BECOME A MEMBER

Why Your Contribution is Critical

The Chaparral Institute is the only organization dedicated to protecting California's most extensive, and most misunderstood ecosystem - the chaparral. We do so by education, advocacy, and addressing the actual cause of the environmental problems we face today - a disconnection from Nature and from our wild, inner selves. Our most important battle now is our lawsuit to stop Cal Fire from logging, clearing, herbiciding, or burning our state's native shrublands under the guise of fire risk reduction. Please consider making a donation below to support our lawsuit to save what is left of wild Nature in California. Our message is universal: Nature is a wonderful place to enjoy life. Nature provides a path to discovering a more meaningful existence. Protect the Nature that surrounds you. Live Nature, love life.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, so your donations are tax-deductible.
Thank You!
Richard W. HalseyDirector
Some of the wonderful folks at the 2016 Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education conference with whom we shared our enthusiasm for the Chaparral!

Membership Levels and Benefits for first time Members

Student Naturalist $42: Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California Book (details below) Chaparralian $75: Above book, plus the USGS Living with Fire video Grizzly Bear $120: Above benefits, plus special Fremontia Chaparral Issue Manzanita $240: All the Above plus a signed photo of a beautiful chaparral landscape. Chaparral Guardian $600: All the Above plus a ticket to our annual Iconoclastic Explorers event.
If you would prefer to join the Chaparral Institute by mail, please download our Membership Form

Membership Benefits

Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California, second edition. This is the only readily available book that accurately describes California's most characteristic plant community, the chaparral. Topics include, chaparral ecology, botany, fire ecology, community fire protection, reconnecting with Nature, and a color identification section of the most common chaparral species. Please see Book Excerpts for additional information.
Special Issue: CHAPARRAL - In Fremontia, California Native Plant Society's journal.With beautiful color photographs and articles by experts in the field, this is an outstanding overview of the chaparral ecosystem. Topics include an overview of California chaparral, evolution of manzanita and ceanothus shrub species, chaparral fire ecology, chaparral geophytes, chaparral zonation in the Santa Monica Mountains and more.
“Living with Fire” DVD, from the USGS Southern California Wildfire Risk Project. Join Richard Halsey and other fire scientists as they explore the chaparral, discuss the fragile relationship chaparral has with fire, and why some communities burn and others don't. Running time: 22 minutes.This is the only full, original version available. After production, federal government officials edited out the science that did not agree with their policy objectives.