Partners and Sponsors
The Chautauqua doesn't organize itself! California State Parks and the Mono Lake Committee are the organizing partners who spend a significant amount of staff time to put together the program, manage registration, and run the event in June, among many other administrative tasks. Our supporting partners donate staff time and money to help us keep the festival afloat. Our sponsors are local businesses who donate a number of hotel rooms for our presenters or money to support general operations. We are very thankful for the support from our partners and sponsors!
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Organizing Partners
The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. The Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve was established to preserve the spectacular "tufa towers," calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. It also protects the lake surface itself as well as the wetlands and other sensitive habitat for the 1 - 2 million birds that feed and rest at Mono Lake each year.
The Mono Lake Committee is a non-profit citizens' group dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mono Basin ecosystem, educating the public about Mono Lake and the impacts on the environment of excessive water use, and promoting cooperative solutions that protect Mono Lake and meet real water needs without transferring environmental problems to other areas.
Supporting Partners
The Bodie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and public enjoyment of Bodie State Historic Park, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, and Grover Hot Springs State Park. Within these parks they strive to provide a consistent stream of funding to the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to provide for the stabilization of structures, conservation of artifacts, ongoing maintenance program, interpretation, and protection of natural resources.
Rooted in 135 acres of protected private land in California’s Mono Basin, the DeChambeau Creek Foundation cares for the land as founder Jan Simis did. The Foundation works to foster meaningful connection with place and one another through community investment, natural and cultural history education, conservation science, and the arts.
Eastern Sierra Audubon Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit chapter of the National Audubon Society whose mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. Eastern Sierra Audubon is "the little chapter that could...." They may be small, but they are proud of what they have been able to offer the community in events, education, conservation, collaboration and communication.
Partnering with the National Forests for over 40 years, the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate and inspire people about the Eastern Sierra public lands through high quality interpretive products and programs. ESIA operates outstanding bookstores, cooperates with public land management partners to operate successful visitor centers, and provides high quality interpretive programs, exhibits, and publications throughout the Eastern Sierra. They are financed by the sale of publications, a partnership fund and through philanthropic contributions.
Eastern Sierra Land Trust works with willing landowners to preserve vital lands in the Eastern Sierra region for their scenic, agricultural, natural, recreational, historical, and watershed values. They work to help families preserve their working farms and ranches in the face of pressures to subdivide their properties and to help landowners protect our region's critical habitats. They also work to offer the entire Eastern Sierra community, residents, and visitors the opportunity to connect with our treasured lands.
Founded in 1986, Friends of the Inyo is a Bishop, CA-based non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and stewardship of the public lands of the Eastern Sierra. The Eastside's scenic beauty, wild rivers, varied flora and fauna, and abundant opportunities for sustainable recreation are our business—and yours. Through a combination of outreach, education, and advocacy, together we can ensure that this remarkable place is preserved for future generations of people, plants, and animals.
The Inyo National Forest extends 165 miles near the California and Nevada border. It covers about 2 million acres, mostly on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Elevations range from 4,000' in the Owens Valley to 14,494' at Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Like all national forests, the Inyo is managed for ecosystem health and multiple uses, as directed by Congress. Although most visitors think of the forest for its recreation, the Inyo National Forest is also used for range, timber, minerals, watershed and habitat for fish and wildlife.
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Point Blue's mission is to conserve birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through science, partnerships, and outreach. They have been assessing changes in our environment and advancing conservation through bird and ecosystem studies since their founding as Point Reyes Bird Observatory in 1965.
Through the support of donors, Yosemite Conservancy provides grants and support to Yosemite National Park to help preserve and protect Yosemite today and for future generations. The work funded by Yosemite Conservancy is visible throughout the park, from trail rehabilitation to wildlife protection and habitat restoration.The Conservancy is dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience and providing a deeper connection to the park through outdoor programs, volunteering and wilderness services. Thanks to dedicated supporters, the Conservancy has provided more than $100 million in grants to Yosemite National Park.
Sponsors
The El Mono Motel & Latte Da Coffee Cafe [is] located in the heart of Lee Vining, California. We are a small family-run motel and coffee house. We offer travelers an experience that is a little off the beaten path, a respite that is uniquely Eastern Sierra. We start with good coffee beans and the spring-fed water of Lee Vining and combine it with a friendly atmosphere, and an explosion of flowers. Whether you're looking for good organic coffee, a break from your travels, or a comfortable room, we invite you to stop by.
Guadualito Birding Tours is a family-owned company with over two decades of birding experience. This tour is a unique bird watching adventure based out of the city of Cali, in the southwestern corner of the Colombian state of Valle del Cauca. During the eleven day tour, visitors will travel to four distinct areas known for their abundant and fascinating neotropical bird life. Enjoy home-cooked meals, local expertise, and a rich cross-cultural experience for an unforgettable long week.
Recent News
Space available in Chautauqua trips and programs
There is still space available in many of the wonderful trips and programs at the Twenty-first Annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua. If you haven’t yet registered, you can still put together a full itinerary of fascinating and fun events. To see which trips and programs still have space, check the available trips page.
If you have already registered be sure to take a close look at your confirmation email to make sure everything is as you expected—in particular, be sure to double check field trip selections for each person in your group. If you’d like to make any changes, please reply to this email or call (760) 647-6595.
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T-shirt pre-order deadline is May 15
Don’t miss out on the Twenty-first Annual Chautauqua T-shirt featuring a Calliope Hummingbird by Caro Nilsson. The deadline to pre-order T-shirts is May 15. If you’ve already completed registration but want to add more shirts, reach out to us via email and we can add them to your order.
Payment issues during registration
We are aware of a PayPal issue during registration that has prevented many registrants from paying. Please know that your trip requests are saved. You will receive instructions for how to pay your registration balance in the coming days. Thank you for your patience.
Donate to Experience Ambientalia during registration
We encourage your support for the Experience Ambientalia International Exchange Program during registration this year, an initiative launched by Fundación Líderes de Ansenuza and WSHRN in partnership with the Mono Lake Committee. This program seeks to better connect students to their home ecosystems, introduce them to sister saline lakes across the Western Hemisphere, and cultivate a sense of real-life environmental stewardship. Over the last seven months, students from Mono Lake and Laguna Mar Chiquita in Argentina have engaged in environmental conservation activities, leading up to an international exchange. From June 16th-24th, Argentinean students will visit Mono Lake, followed by Mono Lake students' trip to Laguna Mar Chiquita from July 15th-23rd. Your support would contribute to the educational growth and leadership development of young environmental stewards, and foster connections and understanding across communities.
The 2024 program is now online
Chautauqua organizers are planning for the 21st Annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua for June 21-23, 2024 in Lee Vining and the full program is now available online. Registration opens on April 15, 2024 at 6:30am Pacific.
