STORIES FROM THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY
Sparking Wonder at Wind Wolves Preserve
Sherryl Clendenen, biologist and outdoor educator who worked for Wildlands from 1998 to 2015, Wind Wolves Preserve was the perfect venue to integrate science and history into the lives of local students in a way that made learning come alive. Learn what shaped her philosophy and guided her work at Wind Wolves Preserve, where she built the outdoor education program from the ground up.
Meet Carolina Ruiz, Naturalist and Nature’s Advocate
Carolina Ruiz, Outdoor Education Coordinator for The Wildlands Conservancy believes that personal experiences in nature are crucial for fostering environmental stewardship. Hands-on learning is a cornerstone of Wildlands’ outdoor education philosophy. By engaging children in direct experiences — such as guided hikes and interactions with local wildlife — Carolina helps them form lasting connections to the natural world.
Rewilding: A Pathway to Restoring Balance and Biodiversity
As we face the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, the concept of rewilding has emerged as a beacon of hope. Rewilding is a conservation strategy which involves restoring natural processes and reintroducing native species to their original habitats — it’s a transformative movement aimed at healing our planet. One of The Wildlands Conservancy’s most inspiring rewilding stories is the reintroduction of tule elk at Wind Wolves Preserve.
Wildlands Participates in College Corps Fellowship Program
The Wildlands Conservancy is proud to participate in College Corps, a statewide program launched in 2022, which provides meaningful work to college students in exchange for serving their community. Meet some of our most recent Fellows.
Meet Wind Wolves Preserve Manager, Daisy Carillo
Daisy Carillo has been with The Wildlands Conservancy for ten years. Currently, Daisy is the preserve manager for Wind Wolves Preserve. Consisting of 93,000 acres, the Preserve is nestled in a unique ecological region where the Transverse Ranges, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Mojave Desert and San Joaquin Valley influences converge.
California Mountain Lions: The Legends of California
Mountain lions are solitary and secretive animals, which is why most native Californians have never seen the elusive mountain lion in the wild. These cats are considered an ‘umbrella species’ for conservation, meaning that by preserving enough wilderness to support a stable mountain lion population, countless other plant and animal species that share its habitat also benefit.
Wildlands Works in Partnership with Local Community in Kern County
The Wildlands Conservancy is excited to continue our partnerships with two local organizations in Kern County — the Virginia and Alfred Harrell Foundation and Kern Family Health Care — to advance a shared vision in providing benefits to local communities while conserving wildlands.
Tule Elk at Wind Wolves Preserve
Tule elk are one of three subspecies of elk found in California, and are the smallest of all elk species in North America. In 1998, The Wildlands Conservancy coordinated with the California Department of Fish and Game to relocate tule elk to Wind Wolves Preserve.
Continue reading to learn more about what how The Wildlands Conservancy has successfully reintroduced this majestic species.