Forest Restoration and Seedlings of Hope

The Children’s Forest Great Seeds Restoration Program exists to restore remote and recreational sites that have been disturbed or denuded by fire, bark beetle infestation, erosion, and human impacts on the San Bernardino National Forest. The program was launched in 2005 and has quickly become a vital component of the ongoing restoration work on the San Bernardino National Forest.

With an arid climate and densely populated forest, the fire regime in Southern California’s mountains has been affected. Wildfires, a normal component of this ecosystem, have become dangerously large and destructive to both the forest and homes after decades of fire suppression. The 2007 firestorm across the SBNF destroyed over 450 homes and 28,000 acres of forest land. The result of these fires is a denuded landscape that is subject to massive erosion, landslides, and land in need of massive restoration efforts for re-growth.

The Children’s Forest Great Seeds Forest Restoration Program is working side-by-side with the Forest Service to grow and plant native shrubs and trees on these areas in need of reforestation.

Under the direction of Children’s Forest naturalists, US Forest Service Biologists and adult community mentors, youth volunteers and youth from the cities surrounding the San Bernardino National Forest are trained in a hands-on experiential environment to complete the necessary forest restoration on barren landscapes. This includes working at the Greenhouse and Tree Nursery facilities, participating in native plant workshops, and working at project sites to learn the complex components of restoration including native plant identification, seed collecting and propagation, project monitoring, care and evaluation.

Youth volunteers collect seed, propagate seeds, grow seedlings, care for greenhouse facilities, plant trees, remove invasive weeds, monitor and care for restoration sites, and maintain trails and recreation sites - completing restoration work from start to finish.

See our calendar of events to join Children’s Forest youth volunteers on a restoration work project.

For more information about our reforestation efforts, please call (909) 382-2600 x 2777.

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	Visitor Information Center Calendar of Events Environmental Education Forest Restoration Volunteers Partnerships and Donors Seedlings of Hope	Home \| Back Forest Restoration and Seedlings of Hope The Children’s Forest Great Seeds Restoration Program exists to restore remote and recreational sites that have been disturbed or denuded by fire, bark beetle infestation, erosion, and human impacts on the San Bernardino National Forest. The program was launched in 2005 and has quickly become a vital component of the ongoing restoration work on the San Bernardino National Forest. With an arid climate and densely populated forest, the fire regime in Southern California’s mountains has been affected. Wildfires, a normal component of this ecosystem, have become dangerously large and destructive to both the forest and homes after decades of fire suppression. The 2007 firestorm across the SBNF destroyed over 450 homes and 28,000 acres of forest land. The result of these fires is a denuded landscape that is subject to massive erosion, landslides, and land in need of massive restoration efforts for re-growth. The Children’s Forest Great Seeds Forest Restoration Program is working side-by-side with the Forest Service to grow and plant native shrubs and trees on these areas in need of reforestation. Under the direction of Children’s Forest naturalists, US Forest Service Biologists and adult community mentors, youth volunteers and youth from the cities surrounding the San Bernardino National Forest are trained in a hands-on experiential environment to complete the necessary forest restoration on barren landscapes. This includes working at the Greenhouse and Tree Nursery facilities, participating in native plant workshops, and working at project sites to learn the complex components of restoration including native plant identification, seed collecting and propagation, project monitoring, care and evaluation. Youth volunteers collect seed, propagate seeds, grow seedlings, care for greenhouse facilities, plant trees, remove invasive weeds, monitor and care for restoration sites, and maintain trails and recreation sites - completing restoration work from start to finish. See our calendar of events to join Children’s Forest youth volunteers on a restoration work project. For more information about our reforestation efforts, please call (909) 382-2600 x 2777.