Coastside Land Trust

The Coastside Land Trust acquires and cares for open spaces along the San Mateo County Coast. Our properties are open to the public and are permanently protected. Future goals are to complete the CA Coastal Trail through the greater Wavecrest area, and protect the remaining bluff top lands west of Hwy 1. Our community outreach includes youth education, webinars, workdays, workshops and walks. During the pandemic all of our educational events were virtual and are still accessible through our website. Please join us.

The Junior Land Stewards Program's mission is to connect students of the Cabrillo Unified School District with their local open spaces, and guide them in developing the environmental literacy skills and desire to become lifelong stewards of open space. The program features three main components: 1) Field work and stewardship projects in local open spaces 2) In class nature journaling lessons and science labs to connect with the local environment 3) a certificate ceremony and public presentation of student's achievements.

The program has expanded to include nature journaling workshops for 4th grade teachers as well as for the HMB High School students that volunteer as field guides for the program. 

JLSP Testimonials

“The Junior Land Stewards program opened up a new door of leadership and awareness for my kids. The program allowed students to be more present in their busy lives, stay curious about the world around them, tap into their creativity, and take pride and ownership of the beautiful place they call home. I am so grateful that a program like this exists on the Coastside!”      - Lauren Williamson, El Granada Elementary 4th grade teacher

“When I was in Junior Land Stewards I loved doing the field trips to Quarry Park because I loved seeing the beautiful flowers. I really suggest that you join the Junior Land Stewards to learn more about plants and our community”                                             - Jocelyn, El Granada Elementary 4th grade student

"The Junior Land Stewards program models how creativity and collaboration among community partners helps our youngest Coastsiders learn and grow while laying a foundation for a sustainable environment. It brings together local elementary and high school students, local public school teachers, and Coastside Land Trust volunteers, this program weaves together environmental science, literacy, and social-emotional learning into a one-of-a-kind community connection and interdisciplinary learning experience for all."
- Sophia Layne, Parent and CUSD school board representative

"We have seen the benefits of the preservation of open space on the San Mateo Coastside. The leadership of Coastside Land Trust (CLT) has been paramount in this effort. Because of CLT's work, many future generations will enjoy public access to our beautiful blufftops and local beaches. In order to help CLT continue this effort as we each pass on, we each have created a Legacy Gift. In this way, we have the satisfaction of knowing we have made a long term, positive impact on the creation of permanent open space on the Coastside."
- Jim Blanchard and Terry Sweeney, Half Moon Bay Residents

"As you know, the Bay Area has many wonderful NGOs and non-profits that facilitate learning for our children. I've enjoyed every trip I've taken over the years. But this ( Junior Land Stewards) curriculum was my favorite by far. It was a stroke of genius to bring the high schoolers in to work with 4th graders.... I so enjoyed watching them work together. I love that this curriculum took all that 4th grade curiosity, energy and respect of nature and directed it into an ethos of stewardship. ... I am certain that those experiences will remain with those students into their adulthood. So much that we know about global warming and environmental sciences can seem overwhelming but this field work taught us that we can make a difference and to do what we can."
-Mary, Fourth grade Junior Land Stewards chaperone

"Hi Haley, I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful workshops on nature journaling. Journaling is an old skill to me but nature journaling is new and I have really appreciated the opportunity to try things out myself before I was expected to teach that to children. I have also grown to love my nature journal and found that I was even keeping up with it over vacation! So I wanted to let you know how useful it's been for me personally and for me as a teacher in teaching it. We are considering having the same workshop at our school for all of our teachers it's since it's been so useful to Kathy and I. Thank you again, Sincerely, - Kaia Lindberg" (Farallone View Science Teacher)