Anderson Design Group Interviews Channel Islands Park Foundation!
Pictured above: Arch Rock at Channel Islands National Park
As artists and wilderness explorers, our passion is to venture into the 63 American National Parks, photograph and document the wonder of these natural places, and share our enthusiasm for the parks by creating original, high-quality poster art for our 63 Illustrated National Parks Collection. In our travels, we’ve also developed an immense appreciation for national monuments, which inspired the American National Monuments and Natural Wonders collection.
The national parks and monuments were created to preserve America's natural beauty and cultural history, with each park representing a significant chapter in the great American story. Because we believe strongly in preserving the parks for future generations to enjoy, we're always looking for opportunities to support the conservancies, foundations, natural history associations, and friend groups that protect the parks.
To raise awareness for the important educational work, conservation, fundraising, youth involvement, and preservation activities taking place in the national parks and monuments of California, we took some time this week to sit down with Jessica Burnquist, Executive Director of Channel Islands Park Foundation.
But first, enjoy this reel of ADG's own adventure to Channel Islands National Park in 2020!
An Interview with Channel Islands Park Foundation
ADG: Thanks for sitting down with us, Jessica. Can you start by introducing us to Channel Islands Park Foundation? If you have an elevator pitch for what your group does, what would that be?
Jessica: Thanks for having me! The Channel Islands Park Foundation (CIPF) is the official philanthropic partner of Channel Islands National Park, acting as its dedicated Friends Group. We provide crucial funding for a wide range of park initiatives, from trail maintenance and engaging visitor programs to protecting endangered species and restoring historic sites like Scorpion Ranch. CIPF is a vital bridge, connecting those who cherish the islands with the resources the National Park Service needs to ensure their continued health and vibrancy.
Pictured below: Jessica Burnquist, Executive Director of Channel Islands Park Foundation
As we head into 2025, the Channel Islands Park Foundation is experiencing incredible momentum. We’ve welcomed new Board members with deep expertise in scaling both commercial and nonprofit organizations, positioning us for unprecedented growth. Additionally, I’m honored to step into the Foundation’s first-ever Executive Director role, marking a significant milestone for our mission!
Pictured below: Channel Islands Park Foundation Board of Directors
Adding to this momentum, we recently secured a $500,000 matching grant to support a new amphitheater, windmill restoration, and educational waysides at Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island. Our current and new partners are stepping up with an inspiring level of enthusiasm. We are passionate about our work—empowering park lovers to enjoy, protect, and preserve this national treasure for generations to come, one donation at a time.
ADG: Amazing intro! I saw on your website you support trail and campground improvement in the park. What’s an example of a project Channel Islands Park Foundation raised money for then implemented?
Jessica: We’re thrilled about having successfully funded and implemented the new Prisoners Harbor Campground on Santa Cruz Island, opening this April! Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the five wild islands in the park. It’s ideal for picnicking, hiking, kayaking, and camping. This spring, campers will have more options for spending time on the islands, and more experienced hikers might even opt to stay one night at the Scorpion Ranch campsite and hike the next day about thirteen miles to enjoy the new Prisoner’s site, or vice versa. It’s thrilling to be able to give island visitors more options for longer visits because there is an endless amount of wildlife to observe, from sea life to the loveable island foxes on Santa Cruz to sweeping vistas and groves that somehow take you back in time while immediately boosting your connection to the present. Time spent on the islands is value gained in countless ways.
This is a great time to mention our 5 to 50 Campaign. In five years, we’ll celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Channel Islands becoming a national park. A generous foundation has just provided a matching grant of up to $500,000 to build an amphitheater for park and community programming, restore a windmill to teach about sustainable land management and suppress fire danger on the islands, and create educational displays about the unique ranching history on Santa Cruz Island. We’ve officially launched our Scorpion Ranch Challenge–be sure to learn more at our website.
ADG: How did Channel Islands Park Foundation get its start? What’s the story behind the birth of your group?
Jessica: In 2005, Carol Pillsbury, the first manager of the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary, gathered together local Island enthusiasts and a pro bono attorney. With full support from the Channel Islands National Park Superintendent, the Chief of Interpretation, and the Chief of Cultural Resources, the 501(c)(3) was completed, and the grassroots organization was created in 2006. Since then, we have worked tirelessly so you have a special place to return to, and when you can’t return, your children can, and their children, too.
Pictured below: Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley with Channel Islands Park Foundation Board Chair Bob Schwartz and Executive Director Jessica Burnquist, gathered at the National Park Friends Alliance Conference
ADG: What types of projects does your group fundraise for each year? Do you get specific asks from the National Park Service for specific projects? What’s a good example of a project you helped fund that you’re especially proud of?
Jessica: We’re passionate about supporting various projects that help preserve and protect Channel Islands National Park! We focus on key areas like restoring island ecosystems, maintaining trails and campgrounds, and supporting critical conservation efforts yearly. We work closely with the National Park Service to identify the park's most pressing needs and ensure our fundraising efforts have the greatest impact. Many of these projects will be forwarded through our 5 to 50 campaign, including the Scorpion Ranch Restorations, for which we’ve procured a $500,000 matching grant.
ADG: Do you get specific asks from the National Park Service for specific projects?
Jessica: Absolutely! Our partnership with the National Park Service is essential. We meet regularly with their team to understand their priorities and learn about the specific projects they need support with. This collaborative approach ensures that our funds directly address the park's most critical needs, from large-scale restoration initiatives to more minor but equally important projects.
ADG: What’s a good example of a project you helped fund that you’re especially proud of?
Jessica: In addition to the additional campground at Prisoner’s Harbor, we're committed to and proud of our recent work to support biosecurity on the islands. Another project we are focused on in the 5 to 50 Campaign is a biosecurity station that will live in the harbor where visitors board the Island Packers ferries to travel to the islands. A biosecurity station with shoe disinfection is critical for preserving the Channel Islands' fragile ecosystem. Visitors can unknowingly carry invasive species like seeds, soil, and insects on their shoes, threatening the islands' unique plants and animals, including endangered species like the island fox. These new arrivals can disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem, outcompete native species, introduce diseases, and potentially cause irreversible damage to the islands' biodiversity. Disinfecting shoes is a simple but crucial step in protecting this special place for future generations.
And, hey, this might not be sexy, but at the end of 2024, we successfully assembled and distributed 15 rapid response kits to each island. These kits are vital tools in the fight against invasive species, helping to prevent the establishment of damaging populations, like rats, which can wreak havoc on the island's natural balance. It's a proactive approach to conservation, and we're thrilled to have played a role in protecting the islands. Ew, but also, yay!
Pictured below: Inspiration Point, a popular vista at the park
ADG: Those are great projects! We also read on your website that your group helps fund and manage research projects in the park. What would an example of such a research project be? And why are research projects in our national parks so important?
Jessica: Supporting research and conservation projects is a key part of our mission to protect Channel Islands National Park. For example, we partner with the National Park Service Plant Nursery and Garden Volunteers, who cultivate and replant native plants on the islands. We also support sales of these native plants to mainland communities, with all proceeds benefiting The Cloud Forest Project on Santa Rosa Island. This innovative project uses a fog collection system to help native plants and trees flourish. In the park's protected waters, we've also supported marine research efforts like kelp forest monitoring. These projects are vital for understanding and safeguarding the islands' unique ecosystems, providing the knowledge necessary to effectively manage these precious resources in the face of environmental changes and ensure their health for years and years.
ADG: Given the extensive list of projects your group is working on, how do you enlist the help of the community in these projects? Do you organize volunteers or put out calls for volunteers? Or is your role primarily one of fundraising for the park?
Jessica: As the inaugural Executive Director of the Channel Islands Park Foundation, I'm thrilled to build on our fundraising history for the park. I envision continuing this crucial and joyful work, growing our foundation's staff, and expanding our community engagement. We're currently looking for talented volunteers to assist with operations, administration, and events, so if you're passionate about the islands and have some time to share, we'd love to hear from you! This spring, we're also excited to launch new programming that will connect the community with the park in creative ways, offering arts-based workshops inspired by the islands' unique beauty and resources. It's an exciting time to be involved with the Channel Islands Park Foundation, and we're looking forward to sharing these new opportunities.
ADG: Your website mentions education. What’s an example of education-related programming that was made possible thanks to your group? Why is educating the public so important?
Jessica: Education is key to inspiring the next generation of park stewards, and we're proud to support programs that connect people with the wonders of Channel Islands National Park. One example we're particularly excited about is the "Return to Limuw (Santa Cruz Island)" program. This incredible program brings Chumash descendants back to their ancestral islands. During these events, visitors learn from Chumash tribal leaders and artisans and reconnect with their rich cultural heritage and way of life.
Looking ahead, we're also committed to supporting the park's arts programming, including an artist gallery and talk series. Art is a powerful way to connect people with the park's beauty and importance. Under the umbrella of our 5 to 50 campaign, we aim to fully fund an artist-in-residence program on the islands by the park's 50th anniversary in 2030. The opportunities to create an educational ripple effect from such a residency are limitless.
ADG: Looking to the future, what are the short-term and long-term goals for Channel Islands Park Foundation? Where do you guys see yourselves in 5 years? 10 years? What do you hope to be working on a decade from now?
Pictured below: Another iconic vista at Channel Islands National Park
Jessica: Looking to the future, the Channel Islands Park Foundation has some exciting short and long-term goals.
In the short term (the next five years), we'll focus on a few key priorities. These include strengthening our relationships with existing donors, reaching out to new supporters, and diversifying our funding streams.
Second, we're committed to expanding our community engagement. We want to create even more opportunities for people to connect with the park through educational programs, volunteer opportunities, or creative arts initiatives. Finally, we'll work to enhance our operational efficiency, ensuring that we use our resources wisely and maximize our impact.
Looking further ahead (10 years and beyond), we envision the Channel Islands Park Foundation as a leading force in supporting the park's long-term sustainability. We want to establish a robust endowment to provide consistent funding for critical programs and projects. We also aspire to be a recognized leader in park philanthropy, sharing best practices and inspiring other organizations to support our national treasures. Ultimately, our long-term goal is to ensure that Channel Islands National Park thrives for generations to come, where people can connect with nature, learn about its wonders, and be inspired to protect it. Join us!
ADG: What do you think about our Channel Islands National Park Art? Any designs we should add to our series? Any angles or views of Channel Islands that you feel should be represented in art?
Jessica: We are enthusiastic fans of the existing designs! Several certainly decorate my office at the Park Headquarters and at home. Portraying the islands as a whole seems like a daunting design task. There might be room to explore designs that center on native plants and animal species. The blooming Giant Coreopsis, Island Fox, Night Lizard, and Brown Pelicans come to mind.
ADG: Those are great suggestions! One last question, if there would be one thing about your group or about National Park conservation/restoration/education generally that you’d want the broader public to know, what would that be?
Jessica: If there's one thing we'd want the broader public to know about the Channel Islands Park Foundation and National Park conservation in general, it's this: National Parks aren't self-sustaining. They rely on the passion and generosity of partners, Friends Groups like ours, and people like you and me. The breathtaking landscapes of the islands, the incredible wildlife, the rich history – all of it needs our active support. Whether volunteering time, donating, or simply spreading the word about the importance of these protected places, every action, big or small, makes a difference.
We at the Channel Islands Park Foundation are both honored and dedicated to facilitating that support, acting as a bridge between those who love the park and the critical resources it needs. National Parks are a gift to all of us, and it's up to us to ensure they're here for future generations to enjoy.
ADG: Thanks so much for sitting down with us, Jessica. We learned so much about your group!
Jessica: Thanks for having me!
Pictured below: A view from one of the many hiking trails at the park
The Importance of Supporting National Park Foundations and Friend Groups
You can learn more about Channel Islands Park Foundation at their website. If you want to support their work, you can become a member or make a donation.
If you represent a natural history association, foundation, friend group, conservancy, or preservation association that works in any of the 63 American National Parks or the hundreds of national monuments and other NPS sites across the U.S., contact us today to set up an interview! Just email ren@andersondesigngroup.com.
In the meantime, we'll get back to creating vintage poster art of the national parks. Let's enjoy these beautiful, historic places and do our part to preserve them for future generations.
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
Pictured below: Valuable plant life that thrives in the park
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