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limits for our permit and the guided hikes. Thank you in advance. You can also join or renew using the RSVP form. 

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Calling all Members:​ You're Invited! 

Join our member community for an outdoor summer gathering with fellow members and friends as we share food, celebrate local environmental champions, and connect with the beauty of Bear Valley (and places you love)! 

What to Expect:

• Potluck Picnic Kicks off at 11:00 AM – We will provide self-service sandwich and drink stations, and ask members to bring side dishes (think salads of all kinds, desserts, etc.). Check in with our team and grab a nametag, then visit the sandwich station with refreshing drinks and place your potluck side on the table (please bring a serving tool and mark your items with your name so we can get them back to you). This is a zero-waste event, and we will provide dishes and cups, but feel free to bring your own. 

• Membership Meeting & Environmental Awards Ceremony at 12:30 PM – Includes a welcome from Executive Director, Ashley Eagle-Gibbs, member business and board elections, and our award ceremony, where we honor community individuals who have shown outstanding service to our coast and community. As a member of EAC, you will have the opportunity to vote for directors up for a new term, Kelli Petersen, and up for reelection, including Sarah Killingsworth and Patty Neubacher. Learn more about the board elections and awardees below!

• Mingle, Eat, and Connect 1:00 - 2:00 PM – Stick around to eat and get to know our team and other community members. 

• Limited Naturalist Hikes 1:30 - 3:30 PM

  • Stroll the Woodpecker Loop Trail with member and festival guide Jerry Coe. (1.5 miles round-trip)

  • Explore Bear Valley with EAC board director Sarah Killingsworth. (3 miles round-trip)

  • Meander up the Kule Loklo Trail and around the horse pasture with festival guide, Frank Binney. (1.5 miles round-trip)

We look forward to celebrating with you, our dedicated members, whose support makes our work possible! ​

Kellie Petersen is a new board director elected by the Board of Directors and up for member vote. She has been a resident of Marin County for over 25 years, was raised in the small farming community of Winters, California, and finds West Marin quite like the community of her childhood. Her professional career was in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, with a focus on early-stage clinical development of compounds to treat cancers and rare genetic disorders.  Kelli is a California Naturalist, volunteers with several conservation non-profits, in order to help create healthy ecosystems for native plants and native wildlife in West Marin. She recently served a 4-year term as Secretary of the Drakes Summit Road Association in Inverness.
“Creating and protecting healthy ecosystems is a passion of mine, therefore, I am thrilled to be on the Board, to work with the staff and the West Marin community in order to support the EAC mission on the protection of unique lands, water, and biodiversity in West Marin.”  - Kelli Petersen

Sarah Killingsworth is up for re-election. She is an award-winning wildlife conservation photographer, filmmaker, and writer, as well as an attorney and mediator. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, she has lived in the Bay Area for 30 years. She received her J.D. from Stanford Law School with distinction. She splits her time between Greenbrae and Inverness. She is a certified California Naturalist and the Program Coordinator for the Keeping it Wild Youth Education and Outreach Program at Project Coyote. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Coho Salmon Land Trust and recently served a four-year term as an elected Trustee of the Kentfield School District. She also leads workshops with Conservation Kids, a nonprofit engaging youth with environmental issues through photography. She has volunteered with several local nonprofit organizations, including in Wildcare’s bird room. Sarah’s photography and writing have been featured in local and national media, in print and online. A frequent public speaker, she is passionate about sharing the magic of our wilderness areas with children, both by bringing the wild into classrooms and by getting our youth outdoors to learn about their environment. Learn more at www.sarahkillingsworth.com or on Instagram @skwildlifephotos.
“I joined the EAC Board because I wanted to help protect the lands and wildlife I love. My family and I are part-time residents of Inverness, and it is such a special place at the convergence of the Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay State Park. As a wildlife photographer, I spend many hours in our wilderness areas, and every time I am in the parks, I see firsthand the negative impact of human activities. As a community, we can and should do better. Donating your time or money to EAC is a way to ensure the grandeur and beauty of West Marin is preserved for future generations, and we can continue to advocate for conservation and educate our future environmental leaders.” - Sarah Killingsworth

Patty Neubacher is up for re-election. She is a native Californian, Patty has lived in West Marin since 1986. She holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MBA from the University of California, Davis. Patty retired from the National Park Service after 33 years. Most recently, she served as Deputy Regional Director for the Pacific West Region, a region that includes the states of California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Hawaii as well as the territories of Guam, Saipan, and American Samoa. In addition to supervising park superintendents, she had programmatic responsibilities for Budget, Finance, Contracting, Information Technology, Facilities Management, and Human Resources. She is the recipient of the Department of Interior Meritorious Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award. Before working for the National Park Service, Patty worked as a grant administrator for Planned Parenthood of Northern California, Human Resources Director for a computer company, and Program Manager for an educational consulting firm. Patty currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Public Lands Conservancy and the Fund for People in Parks.
“I have a passion for the protection and preservation of special places. Fortunately, my career in the NPS allowed me to nourish that passion for many years.  But clearly, places don’t get more special than West Marin. It has extraordinary international ecological significance, and it’s also the place that I get to, gratefully, call home. Being on the EAC Board affords me a chance to contribute to the protection of West Marin’s exceptional resources and landscape. I’m honored for the opportunity to work with an effective organization like EAC, with a brilliant staff and a hardworking Board towards that end.“ - Patty Neubacher

Peter Behr Steward of the Land & Sea Award
Madeline Nieto-Hope

Madeline is a true champion of sustainability, whose diligence, creativity, and leadership have driven community change and coastal protection in West Marin for over three decades.

We recognize and celebrate her long-standing commitment to sustainability, impactful partnerships, zero waste, resilient local food systems, and youth education and mentorship. Her remarkable vision and deep-rooted community connections have brought together governing agencies, organizations, and individuals to improve systems that protect our coast and environment.

Through her work with Cleaner California Coast, her former leadership with EAC, and her creative efforts as an artist, Madeline has inspired change by reusing, repurposing, repairing, and upcycling items often destined for the landfill. She actively shares her passion for social and environmental transformation through hands-on community projects and by supporting local nonprofits with zero-waste tools, event supplies, and field expertise.

Madeline promotes a spirit of possibility and hope in every space she enters. Her tireless activism and deep care for both people and planet continue to leave a lasting legacy in West Marin and beyond.

"This is quite an award and such an honor to come from EAC. Thank you so much for recognizing the work that I do. It really means a lot to know that it is noticed."

Public Service Award
Nancy Scolari

Nancy is a true public servant whose unwavering commitment to protecting and restoring the environment has defined her career. For 25 years, she has served as the Executive Director of the Marin Resource Conservation District, where she has played a pivotal role in uniting environmental stewardship with the needs of working ranches.

Under her leadership, the District has become a model for how conservation can succeed on private lands. Nancy has fostered strong partnerships with landowners, funders, and the broader public to restore streams, reduce erosion, enhance water quality, and protect vital habitats. Her visionary approach has attracted private, local, state, and federal funding, support that has allowed the District to grow its professional team to include hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, and biologists.

Nancy’s tireless advocacy and trusted leadership were affirmed when Marin County voters overwhelmingly approved the extension of Measure A, a critical funding source for the District’s conservation programs. One of her highest priorities has been the recovery of anadromous fisheries in the Tomales Bay watershed. Thanks to her work and the efforts of the District team, many miles of West Marin streams have seen their riparian habitats restored, and the water quality of Tomales Bay has been meaningfully improved and protected. Nancy’s legacy is one of collaboration, innovation, and measurable environmental impact—an inspiring example of what dedicated public service can achieve.

“The mission of EAC is close to my heart, and I have deep respect for its work. I've been involved for years with the people and organizations who educate and protect these lands, and was delighted to be asked to be on the committee of the Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival.”

Volunteer of the Year Award
Ellen Thomas

Ellen Thomas was an invaluable member of the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival Committee, serving primarily as the Field Volunteer Coordinator with unwavering dedication and exceptional organizational skill. Her role was crucial in connecting field volunteers with guides for nearly 60 events—an effort that ensured smooth operations and a positive experience for participants and guides alike.

Now retired, Ellen brought a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to her volunteer work. As a California Naturalist and park docent, combined with her extensive administrative experience at esteemed institutions like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Disney’s ImageMovers Digital, and Lucasfilm, she approached her work with focus, precision, and care. Her contributions extended far beyond her main role. She also supported volunteer coordination during keynote speaker events and stepped in wherever help was needed, significantly expanding the festival's capacity to serve attendees.

Her attention to detail, proactive planning, and genuine connection with volunteers fostered a collaborative, supportive environment that reflected our organization’s values. Her dedication to environmental education, community engagement, and volunteerism truly exemplifies the spirit of stewardship at the heart of all our work.

"The Earth has always been giving so much to all of us, so I wanted to help in the movement of giving back, by helping take care of our coast." 

Next Generation Youth Advocacy Award
Cora Whelan

Cora, a 6th-grade student at Heartwood Charter School, recently completed a powerful service project as part of her class’s Knighting Project, a tradition in which each student selects a noble cause to support with their time, talent, and treasure. Students are encouraged to champion something meaningful to them, whether it’s an organization, a person, or a charitable effort.

After researching and learning about many organizations doing important work, Cora felt especially drawn to the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC). Her love for nature and deep appreciation for the land and waters of West Marin made supporting EAC a natural choice.

As part of her project, Cora organized a beach clean-up to directly protect the places she loves. But she didn’t stop there. She also launched a fundraising effort, rallying support from friends and family to raise $250 to benefit EAC’s mission of environmental protection and advocacy in the region.

Cora’s thoughtful, hands-on approach and genuine passion for the environment embody the spirit of stewardship we strive to cultivate in the community. We are honored she chose EAC as her noble cause and grateful for her efforts to protect West Marin’s natural beauty.