About Us

California Country excerpt: The Farm on Putah Creek

At the Center for Land-Based Learning, we believe that young people have the capacity to think critically, make positive decisions, work together and lead their communities. Our programs target high school students because:

• There are so few experience-based programs in agriculture and environmental sciences for this age group.
• The mid-teens are developmentally the appropriate time to instill skills that help students make positive, informed decisions about their futures.
• It's the right time to introduce students to the resources and practical information that encourages post-secondary studies related to environmental sustainability

CLBL Programs in California

• Use farms, ranches and natural ecosystems as educational laboratories for inner-city, suburban and rural high school students;
• Impart appreciation for where food comes from and knowledge about environmental stewardship;
• Connect students to their communities while developing leadership skills and the ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups.

Information for Funders

IRS Form 990-2005 — 2005-2006 fiscal year (PDF download)
IRS Form 990-2006 — 2006-2007 fiscal year (PDF download)
IRS Form 990–2007 — 2007-2008 fiscal year (PDF download)
IRS Form 990–2007 — 2008-2009 fiscal year (PDF download)

Click the logo above to view our GuideStar report.

Newsletters

• Fall 2009
• Winter 2008
• Spring 2008
• Fall 2007

Mission and Vision

Our mission is to inspire and motivate people of all ages, especially youth, to promote a healthy interplay between agriculture, nature, and society through their actions and as leaders in their communities.

The Center for Land-Based Learning envisions a world where there is meaningful appreciation and respect for our natural environment and for the land that produces our food and sustains our quality of life.

History

The Center for Land-Based Learning began as The FARMS Leadership Program, launched in 1993 by walnut farmer Craig McNamara.

Five high schools from Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, and Marin counties were selected to participate in the first FARMS program with a total of 30 students and six teachers.

Since then, we've initiated new FARMS Leadership Program sites across California, including sites in Orange and Sonoma counties, Riverside, the north state, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Fresno and Los Angeles.

In 2001, we formed the SLEWS Program by partnering with Audubon California's Landowner Stewardship Program, effectively doubling the number of students we served annually.

The result of this dramatic growth and increased demand led to the formation of FARMS Leadership, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in February, 2001. That same year, we moved to new headquarters at The Farm on Putah Creek in Winters, California.

In 2004, we changed our name to Center for Land-Based Learning to reflect our broader scope of programs. The Center continues to add new FARMS Leadership Program and SLEWS sites around California. At the Farm on Putah Creek we host tours, workshops and educational field days related to sustainable agriculture, natural resource conservation, and ecological restoration.

This growth (we now reach almost 2,000 students a year!) has been possible with partnerships and collaboration among schools, teachers, farmers and ranchers, universities and colleges, farm bureaus, resource conservation districts, and funding from local, state and federal sources.

SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS -- 2009-2010

CLBL honors and thanks all of its supporters. Our website lists corporate sponsors and public agencies and private nonprofits supporters as requested.