Your Community Conservation Alliance

The Back Country Land Trust is a homegrown, nonprofit land conservancy, dedicated to preserving and enhancing natural, scenic, and cultural areas, working farmland, and watersheds that make San Diego's back country thrive.

BCLT purchases land from willing sellers, accepts donations of land that fit within our project priorities, and manages our conservation properties for all to enjoy as passive recreation areas.

New in 2009!

The Back Country Land Trust is looking forward to 2009 with hope and optimism. While 2008 held challenges locally, federally and globally we remain focused on the fact that times of great challenge are also times of great opportunity. They offer us a new space within which to create, encourage new modes of thought and compel each and every one of us, to move forward with our energy and intention clearly focused.

In November, 2008, our partners in the San Diego Roots sustainable food project, www.sandiegoroots.org , formed their own non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. We wish them every success as they move ahead on their valuable mission to create a network of small, local, organic farms; encourage a healthy, fresh, and sustainable food supply for the San Diego community and work sharing their vision and resources with students through the Terra Nova Garden at Morse High School.

BCLT is extremely grateful to the Anonymous Foundation for their generous funding of our expanded educational vision: Partnering Youth in the Stewardship & Conservation of Wright's Field. Our sincere appreciation to Mike Kelly of the Conservation Resource Network for promoting, mentoring, reviewing and nurturing this grant and its writer!

This funding will allow us to launch an expanded version of our middle school program, based on the exciting collaboration of educator Brendan Casey, his amazing students and entomologist Michael Klein. Our new program will incorporate more classrooms at Joan MacQueen Middle School in Alpine while adding student partners from sites in the Mountain Empire District as well. Utilizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) teaching principles, partnering students with professionals in scientific fields, placing cutting edge technologies in the hands of students and promoting collaborative learning environments, we hope to engage students in STEM fields while encouraging the next generation of conservationists.

This project includes a strong Service Learning component (www.nylc.org) and supports the Character Education Grant currently in place in both school districts. The timing aligns succinctly with the "new era of responsibility" and “the spirit of service” outlined in our President’s inaugural address.

Student-generated knowledge, data, artwork, and engagement assessments will be featured via our website and additional forums in local communities. We are excited to take the first steps on this project, so stay tuned and watch us grow!

Working with an annual operating budget of less than $100,000, BCLT does a lot with a little. Over the past 15 years, BCLT has brought almost $20 million in public and private philanthropy into East County, and protected nearly 5,000 acres of our critical natural and scenic lands.

With our focus on preserving the best of what's left for current and future generations, our ultimate goal is to connect people to land. Join us in celebrating San Diego's rural heritage.