Volunteer Spotlight: Women’s History Month

Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) and its partners (OC Parks, OCFA, Fire Watch, OCTA, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach) are always grateful for the dedicated volunteers who make our work possible. From leading community activities to supporting restoration, every contribution strengthens IRC’s mission in a meaningful way. 

In honor of Women’s History Month, IRC is proud to highlight just a few of the many incredible women who give their time, energy and expertise to caring for the native wildlands. These volunteers bring leadership, compassion and a genuine love for the land to everything they do.

Fran Howard

How long have you been a volunteer, and what drew you to volunteering?

I have been a volunteer in Orange County for approximately 16 years as a Docent. I have always loved the outdoors. When I moved back to California from Colorado, I started hiking at Laguna Canyon – first as a volunteer and then as a Docent. I then learned about IRC, joined the organization and completed Docent training at Saddleback. I have enjoyed exploring all the trails with IRC and have especially enjoyed supporting the Family Hikes programs.

Is there a particular outdoor space, trail, or natural area that feels meaningful to you or reflects your connection to the land?

My favorite Family Hike trails are Round Canyon and Black Star Canyon, which is now called Creek Trail. These trails are so close to an urban area, but once you start hiking, you’re in a whole new world of nature to see and enjoy.

What moments or memories stand out as especially meaningful in your volunteer journey?

I think the most special memory is seeing a child step onto the trail, take in the environment and nature around them, sometimes even spotting wildlife, and say, “Wow, this is so neat. I can’t wait to come back.”

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering but not sure where to start?

First, I explain the IRC program and how they can sign up for the volunteer program. Then I share the different ways they can support IRC, but most importantly, how they can enjoy sharing the outdoors with families.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, is there a woman in your life or someone you look up to in the world of conservation who has inspired your passion for working on the local wildlands?

I started with Laguna Canyon as a volunteer and then became a Docent. Betty Lee-Herbinson was working with Laguna Canyon and later with IRC. I saw how much she loved the outdoors and nature, and how committed she was to protecting our open spaces. She is still my mentor.

Kaitlyn Bleau

How long have you been a volunteer, and what drew you to volunteering? 

I have been volunteering with OC Parks for close to two years. I was in a big transitional period in my life and needed a community and an outlet to reconnect with myself and my passion for environmentalism. I found that through volunteering with OC Parks!

Is there a particular outdoor space, trail, or natural area that feels meaningful to you or reflects your connection to the land?

The nature garden hidden in the middle of Mile Square Regional Park is a place that’s special to me. Maybe I’m biased because it’s where I’ve spent the most time volunteering on restoration work over the last two years, but when I’m there, I feel the most present and connected to the space around me. I think there’s something symbolic about it being hidden away in the middle of the park. Often times people have no idea it’s there, so you really have to slow down and explore to find it.

What moments or memories stand out as especially meaningful in your volunteer journey?

When looking back at my volunteer journey, the most meaningful moments seem to be ones that were spent experiencing the wildlife that we have here in Orange County. While volunteering, I’ve seen mule deer, rattlesnakes, bats, turkey vultures, owls and SO many fascinating bugs! There’s so much to see. Getting out in the ‘wildness’ of Orange County is really a magical experience. 

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering but not sure where to start?

Getting started with volunteering is easy! Go to Letsgooutside.org and sign up as either a trained volunteer or a community volunteer. There are different events and volunteer opportunities to choose from so there’s really something for everyone; you can get dirty with restoration work or creative with an arts and crafts program at one of the nature centers. There’s so many options! 

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, is there a woman in your life or someone you look up to in the world of conservation who has inspired your passion for working on the local wildlands?

The women in my family have been the most inspirational to me and to my volunteer work with OC Parks. I used to spend time in the garden with my great‑grandmother, tending to the flowers and playing in the dirt and with the bugs. And with my mom, she always taught me to leave places and spaces better than I found them, so I’m really trying to carry that lesson into my time here on Earth. I want to leave the planet in a better place than when I arrived.

Karen Kedzie

How long have you been a volunteer, and what drew you to volunteering?  

I’ve been volunteering with the IRC for 10 full years and am just starting year 11. I was a public volunteer for the first year and then became a badged volunteer. I started volunteering after a corporate takeover and layoffs, as I wanted something I could do outdoors that would also let me meet new people.

Is there a particular outdoor space, trail, or natural area that feels meaningful to you or reflects your connection to the land?  

The Native Seed Farm is my place and, literally, my connection to the land. My first activity with IRC was at the farm, and I’ve never left. The vast majority of my volunteer hours are spent there. There’s so much life that you can see at the farm, from the plants, the birds, the bugs, the butterflies, and the bees – and sometimes even deer, bobcats and snakes. There’s always something to see and something to do, and I find it incredibly fulfilling to work alongside nature. Knowing that the results of our work lead to habitat restoration and enhancement makes every moment worthwhile.

What moments or memories stand out as especially meaningful in your volunteer journey? 

Every day at the farm has its own beauty, and you just need to take the time to see it! 

• There was a day when we were harvesting Graceful Buckwheat, an annual species, and when we were walking through the beds of plants, about waist‑high, we were disturbing the bugs living on them. When we looked up, we saw about a dozen dragonflies hovering above us, feasting on the bugs we had dislodged. 
• When harvesting Chia Sage, another annual wildflower, we often see a lot of birds. They perch on the plants and use the seed heads as their pantry. When we get close, they fly to another plant and resume snacking.
• The milkweed attracts a lot of tarantula hawks, a type of wasp. They’re beautiful, and they’re so focused on the milkweed that you can get close and really get a good look at them.
• Once in a while, you’ll be lucky enough to catch sight of a covey of quail or one of our roadrunners. 
• We do have snakes here, but we don’t see them as often as you might think – they really don’t want to be around us. We’re happy to have them, though, because they help control the rodent population, who love to go after our seeds.

As you work with the plants, you start to notice that each type of plant is its own little ecosystem, with its own bugs, pollinators, spiders and more. Many of the insects are the same color as the plant – their natural camouflage.

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering but not sure where to start? 

For someone thinking about volunteering, I’d say just jump it and try it.  The IRC makes it easy because you can volunteer as a public participant with no long-term commitment. If you find out that it just isn’t a good fit for you, there’s no problem.  But if you like it, you can always do more, go through the training, get some hours and see more opportunities open up for you. But, if you prefer, you can always stay as a public participant, sign up for activities and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Irvine Ranch National Natural Landmark.

For someone thinking about volunteering, I’d say just jump in and try it! IRC makes it easy because you can volunteer as a public participant with no long‑term commitment. If you find that it isn’t a good fit, there’s no problem, but if you like it, you can always do more like go through the training, get some hours and see new opportunities open up for you. Or, if you prefer, you can stay as a public participant, sign up for activities, and simply enjoy the sights and sounds of the Irvine Ranch National Natural Landmark.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, is there a woman in your life or someone you look up to in the world of conservation who has inspired your passion for working on the local wildlands? 

The woman that was running the Native Seed Farm when I first started volunteering, Rachel Lambert, is my inspiration. Ten years ago, Rachel was the one person at the farm all day, every day. She did everything, and she loved doing it. She welcomed everyone and made us feel like a big family that loved working with plants. I learned a lot from her and credit her with putting me on the road to becoming a badged volunteer and, ultimately, a Docent leading public events at the farm.

Lani Noreke

How long have you been a volunteer, and what drew you to volunteering?

I started volunteering with OC Parks, IRC and Fire Watch in 2022 when I moved back to Orange County after about 20 years in Sweden. I knew that volunteering was an excellent way to make friends since I’ve been volunteering with different organizations for most of my adult life.

Is there a particular outdoor space, trail, or natural area that feels meaningful to you or reflects your connection to the land?

I have a particular fondness for the Irvine Ranch Open Space Parks – Gypsum, Red Rock and Limestone – the ones that are managed access only.  I feel like coastal sage scrub is my native habitat, and quality habitat makes me happy. I do a lot of invasive plant removal, which has the double benefit of getting me out to some of my favorite places and allowing me to do what I can to preserve those special places.

What moments or memories stand out as especially meaningful in your volunteer journey?

Besides the lasting friendships I’ve formed, there’s been a variety of fantastic wildlife encounters. Plus I’m learning a lot about many different subjects. 

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering but not sure where to start?

Talk to the volunteers! There are so many different things we can do that there’s undoubtedly a role that’s a good fit for anyone. I started off wanting to help with hikes and habitat monitoring. I discovered that I also enjoy Fire Watch, backcountry patrol and invasive species removal. When I was injured and couldn’t hike, I began helping with arts and crafts programs, special events and at the Cooper Lab. It turned out that the Cooper Lab wasn’t a good fit for me, but I loved helping with the Fall‑O‑Ween and Holiday events at Heritage Hill.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, is there a woman in your life or someone you look up to in the world of conservation who has inspired your passion for working on the local wildlands?

There are a lot of inspiring women in conservation and even among my fellow volunteers. When I first started participating in LGO activities, I noticed that CJ Barton was a volunteer at many of my favorite activities. I already knew I wanted to become a volunteer too, but she encouraged me and became a good friend.

Della Lizer

How long have you been a volunteer, and what drew you to volunteering?

I began volunteering with the IRC in July 2002. On the suggestion of an adventure friend, I enrolled in a Naturalist Training course at Fullerton College in the spring of 2002. We wanted to learn more about the Orange County wildlands where we rode our bikes and hiked. I didn’t realize the class was a prerequisite for becoming a Docent. At the end of the course, active IRC volunteers shared their stories and encouraged us to get involved. Mountain Bike Docents were especially needed at the time. We both volunteered as Hiking and Mountain Bike Docents, as well as Land Stewards, to give back to the community and help inspire others to share our love of the wildlands. We’re both still volunteers 24 years later.

Is there a particular outdoor space, trail, or natural area that feels meaningful to you or reflects your connection to the land?

In Limestone Canyon, between the Cactus and Raptor trails, there’s a special curve in the trail that, for the past 24 years, speaks of peace and wildland diversity. Raptors and other birds call from the tree cover and deer, coyotes, bobcats, grey foxes and even mother mountain lions with their cubs travel along this portion of trail. I always stop at this curve to reflect and reconnect with the wild wonders.

What moments or memories stand out as especially meaningful in your volunteer journey?

It never gets old that each adventure is unique and special. Watching a nervous participant’s engagement change from low confidence to beaming smiles of accomplishment is amazing. That personal joy, along with hearing participants tell volunteers about how beautiful the trail is, brings so much happiness to the whole group. It’s extra special when a first‑time participant comes back to join us again and eventually becomes a volunteer themselves.

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering but not sure where to start?

First, I would like to say that we would love for you to join our volunteer team! The Let’sGoOutside.com website, where we all register for activities, has a volunteer section that offers a great deal of information and guidance on all types of opportunities, from one‑time, a‑few‑hours activities to more specialized trail work and land stewardship roles. I would encourage anyone interested to take a look and complete the interest form. The IRC/OC Parks staff will follow up with next steps.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, is there a woman in your life or someone you look up to in the world of conservation who has inspire. our passion for working on the local wildlands?

My initial inspiration comes from my father. His influence instilled in me a sense of wonder, awe, exploration and a deep love for all things wild. Adventures with him eventually led me to the wise and enthusiastic women who staffed and volunteered at wildland visitor centers, especially the ladies at the Mono Lake Visitor Center in California. Living in the harsh Eastern Sierra, they shared their knowledge, encouraged curiosity and exploration and, through their example, spoke humbly on behalf of all our wildlands. They provided the fuel and lit the fire that inspired me to do the same, including the wildlands close to home.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Countless women across IRC’s programs – trail guides, land stewards, restoration volunteers and fire watch participants – continue to inspire us with their commitment to protecting local wildlands. Their contributions help shape a stronger, more connected community and ensure these landscapes thrive for generations to come. Thank you for all that you do!