May 2024
This Month's Issue:
Event Recap: The Endangered Species Faire
Action Alert! Neighborhood Habitat Certification Program
Eggs in the Classroom Fish Release
Make Time for a Monday Mixer
A RARE Opportunity
Love the Land Festival
Breathe Better Butte Fair
Rescheduled: Paradise Grazing Festival
Film Screening: "Pickaxe"
The Future of Butte County
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The Endangered Species Faire Was a Success! | |
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With over 900 in attendance and a parade that numbered in the hundreds, the 45th annual Endangered Species was one for the books.
It’s important to not lose sight of why we celebrate the Endangered Species Faire. It is our job to protect and defend the land as habitants of the Earth to conserve and advocate for all species. From raising awareness to making environmentally conscious choices in our daily lives, to educating one another, we can make a difference, together.
Event Recap:
- Live music from the Marsh and Bidwell Junior High Bands, Black Fong, the Chico Community Band, and the Chico Swing band.
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- Many people entered into our bike drawing, special thanks to Campus Bicycles and congratulations to the lucky winner, Dustin!
- Here's to saving the land, air, water, and creatures of the amazing planet which we call home.
- Last but not least thank you to our sponsors for helping make this event possible!
The Printed Image, Thrive Steam Enrichment, California Reptile Adventures & Rescue, California Health Collaborative, Campus Bicycles, California Climate Action Corps, WM, Klean Kanteen, Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, Butte County Local Food Network, Chico Creek Nature Center, Golden Valley Bank, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildflower Open Classroom, Pullins Cyclery, California Reptile Adventures and Rescue, Greenline Cycles, California Trout, Friends of Butte Creek, Deer Creek Resources, and Mr. Kopy.
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Action Alert! Neighborhood Habitat Certification Program
Altacal Audubon Society's Neighborhood Habitat Certification Program welcomes all residents of Butte, Glenn and Tehama County in conserving water resources and rebuilding wildlife corridors within our community.
This program describes what you as a homeowner can do to transform your yard into a natural, drought-tolerant California habitat. Here are some of the actions you can take are:
- Plant native, drought-resistant species
- Install native grasses and wildflower areas
- Avoid unnecessary outdoor lighting
For additional information about the Neighborhood Habitat Certification Program click here.
To find the comprehensive step-by-step instructions regarding the Neighborhood Habitat Certification Program, click here.
Every yard counts, and each yard lawn removed can be a refuge for countless plants and animals!
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Eggs in the Classroom Fish Release | |
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Did you see Butte Environmental Council’s Eggs in the Classroom made the newspaper?
On April 22, BEC along with 14 of our homeschoolers, released our 35 Steelhead back into the Feather River. This is BEC’s second fish release and it was a great success. Approximately 30 kids participated in the spring rearing of the Steelhead.
The children and their families learned about the Steelhead life cycle, climate change, the importance of beavers in our ecosystems, the 4 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot), and made puppets for the Endangered Species Faire.
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At the fish release the children who attended all got to release a fry that had been living in the BEC office, learn about Macro-invertebrates, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and make a trout hat to celebrate.
It has been extremely rewarding to educate future generations and their families about our native fish species, and furthering BEC’s mission to protect the land, air and water for Butte County.
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After all, International Compost Awareness Week is this month, and what better way to get involved than with one of our Monday Mixers.
For questions about Monday Mixers email sustainability@becnet.org
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Make Time for a Monday Mixer!
Do you have questions about compost? Are you curious about how to get your pile started?
Our Monday Mixers, held at Oak Way Community Garden, are a perfect opportunity to learn about compost and get your hands dirty. These hour-long workshops give you hands-on experience with turning, sifting, and creating compost piles.
Come learn something new, put love into the soil and meet like-minded members of a growing compost community!
Upcoming Monday Mixers:
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The Recycling and Rubbish Education (RARE) Program teaches the students of Butte County about the solid waste stream and the importance of the 4R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot!
The RARE program offers FREE 45-minute educational workshops to Butte County students (K-12), community groups, after-school programs, homeschool families, and/or clubs. Participants may choose a workshop focused on Recycling, Composting, or Auto Oil Recycling (for high school and college auto shop only).
RARE also coordinates Landfill Field Trips to the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility. Students will get a tour from the facility’s staff and learn about everything that goes into managing the waste stream.
All workshops include an interactive activity, such as a recycling game, worm meet-and-greet, or construction of a mini classroom worm bin.
Workshops are tailored to the students’ grade level, and are designed to be fun and engaging, while upholding Education & Environment Initiative (EEI) standards.
Meet with the the teacher of your child to book a FREE workshop here today!
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Partner Events and Local Activities | |
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Join the Camp Fire Restoration Project for the Love the Land Festival on May 11, from 10am- 4pm.
Visit them at 5696 Brookview Way for a Day of giving back through:
- Compost presentations
- Learning and sharing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (T.E.K)
- Arts, crafts and children's activities
Everyone will also be going home with a tree from the Fruit and Native Tree giveaway.
You can register for this event here.
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Come on down to E 20th Street Community Park for the Breathe Better Butte Fair on May 7 from 3-6pm.
This event, hosted by the Butte County Air Quality Management District, will teach attendees all they need to know about local air quality.
In addition to hearing from local agencies, attendees will be able to learn about new clean air grants and incentives, witness live demonstrations of zero-emission equipment and receive FREE tacos (while supplies last).
For more information on this event, visit www.butteairquality.com.
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Rescheduled: The Paradise Grazing Festival | | |
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The 3rd annual Paradise Grazing Festival has been rescheduled for June 2!
Poor weather lead to the event being postponed and ultimately rescheduled, with the hope that this new date will allow people and goats alike to stay dry.
Information will be publicized as it becomes available, so stay in tune with Butte Fire Safe Council’s Facebook for all things Grazing Festival related!
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Film Screening: "Pickaxe"
Join the Lost Sierra Forest Defense for their free, one-night showing of the classic eco-defense film "Pickaxe," at the Pageant Theater on May 9.
Doors will open at 6:30pm, with the film kicking off at 7pm.
The documentary is a classic eco-defense film, following the activists of the 1990s' that fought to protect the Old growth forests in Oregon's Willamette Nation Forest.
The Lost Sierra Forest Defense will also be promoting their Lost Sierra Action Camp, an event designed to inform and educate about the proposed logging of over 200,000 acres of the Plumas National Forest by the U.S. Forest service. Of the logging does take place, it will emit over 6 million tons of CO2 and see over $30 million in pesticides sprayed.
Donations are encouraged.
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Preparing for the Future of Butte County | |
The county wants to hear from you! They are asking county residents to share their priorities and join the conversation by taking this survey. Those who take the survey will be able to share their concerns, and your input will help the county determine what types of programs funding and resources will go toward. | |
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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
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Contact Us!
313 Walnut Street #140
Chico, CA 95928
530-891-6424
staff@becnet.org
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