Fall Foliage, Cooling Nights

Join us in Bishop for this special course! The National Association for Interpretation (NAI), Certificate of Interpretive Guiding (CIG) course is designed for interpreters who regularly lead interpretive programs and would like to learn more about the fundamentals of interpretation. During this 32-hour course, you will participate in group activities, write a program outline, and deliver a 10-minute presentation on a topic of your choice.

A well-established Eastern Sierra tradition, ESIA's Annual Eastern Sierra History Conference seeks to enhance awareness, enrich knowledge, and generate recognition of the diverse and complex heritage of the Sierra Nevada region. 

Learn with like-hearted lovers of the Eastern Sierra, enjoy great food catered by Pupfish Cafe, which is included in the registration price, and enjoy the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains at Cerro Coso Community College, Bishop!

We have an incredible lineup this year! Below are a few of the presentations:

The Mine in the Sky: A history of the Pine Creek Tungsten Mine. Author Joe Kurtak will present the history of the Pine Creek Tungsten Mine. During its life, it was a major contributor to the economics of the Owens Valley as well as a national stockpile of critical and strategic metals. Joe will be offering a tour of the mine on Sunday, October 27.

Why is Grant Lake a Reservoir? Author and Historian Robert Marks, PhD, will share the history of Grant Lake and the drama behind the building of the first Grant Lake dam in 1915 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). This large fresh body of water is so important to LADWP.

The Life of Hans Georg. Author and Historian Dana Miller will focus on the acclaimed ski instructor who emigrated to the U.S. in 1937 and eventually started his Ski school at McGee Greek and Mammoth Lakes. He was close friends with Dave McCoy. 

Walking in Wilderness. Author and Historian Jamie Hinrichs, PhD, received her degree from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland) and her dissertation examined the intersection of walking and preservation in England and Scotland. Her presentation will be celebrating the anniversary year of the Wilderness Act (1964) and California Wilderness Act (1984), and how walking has shaped the wilderness ethics in the United States and Sierra Nevada region. 

Tickets are available at the link below.

The History Conference is a big part of our mission to:

Educate | Inspire | Explore

Offering two days of lectures and presentations from authoritative speakers, plus an educational field trip on the third day, the History Conference delivers extensive knowledge about the nature, culture, history, and economy of our region, deepening attendees' understanding of such topics as geology, mining, watersheds and hydrology, wildfire management, Native American wisdom and traditional ecological knowledge, tourism, and outdoor recreation, the legal protection of our public lands, and more.

Your generous sponsorship of the conference can help tremendously in offsetting costs so that ESIA can:

· Provide a modest honorarium to each speaker/presenter;

· Serve a locally catered breakfast and lunch to all attendees on days 1 & 2 of the conference;

· Continue to ensure state-of-the-art venue and audio/visual equipment rental;

· Promote the conference throughout the Western U.S. via traditional and social media; and

· Most importantly, offer tickets at an affordable price, especially to those with limited purchasing power: seniors and students. The History Conference is reasonably priced, with a regular adult 3-day ticket costing only $140. The reduced price for seniors is just $100, and for students, $50.

Please write to us at admin@esiaonline.org with "Interested in Sponsoring the History Conference" in your email subject line. Thank you. 

Special Rates for Conference attendees at Elms Motel | Downtown Bishop

If you are coming from out of town, the Elms Motel is offering special room rates from Oct. 24-27 at $125, $138, or $145 per night + tax for rooms with one queen bed, two full-size beds or two queen-size beds, respectively. Located just off Main Street at 233 E. Elm St., the Elms Motel is a charming bungalow-style motel with 19 non-smoking rooms that can accommodate up to 27 guests, has a gated entrance to beautiful Bishop City Park, and a private grassy picnic area with a communal barbecue for guests to use. For reservations, please call 1-800-848-9226. You must say you are coming to the "Eastern Sierra History Conference" and staying within the date range above to enjoy the discounted rates. For photos and more information, visit bishopelmsmotel.com.

In case you missed the 7th Annual Eastern Sierra Book Festival in July, click below to see The Pupfish Hero panel discussion.

In the video, Jeff Gabriel, executive director of ESIA, Joe Reidhead of Heritage Project Studio, and illustrator Susan Greenleaf, discuss the book project.

Latino Conservation Week is a nationwide initiative of the advocacy organization, Hispanic Access Foundation, and was created 11 years ago to support the Latino community getting into the outdoors and participating in activities to protect our natural resources.

Bishop’s combined Hispanic Heritage Month/Latino Conservation Week event will take place behind City Hall. It will be a FREE family event, featuring live music from internationally renowned Colombian cumbia group La Sonora Dinamita, dancing, food and drink vendors, community resources, and more! ESIA is playing a leading role in organizing this event and will be there!

Organizers are the City of Bishop and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, with assistance from the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau and the L.A. Department of Water and Power, and confirmed participation from Cerro Coso Community College, AltaOne Federal Credit Union, Friends of the Inyo, Whitebark Institute, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, INYO350, Sierra Club Range of Light Group, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Laws Railroad Museum & Historical Site, and Death Valley National Park.

Earth Gives Day is a dedicated event designed to boost support and amplify the impact of 501(c)(3) conservation and public lands protection organizations. By becoming an Earth Giver, you support dedicated teams who make a lasting impact to protect our planet. ESIA is participating In Earth Gives Day, fundraising to meet our many needs with your help. Your contribution makes a difference.

Did you know that only 2% of giving goes to environmental organizations? YOU can help change that!

The online giving portal, EarthGives.org, will go live on Friday, September 6th until Earth Gives Day on October 1st.

Want to get in on the fun of fundraising? It’s just a matter of setting up a personal fundraiser on Earth Gives to benefit ESIA. People in your network are more likely to give if YOU ask them to!

Here is an example of what a personal fundraiser for ESIA looks like. It’s fun! You set your own fundraising goal.

Here you will find step-by-step instructions for setting up your fundraising page.

If you have any questions, reach out to louis@esiaonline.org.

Create a Fundraiser or Simply Donate Below!

On Friday, Sept. 13, join the Inyo National Forest and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association for a special ceremony to dedicate the Discovery Trail at Schulman Grove to the late John Trees Louth, who served as the Manager of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest from 1992 to 2013, during a career with the U.S. Forest Service that spanned close to four decades.

All are welcome to attend either or both of the following activities:

• 3 pm – Come on a guided hike along the one-mile Discovery Trail at Schulman Grove and discover some of the wonders of the landscape that is home to the world’s oldest living trees, and learn why John was so passionate about introducing these wonders to visitors from all over the world.

• 4 pm – Gather outside the Schulman Grove Visitor Center for the formal dedication of the trail in John’s honor. We suggest that you bring a lawn chair or folding stool, sun and wind protection, and drinking water. Refreshments will be available after the ceremony.

An interpretive panel will be permanently displayed inside the Schulman Grove Visitor Center, describing John’s dedication and contributions to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest and his advocacy for the protection of the ancient trees.

This climbers festival is a 3-day event that includes clinics led by pro climbers and guides, the cutest crag dog contest, yoga classes, an artisan market and vendor village, stewardship opportunities, a silent auction to score deals on gear, delicious food, and free beer! This event raises money for the American Alpine Club and Bishop Area Climbers Coalition.

Frankie DeVine recently accepted their new role with ESIA as

Director of Retail!

Frankie has a diverse background in retail and business management. Frankie spent ten years as a multi-store manager for Starbucks, has enjoyed leadership roles at REI, and was a practice manager for veterinary clinics in their early career. Frankie takes pride in their ability to bring teams together to drive sales and accomplish goals. They are pleased to accept their new role with ESIA, they have been managing the Mammoth Lakes, Devils Postpile, and Hayden Cabin locations over the last year. When not working Frankie enjoys mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, skiing, and hiking with their partner and 14-year-old son. 

Check out our new website!

Learn about sage-grouse biology, collaborative conservation, and the development of the 2024 Bi-State Sage-Grouse Conservation Action Plan. Sign up using the button below for updates and notifications on the Bi-State sage-grouse or to join our Local Area Working Group Newsletter.

Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday!

Commemorative pins, stickers, and patches | Online Store