Drawer BE, Los Altos CA 94023 (650) 968-4509 Preserving Redwood Lands Since 1900

December 6, 2007

(Los Altos, CA) - Sempervirens Fund has just sold the 17 acre Saddle Mountain property to California State Parks as an addition to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Located 6.5 miles southwest of Boulder Creek on Highway 236, Sempervirens has owned this property, a former motel and restaurant, since 1999.

Since 2001, the site [Known to visitors of this web site as "Sempervirens Preserve"- Ed.] has been leased to Exploring New Horizons (ENH) a nonprofit for-public-benefit corporation www.exploringnewhorizons.org specializing in environmental education and dedicated to enriching the lives of students through hands-on and activity-based learning. Brian Steen, Executive Director of the Fund stated, “This has been one of Sempervirens best projects ever. We were able to secure this property for future public use and provide a spot for thousands of students to learn first hand about the redwood forest environment. “

Over 10,000 sixth grade students have spent a week in residence learning about the redwood forests and taking field trips to other Santa Cruz County spots to learn about marine and other ecosystems. Tracey Weiss, Executive Director of Exploring New Horizons explained, “Exploring New Horizons has been incredibly fortunate to partner with some great people and organizations. We enjoyed our partnership with the Sempervirens Fund, and we are looking forward to the new relationship with State Parks to continue offering dynamic hands-on exploration of the natural world. Working with the staff of Big Basin Redwood State Park will increase the numerous teaching opportunities and provide a rich learning laboratory for our schools and students. “

With this sale, ENH will continue its environmental education activities for at least another five years thanks to the willingness of State Parks to continue the educational use of the property. Bill Dall, acting Superintendent of Santa Cruz District State Parks said: “We are very pleased to have this critically important property added to Big Basin Redwood State Park. The acquisition of the Saddle Mountain Camp by the Sempervirens Fund in partnership with California State Parks also contributes to the fact that ninety eight (98) % of the Big Basin watershed is now in public ownership. The future use and planning of this property will be part of the on-going General Plan Process for Big Basin Redwood State Park.

Sempervirens Fund, founded in 1900, is California’s oldest land conservancy. Its purpose has remained the same for over a century: “To preserve and protect the natural character of California's Santa Cruz Mountains and to encourage appropriate public enjoyment of this environment”