Acorns to Oaks

Clayton Getsinger gives a shot.

By Peak Design

Last year we launched Give a Shot to help connect photographers wanting to help environmental organizations with content creation. Creatives across the globe have been generously volunteering their time and talent to help a range of environmental causes and this year we'll be sharing more of the amazing work coming out of this platform.

First up: the talented Clayton Getsinger (@clayton_getsinger) who offered to shoot for the Napa County Resource Conservation District. The Napa RCD "empowers the community to voluntarily conserve, protect, and restore natural resources in a landscape that supports agriculture, urban areas, and wild lands." They provide technical assistance, educational programs, monitoring programs, and funding sources to help land managers meet their conservation goals. Clayton joined a Napa RCD field trip that was part of their Acorns to Oaks program. This program partners with landowners and schools to plant oak trees throughout Napa. Below, Clayton tells us a little more about the program and his experience.

The program benefits the landowners who receive land restoration and new plantings as well as the students who learn about ecology and conservation through hands-on field trips. This particular trip was a partnership between Napa County Resource Conservation District and Saddleback Cellars with funding provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy. Napa RCD organized acorn planting with a local high school science class on the property, which will grow over time into a beautiful oak tree reforestation site.

I wanted to work with this organization since I frequently work in Napa and really enjoy the natural space there. I thought working with Napa RCD would be a great opportunity to learn more about ecology and be a starting point for me to make a contribution to conservation in the area. It turned out to be a great learning experience and rewarding opportunity.