LPFA - THE FOREST CARE PEOPLE

The LPFA is the official non-profit cooperating association for the Los Padres National Forest. LPFA Volunteers provide a number of needed services ranging from wilderness patrol to acting as site stewards for our precious heritage resources to helping us take care of our trails to providing interpretive and educational services at our visitor centers.

Mission

The LPFA's mission can be summed up in a few key words: awareness, education, interpretation, care, and volunteer spirit. As a cooperating support system for the Los Padres National Forest, we focus on the these key areas:
  • Education
  • Forest Care
  • Forest Information
  • Volunteer Services
  • Chapter Support
  • Sales Outlets
  • Organization

Organizational Levels

The LPFA is composed of two levels: the umbrella organization, which consists of the LPFA Board and support system for the local district chapters and the district chapters, which acts as the "operations" hubs to provide needed services such as forest care, educational programs and activities and environmental protection. Currently, the LPFA is going through a major transition from being an umbrella organization to a more decentralized organization utitlizing the umbrella/chapter concept described above. We hope to complete the transition over the next few months.

LPFA Board

The Board meets monthly at various forest locations. Currently, the Board is composed of "at large" members, though as we complete the transition there will be a shift to having some at large Board members and two representatives from each of the 5 forest districts. Once we complete the transition, Board meetings will be held quarterly, with the locations of each meeting rotating from district to district. The Board's responsibility is primarily to support activities at the chapter level. We do this through fund raising, sales and grants from various groups.

LPFA Chapters

The chapters are what we like to think of as the "operations" hubs of the LPFA. Local chapters meet monthly or every other month to plan trail projects, activities and other forest care programs. There are five district chapters (Santa Barbara, Santa Lucia, Ojai, Mount Pinos and Monterey. If you have an interest in serving either on the LPFA Board or attend any of the district chapter meetings, email us for more information about what's involved or how to attend.