Change is in the Air for ESIA this Fall!

EarthGives.org is a nationwide online fundraiser designed to boost support for and amplify the impact of 501(c)(3) conservation and public lands protection nonprofits like ESIA.

A BIG thanks to those "Earth Givers" who have donated since this campaign opened Sept. 6, to help us make a lasting impact in our corner of the world.

For those who have not yet given, please know that your charitable contribution will be used to support such programs as Climbing Rangers, Outdoor Education for Children and Youth, Alabama Hills Stewardship, Scholarships for

Students to attend the Eastern Sierra History Conference, the production of Spanish/English Outreach Materials, and more!

Please give before the online portal closes at midnight Oct. 1. Use the button below to go straight to ESIA'S fundraising page on Earth Gives. Also, check out the announcement that follows about matching funds for gifts of $50 or more made on Earth Gives Day Oct. 1, starting at 9 a.m. Up to 20 donations will be matched. This is a great way to make your donation double!

Thank you!

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. 

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.

Learn with like-hearted lovers of the Eastern Sierra, sample 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!

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

Educate | Inspire | Explore

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@sierraforever.org with "Interested in Sponsoring the History Conference" in your email subject line. Thank you! 

Interpreters connect visitors to important natural, cultural, and historical resources at parks, nature centers, historical sites, aquariums, zoos, and anywhere that people come to learn about places. 

Is this you?

Do you like to inform others about the natural and cultural richness of the area where you live? Do you have a passion for spiking others' curiosity about the world by sharing what you know?

Then, 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.

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.

On Friday, Sept. 13, the Inyo National Forest and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association held 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.

ESIA Board Chair Don Chambers joined Staff at the ceremony, took the photos immediately above and below this narrative, and delivered a few words. He said the ceremony began with attendees walking to the starting point of the Discovery Trail, where Inyo National Forest Supervisor Lesley Yen delivered the dedication. Then everyone made their way to the Visitor Center where several people spoke. Don provided an introduction to ESIA and our work, offered some historical information, and talked about his experiences as the US Forest Service Naturalist in the summers of 1974 and 1975. At the time, he said, the Visitor Center was just a trailer at Schulman Drive, and he lived in a trailer on the hill behind the current Visitor Center. Others shared experiences inspired by John's work, the majesty of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, or both. Standing at left facing the audience in the photo below is John's widow, Nancy Upham.

The City of Bishop and ESIA-led Hispanic Heritage Month/Latino Conservation Week event on September 14, far exceeded everyone's expectations. By some estimates, between 600 and 700 community members came to the free downtown resource fair and celebration to learn about community services available to them in English and Spanish, enjoy tasty food from local vendors, purchase arts and crafts, and dance to live music.

The joy and goodwill from all who were present was palpable, and many nonprofit community partners have expressed an interest in participating again in 2025. ESIA gave out plenty of information in English and Spanish, with our most popular item among kids and their parents and grandparents being our new Sierra Forever coloring sheets. Please keep scrolling to see that you can download it in pdf format to print and give out to kids you know.

Below the coloring sheet is a copy of the Latino Conservation Week Proclamation Mayor Jose Garcia presented to us during the Sept. 9 City Council Meeting, just days before the event.

ESIA's First English/Spanish Book Offerings for Kids!

Your Niños Will Learn About Nature in English and en Español! | Online Store