Irvine Ranch Conservancy
  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate

Irvine Ranch Conservancy Staff Spotlight: Brian Hughes, Interpretive & Training Manager

1/9/2020

 
PictureBrian Hughes with a group of young adventurers
​Here at Irvine Ranch Conservancy, we are dedicated to not only protecting the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, but connecting people to the land as well. Our IRC-Certified Volunteers play a crucial role in helping people make these connections and teaching local residents the importance of preserving the Landmarks.
 
When someone signs up to become a certified volunteer, they are taken under the guidance of Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s Interpretive & Training Manager, Brian Hughes. Brian has been a part of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy team from the beginning. In June 2005, Brian was the first Field Naturalist hired by the Conservancy and has experienced the growth of the organization, as well as the volunteer program.

​“When I first began it was all about the place, just being out on the land, leading tours, and that's still high on the list, but over time, it's changed to be the people I get to interact with, the relationships I've built with both volunteers and public participants, getting to know them and share with them how spectacular and special this place is, to facilitate their connections to it,” said Hughes.
 
As the Conservancy’s Training Manager, Brian develops recreational and interpretive activities, onboards and trains volunteers and docents, leads public activities and events, and assists with website management. He came to IRC from Inside the Outdoors, where he was a naturalist and educator, but has worked in a variety of fields including retail management, residential construction and teaching. Brian has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Concordia University, Irvine, and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from Cal State Fullerton in Policy and Planning. He is also a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) and a Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP), national certifications for interpretive guidance and leadership.
 
Brian was drawn to Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s mission to preserve the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, which hold a special place in his heart.
 
“The former ranchland that is now the City of Irvine Open Space, Bommer and Shady Canyons especially, play a meaningful part of my own personal history and provided my initial connection to this place when I first moved to OC in the mid-1990s for college,” said Hughes. “They remain a favorite place for me. The views and the quality of habitat and trails provide a very immersive experience.”
 
He also enjoys the opportunity to interact with other nature lovers and watch the IRC volunteers grow as they make their way through the training program.
 
“I really enjoy the opportunity to contribute to their journey and their connection to the land,” said Hughes. “Our volunteers come with such a wide breadth of interests and experiences and to be able to direct that into a role that brings them fulfillment and creates meaningful experiences for them is extremely rewarding. I love hearing their stories about things they see and experience while out on the land. Watching someone come into our organization convinced they'll never ‘lead’ an activity and then witnessing their confidence grow and their desire to share increase, taking the docent class with me and then actually leading an activity brings me great joy.”
 
When Brian is not working and training volunteers, he enjoys hiking, biking, camping and fishing. He also loves spending time with his family and volunteering at his church. With his background in residential construction, Brian likes to share his skills while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. He can also be found dedicating his time to Giving Children Hope, which provides food and services for low-income residents in the area.
 
For more information about Irvine Ranch Conservancy and the public activities offered, visit LetsGoOutside.org. To learn more about the IRC-Certified Volunteer Program visit IRConservancy.org/volunteer.
Donald Wintz link
1/10/2020 01:50:33 pm

Brian inspires! Under his "leadership" you are inclined to "rise to the top". The Team at IRC is fortunate to have Brian for his Knowledge and Leadership skills.

Bruce Cheffer
1/10/2020 05:49:03 pm

I agree with Donald. Great IRC spotlight and it’s an honor to work with and collaborate with Brian!

Jerry Couchman
1/10/2020 07:02:59 pm

I have worked with and observed Brian and learned very much from him. He is knowledgeable, kind, and patient. Whatever Brian does, he does well.


Comments are closed.

    About

    Welcome to the Irvine Ranch Conservancy "News from the Field" blog. These articles are written by Conservancy staff about activities and projects in and near the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. 

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    Agua Chinon
    Baker Canyon
    Big Canyon
    Birds
    Black Star Canyon
    Bommer Canyon
    Buck Gully
    City Of Irvine
    City Of Newport Beach
    Crystal Cove
    Dripping Springs
    Equestrian
    Family Friendly
    Fire
    Fire Watch
    Fremont Canyon
    Grasslands
    Habitat Restoration
    Hicks Haul Road
    Hiking & Fitness
    Interpretive
    Invasive Plants
    Irvine Open Space Preserve
    Irvine Ranch Open Space
    Irvine Regional Park
    Laguna Coast
    Limestone Canyon
    Mesa Loop
    Mountain Biking
    Native Plant Nursery
    Native Plants
    Native Seed Farm
    Nighttime
    OC Parks
    OC Zoo
    O'Neill Regional Park
    Orchard Hills
    Peters Canyon Regional Park
    Quail Hill
    Red Rocks
    Round Canyon
    Safety
    San Joaquin
    Santiago Oaks Regional Park
    Stewardship
    The Sinks
    Tracking
    Trails
    Trail Work
    Upper Newport Bay
    Volunteers
    Weir Canyon
    Wilderness Access Day
    Wildflowers
    Wildlife

    RSS Feed

Irvine Ranch Conservancy  •  4727 Portola Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92620  •  714-508-4757  •  info@irconservancy.org

© 2016 Irvine Ranch Conservancy, All Rights Reserved.   Irvine Ranch Conservancy reserves all rights under copyright, including (without limitation) rights to photographs. No permission to copy or publish any portion of this web
site or any material posted on the website is granted without the express written permission of Irvine Ranch Conservancy. 
  • Home
    • Landmarks Blog
  • What We Do
    • Programs >
      • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
      • Wildfire Prevention
      • Community Engagement and Education
      • Invasive Species Control
      • Plant Materials
      • Monitoring and Research
      • Planning and Infrastructure
      • Volunteer Management
    • Where We Work
    • About Us >
      • Meet the Team
      • Our Partners
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donate