2019 has been an exciting year for 4 Elements Earth Education! The Bear Yuba Land Trust transferred The Burton Homestead (under the new name The Burton Educational Preserve) to our Organization, to serve as stewards of the land. We also acquired the East Coast nonprofit Children of the Earth Foundation, through the request of Tom Brown Jr., to further the vision of Grandfather Stalking Wolf and broaden our impact with youth across the country.
As caretakers, we are now responsible for doing our part in healing the land from the impact of gold mining and cattle ranching, and we need your support. Invest in restoring the Burton Educational Preserve with the Siakumne Tribe and make it a beautiful place to connect with nature for generations to come.
As caretakers, we are now responsible for doing our part in healing the land from the impact of gold mining and cattle ranching, and we need your support. Invest in restoring the Burton Educational Preserve with the Siakumne Tribe and make it a beautiful place to connect with nature for generations to come.
In 2020 4E put together a social justice statement and we are committed to serving Indigenous People's of Turtle Island and under-represented youth.
In the start of 2021 4E helped organize an Indigenous Perspectives and Teachings panel for the virtual Nature Connection Leadership Conference. 4E contributed Honorarium Gifts to Native Speakers, as we have done in the past for travel / lodging/ food for in-person events. This Fall we are inviting Native Elders and Tribal Leaders once again to the Siakumne's "Indigenous People's Days" and all expenses / travel / Lodging / Food , "Honorarium" will be supported through 4E.
If you want to support Indigenous Elders, Tribal Leaders, Ceremonial Helpers -- this is one way that your money can go to a good cause that really helps Traditional Native People to get to the Ceremonies and share with youth.
4E is also working on other collaborations with Tribes and Native Youth Groups, including our local Indian Education for Nevada Co Superintendent of Schools.
In the start of 2021 4E helped organize an Indigenous Perspectives and Teachings panel for the virtual Nature Connection Leadership Conference. 4E contributed Honorarium Gifts to Native Speakers, as we have done in the past for travel / lodging/ food for in-person events. This Fall we are inviting Native Elders and Tribal Leaders once again to the Siakumne's "Indigenous People's Days" and all expenses / travel / Lodging / Food , "Honorarium" will be supported through 4E.
If you want to support Indigenous Elders, Tribal Leaders, Ceremonial Helpers -- this is one way that your money can go to a good cause that really helps Traditional Native People to get to the Ceremonies and share with youth.
4E is also working on other collaborations with Tribes and Native Youth Groups, including our local Indian Education for Nevada Co Superintendent of Schools.
SCOT WOODLAND
Board Member & Former Instructor
Board Member & Former Instructor
Following a lifetime of epic adventures in human and wilderness cultures, Scot Woodland brings his passion for life and exploration to the 4EEE team. His extensive background in naturalist studies, animal and human tracking, wilderness living skills, disaster preparedness, organic agriculture, and masonry combine with a love for connecting with people and environment through storytelling, music, and inquiry. Tracking is one of his major skill sets that he loves to share with students. For him, tracking is all about cultivating awareness - employing the arts of observation, intuition and questioning to reveal the great mystery of nature in all its forms. Scot trained in tracking through many organizations, including: the Tracker School, Universal Tracking services, and Fernando Moriera’s Professional Tracking program. He is a certified level 3 tracker with the Cyber tracker program, and has been a leader on Nevada County’s Search and Rescue tracking team. Currently, Scot teaches youth and families through 4EEE's Fox Walker program.
Board of Directors
Tony Cervantes | President
Tony H. Cervantes (Chichimeca) has been working for over 45 years to protect and restore Indigenous relational constructs supportive of people, families, clans, Tribes, communities and Nations and the sacred relationship with the unseen world and all of Creation. Tony is retired from the State of California. After retirement he worked for Sierra Native Alliance and Shingle Springs Rancheria. He is trained in all White Bison, Positive Indian Parenting, Fatherhood/Motherhood is Sacred, Anger Manager and GONA curricula resulting in Cultural Revitalization, Leadership Development, Indigenous best practices, Wellbriety Community Development, Indigenous Addictions/Mental Health prevention/treatment and the Grieving Cycle. Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Systems, the Medicine Wheel and the behavioral components of addictions inform work focused on emotional, mental, physical, behavioral, social, volitional and economic wellness change. He currently lives with his partner Sara in Northern California’s mountains, has seven (6 bio) adult children and eight grandchildren. Tony enjoys being in nature and living sustainably, locally, organically, seasonally through perma-culture farming and wild harvesting medicine, cultural materials and food, road & mountain biking, kayaking, hiking & backpacking, hot springs, rivers and Indigenous ceremony. He and Sara currently provide workshops and farm 2.5 acres using perma-culture practices. They also provide consultant services, including with the California Conservation Corps Back County Crew Orientation training week. He deeply believes that living locally is key to bringing us closer to our original ancestors, tonantzin, ehecatl, atl and xieutecuhtli. "I remember drinking water directly from streams, rivers, creeks and seeing thousands of monarch butterflies in all stages of development at one place. What have we done?"
Tony H. Cervantes (Chichimeca) has been working for over 45 years to protect and restore Indigenous relational constructs supportive of people, families, clans, Tribes, communities and Nations and the sacred relationship with the unseen world and all of Creation. Tony is retired from the State of California. After retirement he worked for Sierra Native Alliance and Shingle Springs Rancheria. He is trained in all White Bison, Positive Indian Parenting, Fatherhood/Motherhood is Sacred, Anger Manager and GONA curricula resulting in Cultural Revitalization, Leadership Development, Indigenous best practices, Wellbriety Community Development, Indigenous Addictions/Mental Health prevention/treatment and the Grieving Cycle. Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Systems, the Medicine Wheel and the behavioral components of addictions inform work focused on emotional, mental, physical, behavioral, social, volitional and economic wellness change. He currently lives with his partner Sara in Northern California’s mountains, has seven (6 bio) adult children and eight grandchildren. Tony enjoys being in nature and living sustainably, locally, organically, seasonally through perma-culture farming and wild harvesting medicine, cultural materials and food, road & mountain biking, kayaking, hiking & backpacking, hot springs, rivers and Indigenous ceremony. He and Sara currently provide workshops and farm 2.5 acres using perma-culture practices. They also provide consultant services, including with the California Conservation Corps Back County Crew Orientation training week. He deeply believes that living locally is key to bringing us closer to our original ancestors, tonantzin, ehecatl, atl and xieutecuhtli. "I remember drinking water directly from streams, rivers, creeks and seeing thousands of monarch butterflies in all stages of development at one place. What have we done?"
Sandy Spurgeon
Background in Parks and Recreation and Real Estate: From 1980 to 1998, Sandy held various positions with the Tahoe City Parks and Recreation Department. From 81-98, she served as Director for the Agency. Managed all aspects of park and rec facilities and services for residents and visitors to North Lake Tahoe. Developed and managed operating and capital improvement budget based on annual goals and objectives and the District Capital Improvement Plan. Planned, coordinated and monitored facility and park projects (trails, public access, parks, buildings, signage, beach improvements stream restoration, environment enhancement projects. Develop request for proposals, negotiated contracts. Developed Revenue Resource Plan for Parks and Rec. Researched grant programs, prepared grant apps, monitored funding expenditures. Sandy has worked directly with multiple county, State and U.S. agencies including joint ventures and partnerships.
Past Board Experience
My background feels like an instrumental fit for both the delicate real estate negotiations 4EEE faces, and also my ability to help develop stronger processes and relationships within our community that will support 4EEE’s success from a programmatic and funding perspective.
Past Board Experience
- One Source Empowering Caregivers, Secretary and member
- Road Association, Secretary and Co-Chair
- Unity in the Gold Country, President, Secretary and member
My background feels like an instrumental fit for both the delicate real estate negotiations 4EEE faces, and also my ability to help develop stronger processes and relationships within our community that will support 4EEE’s success from a programmatic and funding perspective.
Alex Carney
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Don Ryberg
Don Ryberg, Siakumne Tribe, and Chairman of Tsi-Akim Maidu for 23 years.
Don Ryberg represents the Siakumne California Indigenous Tribe and having a voice in the how the land is stewarded and the preservation of his cultural ways. Only a half of a percent of his people; Siakumne survived the "Gold Rush" of this foothill region. Today Don, works daily on the land at Pata Panaka as part of his ancient responsibility as a steward of the land. Don is supportive in a working partnership with 4EEE, where youth can be in a "Native Village" site and learn directly from the land.
Don Ryberg represents the Siakumne California Indigenous Tribe and having a voice in the how the land is stewarded and the preservation of his cultural ways. Only a half of a percent of his people; Siakumne survived the "Gold Rush" of this foothill region. Today Don, works daily on the land at Pata Panaka as part of his ancient responsibility as a steward of the land. Don is supportive in a working partnership with 4EEE, where youth can be in a "Native Village" site and learn directly from the land.
Reinette Senum
Community activist, former Nevada City council member/ mayor with an extensive extreme outdoor adventure background.
Past Board Experience
Why are you interested in being a part of this board?
Facilitating the youth’s re-connection to our planet is critical for our future well-being. I clearly see, as an adult, how unhealthy society has become with our recent cultural and societal shift away from nature and our surrounding environment. I love to support 4EEE in giving our youth the same opportunities I had as a young adult – opportunities that ultimately allowed me to develop the critical skills necessary to survive a rapidly changing world.
Past Board Experience
- Alliance for a Post Petroleum Economy (APPLE) 2005 - Co-founder
- PowerUp-NC 2007 - Co-founder; fundraising & championing the APPLE Sustainability Center
- The Nevada City Farmers Market 2008 - Co-founder; original Market Manager
- The city-sanctioned Nevada City Sustainability Team 2009 – Founder/Chair, instrumental in the Commercial St. Boardwalk installation
- Nevada City City Council/Mayor 2008-12, 2016-2020
- Sierra Roots 2011 - Co-founder
- Hour Nevada County TimeBank 2015 - Founder, current administrator
Why are you interested in being a part of this board?
Facilitating the youth’s re-connection to our planet is critical for our future well-being. I clearly see, as an adult, how unhealthy society has become with our recent cultural and societal shift away from nature and our surrounding environment. I love to support 4EEE in giving our youth the same opportunities I had as a young adult – opportunities that ultimately allowed me to develop the critical skills necessary to survive a rapidly changing world.
Scot Woodland
Instructor for 4EEE for eight years; leadership role.
Why are you interested in being on the board?
I would help give the board the insight it needs to the day to day working of the staff and families and to advance our processes and policies in regards to our Instructors and program coordination. I have worked with Rick for 8 years and know his vision and can help guide the journey we are on.
Why are you interested in being on the board?
I would help give the board the insight it needs to the day to day working of the staff and families and to advance our processes and policies in regards to our Instructors and program coordination. I have worked with Rick for 8 years and know his vision and can help guide the journey we are on.
Michelle Margulies
Michelle is the owner of Accountability Pro, Inc. and has consulted for 4E on budget and financial best practices and processes, lending her accounting strengths and Quickbooks experience to benefit 4E operations and support our mission.
Past Board experience:
"I have had an interest in the Fox Walkers program for quite awhile. A friends' daughter has participated, and I was impressed with what she learned. I enjoy giving back to my community and supporting causes that empower and educate youth. Additionally, in my professional and personal life, I strive to surround myself with people who I find to be kind, authentic and positive, and this board has an abundance of people with those qualities."
Past Board experience:
- Nevada Union Debate Boosters Club
- Nevada City Elementary PTC
- Two Judicial campaigns
- One Sheriff campaign
- League of Women Voters
"I have had an interest in the Fox Walkers program for quite awhile. A friends' daughter has participated, and I was impressed with what she learned. I enjoy giving back to my community and supporting causes that empower and educate youth. Additionally, in my professional and personal life, I strive to surround myself with people who I find to be kind, authentic and positive, and this board has an abundance of people with those qualities."
Annie McCann
Juan Villarreal
Past 4EEE Board Chairperson. Passionate in re-education of the old ways with Native Children and Families of various economic means. Juan adds a deeper sense of validity to this Vision and an example of the non-native working together with native to create healing among different races. Retired Air Force Musician, Air Rescue Team, Graphic Designer, Welding Teacher, and Lipan Apache Tribal Artist .
Rick Berry
4EEE Executive Director, founder of 4EEE and Fox Walkers. Extensive training with Tom Brown, Jr., living with Gary Morris, and experience with multiple tracking / Earth Skills schools , plus years of wilderness skills/living. Prior Executive Director of Children of the Earth Foundation on the East Coast.
Advisory Council
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