th, 10AM-4PM (FULL)
WEEK 5: 7-9 year olds, July 20-24th, 10AM-4PM
*WEEK 6: 10-13 year olds, July 27th-31st, 10AM-4PM
* Optional Friday-Saturday overnight available for a $50 fee.

Happy National Trails Day, an annual celebration dedicated to trail stewardship, outdoor accessibility, and community co...
06/06/2026

Happy National Trails Day, an annual celebration dedicated to trail stewardship, outdoor accessibility, and community connection! Organized by the American Hiking Society, it brings people together to volunteer, preserve local trails, and enjoy the outdoors – and for us on the Lost Coast, it’s a great reason to hit the trail and to celebrate our abundance of wild places.

On our Ecology of Mill Creek hike last Saturday, we explored the magical Mill Creek Forest area of King Range National Conservation Area with Otter Anderson & Veronica Yates, authors of the upcoming book, Plants of the Lost Coast; BLM ranger, Kacie Hallahan; and FOLC’s own native plant expert, Cheryl Lisin. Our group of 17 enjoyed a beautiful day and fascinating interpretation about the conservation history of this acquisition, BLM’s future trail planning in the area, and the diverse native plant species we encountered. Otter and Veronica shared their deep knowledge of plant families, evolutionary pathways, and the unlikely familial connections between seemingly very different plant species. They also shared a handout of their work to detail this complex evolutionary history and answered questions at nearly every switchback as we meandered our way through the forest.

And, if you’re looking for more Summer Hike Series fun this National Trails Day, don’t miss our next hike - Return to Gilham Butte on Sunday, June 14th! To RSVP, email [email protected]. Details on FOLC’s larger hike series can be found at www.lostcoast.org/news under recent posts. Happy trails indeed!

Welcome back to First Friday Phenology, FOLC’s almost-monthly social media series highlighting the adventures of the Los...
06/05/2026

Welcome back to First Friday Phenology, FOLC’s almost-monthly social media series highlighting the adventures of the Lost Coast Phenology Project in King Range National Conservation Area! A lot has transpired since our last report…

At our Black Sands Beach monitoring location in Shelter Cove, the pocket of poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) is fully leafed-out, showing variations of shimmering greens and strokes of earthy reds. Gone are the fruits that appeared after the early April flower show. The toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) canopy is bursting with flower buds and new leaf growth on the west and south, while the east and north facing sides are sparse in new growth and lacking enthusiasm. The red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) is now putting energy into developing its fruits, where bright pink flowers occurred during the early days of March.

Over at the Lost Coast Nature Center in Whitethorn, the mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii) flowers are lighting up the shade along the banks of Bridge Creek. They smell fantastic! Meanwhile, the hazel (Corylus cornuta) is forming its hazelnuts. They are fuzzy and have a pinkish tinge on the outside. Once the nuts inside ripen, the squirrels will most likely eat them. Lucky squirrels!

Many thanks to Lost Coast Phenology Project monitors, Linda Whitney and Cheryl Lisin for sharing these observations and photos. To learn more about this citizen-science program and how you can get involved as a home monitor, email [email protected].

06/05/2026

Discover something unexpected and learn about the hidden world of caterpillars on Saturday, June 13th from 12PM-3PM! With the help and support of the Humboldt County Office of Education, celebrate all things caterpillars at the Lost Coast Nature Center in Whitethorn. This free, family friendly event is anchored by a screening of the beautiful film, The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a new documentary by Jeff McKay.

The event also features Peter & Judy Haggard and Jane Monroe, local biologists and entomologists, who will speak and lead a caterpillar-themed garden exploration. BYO bugs from home for identification! Additionally, we’ll have caterpillar and butterfly themed crafts for kids and families throughout the day and 15 copies of the classic book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle to giveaway!

The event runs from 12PM-3PM, per the schedule below:
Noon – Event open + kid’s activities
12:30PM – Film screening – The Extraordinary Caterpillar
1:45PM – Lecture & garden exploration with Pete & Judy Haggard + Jane Monroe

Caterpillars are the engine of food webs. They feed birds, support pollinators, and keep ecosystems thriving. Bring out the whole family and don't miss this free, educational event for all ages at the Lost Coast Nature Center to learn more about the fascinating world of caterpillars! Thanks to the Humboldt County Office of Education for sponsoring this event and to Homegrown National Park for allowing us to license the film.

After a great hike to the rarely-visited top of Gilham Butte last summer, FOLC is teaming up once again with local lando...
06/03/2026

After a great hike to the rarely-visited top of Gilham Butte last summer, FOLC is teaming up once again with local landowner, John Miller, on Sunday, June 14th for this Return to Gilham Butte Hike! On this outing, we’ll get an exclusive tour of this special BLM holding via private access, high up in the Salmon Creek watershed. We’ll summit Gilham Butte (3050ft), experience the old-growth ridge-top forests of the holding’s Late Successional Reserve, and learn about local ecology and native plants from FOLC’s own Cheryl Lisin. The strenuous hike is approximately 4+ miles round trip starting at 9AM and going until around 4PM, with several steep sections and some off-trail walking. Space is limited – with advance registration required. For more information or to RSVP, email [email protected]

Next weekend is our double feature of art workshops in the native plant garden at the Lost Coast Nature Center in Whitet...
05/30/2026

Next weekend is our double feature of art workshops in the native plant garden at the Lost Coast Nature Center in Whitethorn! Kicking off weekend on Saturday, June 6th, Shelter Cove Arts & Recreation Foundation (SCARF) presents: Celebrating the California Poppy - a watercolor class featuring Darcie Maassen & Venessa Kay. The event runs from 1PM-4PM. Our Garden Director, Cheryl, will share insights into the CA poppy and the wonders of wildflowers that bring color and life to Lost Coast landscapes each spring. Attendees will also get a chance to create simple, sustainable art inspired by our local flora, the vibrant poppy, on eco-friendly tote bags using water-soluble ink blocks and brushes. Space is limited and expected to fill quickly! Pre-register by emailing [email protected] or calling (707) 223-4272.

The next day, Sunday June 7th, we will have two sessions (11AM-1:30PM and 2PM-4:30PM) of our annual Art In The Garden Workshop. Our 2026 theme is Free Flow Plein Air with Laci Dane. Join us for a free acrylic painting session set in our beautiful native plant garden! Laci will begin with a short tutorial on painting with acrylics on raw wood, demonstrating techniques to achieve a light, fluid effect similar to watercolor. After receiving a 7” x 11” wooden canvas to work on, you’ll choose your own spot in the garden and begin creating at your own pace. This is a deeply satisfying and therapeutic approach to painting, emphasizing the freedom of the creative process and the joy of the journey, rather than focusing on a final outcome. All painting supplies will be provided, however you are encouraged to bring a stand up easel of your own if you prefer to not work cross legged on the ground, and perhaps a pillow or chair to make yourself more comfortable! Space is limited and both sessions are expected to fill up quickly, so don’t delay in registering with [email protected]!

We hope to see you next weekend at the Lost Coast Nature Center for one or both days of creativity and fun!

Join Friends of the Lost Coast and BLM King Range for our regularly scheduled day of service and stewardship at Mal Coom...
05/28/2026

Join Friends of the Lost Coast and BLM King Range for our regularly scheduled day of service and stewardship at Mal Coombs Park in Shelter Cove from 10AM-1PM this Sunday, May 31st! Work will consist of weeding and planting in the native plant gardens surrounding the Cape Mendocino lighthouse, plus invasive plant removal in the larger area. Meet 10AM at Mal Coombs Park – 1176 Lower Pacific Dr. in Shelter Cove. A limited number of $10/hr youth stipends are available to ages 10-17, with preregistration. Bring your own water and a snack. Gloves and tools are provided! Heavy rain cancels. To RSVP or register for a youth stipend, email [email protected].

We’re less than 1 month away from the start of Summer Adventure Camp, one of our flagship education programs! Registrati...
05/27/2026

We’re less than 1 month away from the start of Summer Adventure Camp, one of our flagship education programs! Registration is open now and space is filling up quickly, so don’t wait to sign up a child in your life for a week (or two!) of camp. Weeks 1 and 4 for our youngest group of campers is full but we still have room for campers ages 7-9, and 10-13. Please see the schedule below for details!

Summer Camp runs from 10AM-4PM for six weeks, starting the week of June 22nd and ending the week of July 27th. Each day takes place at a new location throughout the greater southern Humboldt area from Richardson Grove, up to Rockefeller Forest on Avenue of the Giants, and all the way out to the ocean in Shelter Cove. A new outdoor adventure awaits daily, featuring activities like lawn games, daily journaling, swimming in the Mattole and Eel River, arts and crafts, hiking through redwoods, fort building, teambuilding exercises, and so much more!

A week of camp is $275 per camper, with scholarships available. To register a kid for camp, please contact Michele Palazzo at 707-223-0112 or email [email protected]. If you are interested in sponsoring a child’s summer camp experience, please consider donating at www.lostcoast.org/donate and make a note that your gift is for Summer Adventure Camp. Any amount is helpful and appreciated!

2026 Camp Schedule:
WEEK 1: 4-6 year olds, June 22nd-26th, 10AM-4PM (FULL)

WEEK 2: 7-9 year olds, June 29th-July 3rd, 10AM-4PM

WEEK 3*: 10-13 year olds, July 6th-10th, 10AM-4PM

WEEK 4: 4-6 year olds, July 13th-17th, 10AM-4PM (FULL)

WEEK 5: 7-9 year olds, July 20-24th, 10AM-4PM

WEEK 6*: 10-13 year olds, July 27th-31st, 10AM-4PM

* Optional Friday-Saturday overnight available for a $50 fee

Learn about art techniques in a beautiful outdoor setting at FOLC’s annual Art In The Garden Workshop on Sunday, June 7t...
05/22/2026

Learn about art techniques in a beautiful outdoor setting at FOLC’s annual Art In The Garden Workshop on Sunday, June 7th! A free opportunity to learn from professional artists, our 2026 theme is Free Flow Plein Air with Laci Dane. Join us for a free mini acrylic painting session set in the beautiful gardens at the Lost Coast Nature Center in Whitethorn. This year, we will be offering two sessions- one from 11AM-1:30PM and the other from 2PM-4:30PM. Each participant will receive one 7” x 11” wooden canvas to work on during this relaxing, open-air experience.

Laci will begin with a short tutorial on painting with acrylics on raw wood, demonstrating techniques to achieve a light, fluid effect similar to watercolor. From there, you’ll choose your own spot in the garden and begin creating at your own pace. The session will focus on abstract, soft color backgrounds—building layers gradually, much like a watercolor painting—before moving into more defined elements such as flowers or any foreground subjects you feel inspired to explore. This is a deeply satisfying and therapeutic approach to painting, emphasizing the freedom of the creative process and the joy of the journey, rather than focusing on a final outcome.

All painting supplies will be provided, however you are encouraged to bring a stand up easel of your own if you prefer to not work cross legged on the ground, and perhaps a pillow or chair to make yourself more comfortable! Space is limited and both sessions are expected to fill up quickly, so don’t delay in registering with [email protected].

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Whitethorn, CA

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