Education
Cornerstone
Education is one of the three cornerstones of BCHC. Through education we encourage members and the public to improve and promote the use, care and development of trails, campsites, streams and meadows, and to advocate good trail manners.
Alerts
BCHC State Education Committee
The State Education Committee acts under the authority of the BCHC State Board of Directors with a Vice President (or Co-Vice Presidents) elected by the BCHC State Board. The State Education Committee is made up of one delegate from each BCHC unit. The committee is responsible for gathering, organizing and producing educational materials. These materials are to be used by the units and their Education Committees to plan and conduct educational programs.
The State Education Committee is also responsible for the education component of the annual Rendezvous and manages the Wilderness Rider/ Master of Leave No Trace Program. For more information, please contact either one of the BCHC Co-Vice Presidents of Education.
State Education Steering Committee
The BCHC State Education Steering Committee is responsible for overseeing the gathering, organizing and producing of educational materials to be used by BCHC, its units and unit Education Chairpersons.
The State Education Steering Committee is comprised of the Co-Vice Presidents of Education, the Vice Chairman of Education (appointed by the Vice President or Co-Vice Presidents of Education from existing Education Steering Committee members), and four members of the Education Committee. It is preferred that Education Steering Committee members are, or have been, a unit Education Chair, a Wilderness Rider, or a Master of LNT. New Education Steering Committee members are selected via an application process by the VP of Education and existing members of the State Education Steering Committee. Education Steering Committee members serve two-year terms.
For more information about BCHC’s Education committees and how you can be involved, contact one of the BCHC Co-VPs of Education Co-VP of Ed. 1 OR Co-VP of Ed. 2.
Flyers
Wilderness Riders
BCHC’s Wilderness Rider program is a partnership between Backcountry Horsemen of California, the National Park Service, the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
Wilderness Riders are trained stock users who have made a commitment to educating others about the value of wild lands and the importance of Gentle Use / Leave No Trace Skills.
Leave No Trace
Backcountry Horsemen of California believes that the wilderness and any public land should be left the same – or better – than you found it. BCHC provides educational events and information to members and the public. The objectives of Leave No Trace (LNT) and BCHC’s “Gentle Use” program aligned well. The two organizations have partnered together since 2011.
Visit the Leave No Trace page or contact the Wilderness Rider/Master of Leave No Trace Steering Committee for more information.
For more information about BCHC’s Education Programs and how you can be involved, contact one of the BCHC Co-VPs of Education Co-VP of Ed. 1 OR Co-VP of Ed. 2.
Education Awards
The education efforts of individuals and units throughout the state are deserving of special recognition. Education is a cornerstone and integral part of the organization’s purpose.
Individuals and units who go the extra mile in their education efforts should be rewarded. The Backcountry Horsemen of California are proud to sponsor annual awards given to the outstanding individual and the outstanding unit for their education programs. The awards program is as follows:
A letter and the nominating form will be sent to all Unit Presidents and Education Chairs two months prior to Rendezvous along with the nominating form.
An awards committee will make the selection. This committee will be made up of three individuals from the BCHC Education Committee, selected at random.
The nominations will be submitted to the Education Steering Committee by February 1st.
The awards will be presented at the Rendezvous.
Selection Criteria for the awards is:
Individual Award
- Someone who has demonstrated unique, creative, and innovative education programs.
- Someone who has used different methods or made a variety of presentations.
- Someone who has reached a variety of age groups.
Unit Award
- A unit that promotes education using teamwork.
- A unit that participates in a variety of events, such as (but not limited to): parades, fairs, pack clinics, special events, etc.
- A unit that has members who have participated in state-sponsored programs such as the Leave No Trace/LNT Program, the Wilderness Rider Program, the LNT Masters program, etc.
- A unit that has members who contribute articles for Unit, state and/or the education newsletters.
The selection committee will evaluate the nominating forms, as well as review the Education Summary Reports, which are submitted in March and October. Forms to be submitted no later than February 15 to: BCHC Co-VPs of Education.
Past Winner: 2024 Individual Award
The 2024 Individual Education Award Winner was Stacy Kuhns, Redshank Riders Unit Unit.
2025 UNIT AWARD:
The 2025 Unit Education Award Winner was SHASTA TRINITY UNIT. The unit received a $150 check for going the extra mile in their education efforts. Congratulations!
Youth Education Awards
Youth Achievement Program
When a BCHC youth completes an activity/project, a Project Completion Form is submitted to the unit’s Youth Program Leader. Each month these forms are compiled and sent to the BCHC VP of Youth Education to receive achievement medallions for that unit’s participants.
The achievement medallion is a two-inch leather medallion with leather cordage. Each activity/project category has graphics representing the project and includes the recipient’s name, unit and year. Achievement medallions are awarded to the youth at unit and/or general meetings.
Top Achiever
At the end of each year, the unit’s Youth Program Leader submits one name and a detailed explanation for the submission, for each of the four age groups. Names are placed in the running for the State Top Achiever Award, presented at Rendezvous.
(The age is determined for the calendar year of the youth’s birthday regardless of their birth month.)
- 6-9 years
- 10-12 years
- 13-15 years
- 16-18 years
This program is brand new. No awards have been presented to date.