Hands on the Land

Join us to support the Hands on the Land Support Fund

Hands on the Land (HOTL) is a graduate-student-run student organization centered on connecting the Davis community to the local natural landscape by providing equitable access to the outdoors in a safe and inclusive environment. We focus on local restoration initiatives at McLaughlin Natural Reserve and Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, two of seven UC Davis natural Reserves, by facilitating zero-cost, monthly weekend trips for 20-30 students and community members. We are committed to keeping these trips free of cost. Gifts to our campaign will provide general support for Hands on the Land, including our current priorities of paying for transportation, food, and supplies and gear for our participants, and get more hands on the land!

Since its inception in 2021, Hands on the Land has led nearly 30 trips to UC Reserves with over 400 participants.

Our participants have shared:

“Getting involved in restoration is much more accessible than I thought.”

“I loved just getting out and working on the land and seeing the instant changes and effects of our efforts. I also loved the sense of community and supportive environment.”

By working on landscape renewal through repairing and restoring native ecosystems, preparing the land to be resilient to fire, and engaging in group activities that promote a sense of place, our work addresses large scale issues such as climate change through reimagining ecosystem functioning with small, local solutions. Utilizing community engagement and creative land management, we hope to restore functional landscapes and sustainable mindsets together.

Your support makes this possible!