February 2025

This Month's Issue:

Woodstock Pizza Fundraiser & Social

Good Fire Weekend

Barber Yard Draft Environmental Impact Review

Procession of the Species

Join our Endangered Species Faire Committee

R.A.R.E Program

Tax Filing Resources

Woodstock Pizza Fundraiser & Social

Our last social hour at Ramble West Brewing was a blast, so we decided to have a pizza party downtown at Woodstock’s on Wednesday, February 12th from 12pm-9pm

Join us for a slice of to raise money to continue protecting the land, air, and water in Butte County and the surrounding regions through action, advocacy and education.

*Show the flier below before checkout and 20% of the proceeds will go to BEC

From 6 -7:30 pm, we will be having our monthly BEC social, so swing by and chat with BEC staff, Fellows, and inspiring community members. Spread the word!

*In order for us to receive this fundraising donation, we need to top at least $500 in sales, so tell your friends, family, co-workers, friendamies to eat at Woodstock’s February 12th!

Fundraiser is from 12pm - 9pm with a social hour in person at Woodstock’s 6pm

This one-of-a-kind "Good Fire Weekend" brings together multiple restoration organizations, tribal groups and other land stewards, combining educational and therapeutic offerings into one remarkable weekend-long experience.

The event combines hands-on experiential learning with prescribed pile burns, Indigenous cultural fire education, fire ecology nature walk, and nature therapy.

Day one includes opportunities for participants to gain practical knowledge on how to safely conduct pile burns while achieving essential objectives such as reducing wildfire risk and managing vegetation and natural resources. We will also explore the role of Indigenous cultural fire, learning how fire was historically used before colonization, its role in preserving biodiversity and promoting cultural resources, the consequences of fire suppression, and the modern challenges of a fire-deficit landscape. Participants will also be led through a fire ecology nature walk to learn about fire-adapted landscapes as well as the impact of the Camp fire on Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (BCEP) and how humans can support post-fire recovery.

Taking place at the beautiful Lake Concow Campground, day two of our Good Fire Weekend will provide inspirational, social, and educational experiences focusing on the importance of both cultural and beneficial fire, biodiversity, biochar and fire history in the Concow area. Local restoration-based nonprofits will also be sharing ecological resources. A healthy, homemade lunch will be available.

This weekend event creates a safe space for participants to ask questions, share experiences, build community connections, and repair their relationship with beneficial fire. The experience will culminate in a communal gathering featuring tamales, s’mores, and wild-crafted tea—a celebration of learning and connection. Sign up below for more information about this event.

Barber Yard Draft Environmental Impact Review (EIR)

Are you up to date on the latest development plans in the City of Chico? 

Barber Yard Environmental Impact Review (EIR) is now open, the public can comment on the environmental analysis of southwest Chico development plan.

We encourage all to get involved and comment on the EIR draft.Linked here.

Send your comments to mike.sawley@chicoca.gov by 5pm on Thursday, February 20th. 

On January 30th, Executive Director, Patrizia Hironimus, attended the Barber Yard Draft EIR Public Hearing at Chico City Council Chambers to comment on concerns regarding development and groundwater, wastewater, water contamination, detention ponds, soil contaminates, and our beautiful Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDE) including the Valley Oak forests.

BEC gained a new sustaining member that night, who later reached out saying,

"I attended a meeting this evening (Jan 30, 2025) at Chico City Council Chambers for the public to share comments to the Draft EIR for the Barber Yard development project. Patrizia H. was one of the public commenters and I was impressed with her concern regarding a variety of water issues. I still remember BEC as the largely volunteer-run recycling center on Cherry St where I would deposit all my recyclables during my undergrad years (1980-84). I am impressed by the growth of this organization."

At BEC, we continue to show up and advocate for sustainable growth measures that consider the climate impacts of urban development. If you appreciate the work we’re doing, and would like it continue, become a monthly donor to empower local advocacy efforts. 

Sign up to become a member and support our grassroots efforts today.

We need you now more than ever.

Endangered Species Faire 2025

This year the Endangered Species Faire will be held on Saturday, April 26, at the Chico City Plaza from 10am -3pm, with booths and tables featuring schools, environmental organizations, and other community groups with activities and information.

The Procession of Species street parade will begin at 10am on the corner of Salem and 3rd street and will culminate at the City Plaza. We are inviting all schools, service and arts organizations, businesses and nonprofits, as well as passionate individuals, to join us in the Procession of the Species.

We are eager to host over 200 children and groups that have amplified this event previously, as well as new particpants! We welcome any group who loves the Earth to participate in the Procession of the Species.

Use your imagination to show how your group loves the Earth. Here are some ideas for how you can participate in the parade:

• Puppets--large and small--papier mache/cardboard/fabric
• Giant puppets--one-person, two-person, three-person--Fish, birds, the sun, the moon, trees, rainbows
• Costumes: Butterflies, birds, lions, tigers, giraffes, flowers, trees, butterflies, snakes, insects
• Musical groups
• School bands (middle school, high school, college)
• Drumming groups--all ages
• Dance groups
• Gymnastic groups
• Bicycle groups--decorated bikes with signs -Keep the Earth Green: Ride a Bike.
• Bicycle individuals--bike costumes, streamers, bike puppets
• Signs with environmental messages: Protect Our Water
• Art: Ecologically themed banners, posters, streamers, wearable art, fabric art, collage
• Masks and “partial” costumes, like butterfly wings or a headpiece for a bird.

It is free to participate in the Procession of the Species, but we will need you to register, so we can create a parade lineup.

BECome a Friend of the Faire!

This wonderfully wild community event costs over $10,000 to organize and produce each year and we could not do it without the help of our generous community. BEC is humbly requesting your support to continue this unique and impactful Northern California tradition.



As we continue to see a rise in species and habitat loss, impacts from human overconsumption of natural resources, and anthropogenic climate change, it is imperative we continue our efforts to educate those who will become the next stewards of the earth.

Help BEC Plan the 2025 ESF

Help BEC Plan the Endangered Species Faire - Join our Committee!

If you have ever wondered what it takes to create a life size puppet, put together the Procession of the Species, engage the youth or spread the word about protecting endangered species, then join BEC in planning the Endangered Species Faire for 2025! 

We are looking for dedicated community volunteers and BEC members interested in being a part of the planning committee for the Endangered Species Faire. Committee members help repair puppets, secure vendors, raise funds, and spread the message of protecting our endangered species through our annual event, which is held every April in conjunction with Earth Day.

Please consider donating some of your time in helping us plan this large scale, staple community event for Butte County residents and beyond!

The first committee meeting will be Wednesday, February 5th at 5pm in person at the BEC Office or via zoom if you are unable to attend in person. *Zoom link will be sent separate

Recycling and Rubbish Education

Have you ever wondered if you could recycle all those Valentine’s Day candy wrappers? Are you unsure how to get rid of something like batteries? Well, there’s a website for that. On the Waste Management (WM) website, you can find answers to some, maybe all, of your recycling questions.

The WM Recycling 101 page is dedicated to educating the public on responsible recycling, from the basics to the nitty gritty.

If you are a teacher or parent, you can also sign up for a FREE landfill field trip to the Neal Road Recycling and Waste facility (BEC even pays for school bus fees) to see trash in action and that there really is no "away." Book your fieldtrip today to catch the Falconer and his Birds of Prey in action.

Email Morgan at rare@becnet.org to arrange a landfill field trip for free.

Tax Filing Resources

MyFreeTaxes.org is operated by United Ways of California, on behalf of and in partnership with our local United Way members.

MyFreeTaxes.org is a proven, community-trusted program and the central hub for California individuals and families to file taxes for free and claim the benefits of a growing number of tax credits offered at the state and federal level.

Butte Environmental Council recognizes the original occupants of what is now referred to as the Butte County area and the descendants who are still living here. They include:

Tyme Maidu Tribe-Berry Creek Reservation

Enterprise Rancheria

Mechoopda Indian Tribe

Mooretown Rancheria 

We acknowledge and are mindful that these first people have a special and sacred relationship with their ancestral lands and the waters that run through these lands, sustaining them for centuries. We strive to learn from their ways and to be considered by the tribes as allies to respect and steward resources in this life-giving place.

Support Butte Environmental Council!

BEC is a grassroots non-profit dedicated to protecting the health of our environment. Our work is made possible by people like you! Your contribution helps us plant trees, clean the creeks, and bring environmental education into the classroom.

BEC is a membership supported organization, we invite all interested parties to become a member today.

Consider becoming a Sustaining Member today for as little as $5/month.