2016-05-13T16:02:04-07:00 2015-12-31 Chiorini Hunt & Jacobs 901 Center Street Santa Cruz CA 95060 990 2015-01-01 770532467 VENTANA WILDERNESS ALLIANCE VENT 8314233191 PO BOX 506 SANTA CRUZ CA 95061 David Jacobs TREASURER 2016-05-13 true David S Jacobs P01295992 8314233883 2015 2016-09-27 15:27:22Z 471940 false false X www.ventanawild.org X 2000 CA The mission of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance is to protect, preserve, and restore the wilderness qualities and biodiversity of the public lands within California's northern Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast. 7 7 4 275 0 529202 448550 0 527 2700 7211 9276 536940 460526 0 0 138309 162823 4490 0 18312 148314 173860 291113 336683 245827 123843 391446 516896 7752 9359 383694 507537 X The mission of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance is to protect, preserve, and restore the wilderness qualities and biodiversity of the public lands within California's northern Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast. false false 135047 263119 In 2015, the volunteer VWA Trail Crew donated 2,577 hours to maintain or reconstruct nearly 10 miles of trails, removing 334 fallen trees. Work was focused on (but not exclusive to) the Tassajara, Cone Peak and Silver Peak Trail Networks. In addition to volunteer efforts, VWA raised the necessary funding to hire and lead professional crews on extended trail restoration and maintenance hitches. The VWA also funded 4,966 professional trail crew hours. All told, VWA volunteer and contract trail crews made an in-kind contribution to public lands of nearly $178,000 in 2015. 74667 91081 Advocacy: The VWA advocated for wilderness values and ecologically-sensitive management of wild lands in the Ventana and Big Sur region by monitoring the US Forest Service Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA), attending planning and scoping meetings and making recommendations based on the best available science. The VWAs advocacy programs included efforts to expand wilderness and wild and scenic river designations, retire inappropriate grazing allotments, encourage enlightened wildfire management, identify and mitigate effects of wilderness incursions, educate the public about wilderness, and restore federal funding to critical public land agencies. 53506 80734 The VWAs Youth in Wildernesss educational programs are desperately needed by central coast youth. Monterey County ranks among the highest in the nation in teen violence; juvenile delinquency and gang violence are dominant forces in many local schools. Young people in urban areas often have minimal resources or opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. In 2015, the VWAs Youth in Wilderness program continued to fill this need and inspire future wilderness stewards by providing 18 wilderness adventures to 426 young people in the region. Leadership, gear and food for these expeditions was provided at no cost to participants or their schools. In 2015, program participants donated 1,304 hours of wilderness stewardship and received 2,052 hours of natural history education. 37238 34305 300458 true true false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 13 0 false 4 true false false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false false false false X 7 7 false false false false false false false false false false false true true false false false false false false false CA X Mike Splain 8314233191 PO Box 506 Santa Cruz CA 95061 Dennis Palm VICE PRESIDENT 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Betsy MacGowan Trail Crew Chie 10.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Greg Meyer Program Dir 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Tom Hopkins PRESIDENT 10.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 David Jacobs TREASURER 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 David Knapp DIRECTOR 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Al Budris DIRECTOR 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Maria Ferdin Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Mike Splain Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X 60083 0 0 60083 0 false false false 0 7289 441261 448550 0 2700 2700 0 0 0 0 20690 7289 11414 9276 9276 0 0 0 460526 11976 X 0 0 0 0 60083 51704 4713 3666 0 89562 71187 8925 9450 0 0 13178 10970 1066 1142 0 0 0 0 0 0 100272 98653 714 905 0 0 0 0 13124 11672 726 726 13876 13720 3 153 0 1316 1316 0 0 0 9678 9156 261 261 Printing and Publications 11963 10307 464 1192 SUPPLIES 7946 7148 577 221 Postage and Shipping 3478 2262 110 1106 Storage 3260 3260 8947 9103 354 -510 336683 300458 17913 18312 138097 32953 253349 473943 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10000 391446 516896 7752 9359 7752 9359 X 123491 149861 260203 357676 383694 507537 391446 516896 123843 X false false false X 273248 302768 232304 543454 448550 1800324 0 0 273248 302768 232304 543454 448550 1800324 0 1800324 609 412 243 527 2700 4491 0 0 1804815 0.99750 0.99810 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false 2015 ANNUAL GATHERING 16565 16565 WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL 11414 7289 4125 4500 6914 27979 7289 20690 4500 6914 11414 9276 Form 990, Part III, Line 4d: Other Program Services Description OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Volunteer Wilderness Ranger program - Since the federal government does not prioritize or properly fund the US Forest Service to manage wilderness, VWA stepped up to the challenge by creating a program that puts Volunteer Wilderness Rangers in the backcountry. Volunteers patrol the trails and camps and perform campsite maintenance while imparting fire safety and Leave No Trace information to the visiting public. In 2015, these Rangers donated 1,876 hours of service. They cleaned 264 camp sites and removed 285 pounds of trash while imparting Leave No Trace principles through direct contact with 2,021 visitors. All told, Volunteer Wilderness Rangers made an in-kind contribution to public lands of over $44,000 in 2015. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: The Ventana Wilderness Alliance enjoys widespread support from its dues-paying members and volunteers. The organization counted 899 members in Q4 of 2015. These supporters reside in virtually every corner of California as well as 23 other states. Over 270 different people volunteered in some capacity for VWA in 2015, some traveling great distances to support VWA programs and special events. VWA members and volunteers share a profound love for these amazing public lands and the opportunities they provide for recreation, solitude and the appreciation of native plants and animals. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process Tax return reviewed by at least two board members and two senior staff of the organization. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available Available to the public