Give Big Kern 2026

GBK 2026 will take place on May 5, 2026!

Give Big Kern has raised over millions of dollars from thousands of donors for hundreds of local nonprofit organizations. Every year since 2016, Kern Community Foundation has hosted GBK to help local nonprofit organizations raise money and volunteer hours. GBK is a month-long event of community engagement in giving and volunteering that leads up to the first Tuesday in May. GBK is part of Kern Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Strengthening strategic initiative. The initiative increases visibility, builds capacity, and improves sustainability for local nonprofits. The effort shines a light on hard-working local nonprofits, empowering them to advance their marketing and development capabilities, and donor, board and volunteer engagement while encouraging networking and collaboration among nonprofit organizations across the sector. GBK would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. Nonprofits participate in GBK at no cost. Marketing materials, event fees, online platform, and training are provided through our generous sponsors.

Interested in a sponsoring, please contact info@kernfoundation.org.

Other GBK 2026 Events
Press Conference – April 14, 2026
3rd Annual Give Big at the Park: Nonprofit Meet & Greet – April 18, 2026
Liberty Bell & Watch Party – May 5, 2026

Volunteer Day: Plant Watering – Wind Wolves Preserve

Reservations required.

Check in at the Administrative Center at 7:45 am. **Cell reception is available

Recommended for ages 10 and up. Space is limited.

4×4 and high clearance vehicles not required.

Suggested Items to Bring

• weather appropriate clothing (check the weather)
• long pants (protect yourself from ticks)
• close-toed shoes
• sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• water/electrolytes
• snacks

Free camping is available by reservation! Call Wind Wolves Preserve at (661) 858-1115 for questions and more information. This event is free, but please consider a donation to support The Wildlands Conservancy’s mission! Check out the website here: wildlandsconservancy.org. You can follow our social media (Facebook and Instagram) @windwolvespreserve for updates.

About Us

Wind Wolves Preserve is a 93,000-acre nature preserve located approximately 30 miles south of Bakersfield, and is owned and operated by The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC). The preserve is open to the public daily and visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, or attend a staff led program, all free of charge.

TWC is a private, non-profit organization that operates more than 25 preserves along the west coast. Our mission is “To preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and to provide programs so that children may know the wonder and joy of nature.” To learn about the Conservancy’s guiding principles, ways to get involved, upcoming events at various preserves, and inspire others to protect nature’s beauty, visit our website at wildlandsconservancy.org.

Volunteer Day: Plant Watering – Wind Wolves Preserve

Join Wind Wolves Staff as we provide water to newly planted shrubs at our plots near the office.

Reservations required.

Check in at the Administrative Center at 7:45 am. **Cell reception is available

Recommended for ages 10 and up. Space is limited.

4×4 and high clearance vehicles not required.

Suggested Items to Bring

• weather appropriate clothing (check the weather)
• long pants (protect yourself from ticks)
• close-toed shoes
• sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• water/electrolytes
• snacks

Free camping is available by reservation! Call Wind Wolves Preserve at (661) 858-1115 for questions and more information. This event is free, but please consider a donation to support The Wildlands Conservancy’s mission! Check out the website here: wildlandsconservancy.org. You can follow our social media (Facebook and Instagram) @windwolvespreserve for updates.

About Us

Wind Wolves Preserve is a 93,000-acre nature preserve located approximately 30 miles south of Bakersfield, and is owned and operated by The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC). The preserve is open to the public daily and visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, or attend a staff led program, all free of charge.

TWC is a private, non-profit organization that operates more than 25 preserves along the west coast. Our mission is “To preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and to provide programs so that children may know the wonder and joy of nature.” To learn about the Conservancy’s guiding principles, ways to get involved, upcoming events at various preserves, and inspire others to protect nature’s beauty, visit our website at wildlandsconservancy.org.

Volunteer Day: Plant Watering – Wind Wolves Preserve

Join Wind Wolves Staff as we provide water to newly planted shrubs at our plots near the office.

Reservations required.

Check in at the Administrative Center at 7:45 am. **Cell reception is available

Recommended for ages 10 and up. Space is limited.

4×4 and high clearance vehicles not required.

Suggested Items to Bring

• weather appropriate clothing (check the weather)
• long pants (protect yourself from ticks)
• close-toed shoes
• sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• water/electrolytes
• snacks

Free camping is available by reservation! Call Wind Wolves Preserve at (661) 858-1115 for questions and more information. This event is free, but please consider a donation to support The Wildlands Conservancy’s mission! Check out the website here: wildlandsconservancy.org. You can follow our social media (Facebook and Instagram) @windwolvespreserve for updates.

About Us

Wind Wolves Preserve is a 93,000-acre nature preserve located approximately 30 miles south of Bakersfield, and is owned and operated by The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC). The preserve is open to the public daily and visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, or attend a staff led program, all free of charge.

TWC is a private, non-profit organization that operates more than 25 preserves along the west coast. Our mission is “To preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and to provide programs so that children may know the wonder and joy of nature.” To learn about the Conservancy’s guiding principles, ways to get involved, upcoming events at various preserves, and inspire others to protect nature’s beauty, visit our website at wildlandsconservancy.org.

Experience the preserve during sunrise and learn about its crepuscular and early morning wonders. We will be hiking approximately 2 miles on the San Emigdio Canyon Trail (about 300 ft elevation) to Raven’s Landing. Recommended for ages 8 and up (no strollers).

Event is subject to cancellation due to unsafe weather conditions, including excessive heat warnings.

Please plan to arrive at the Crossing parking lot 15 minutes prior to the hike time for check-in. Only registered participants will be admitted. Hike will start at 5:30 am – preserve gate will open at 5:10 am.

Reservations are required. Space is limited. You can register up to 5 people.

Free camping is available! Call Wind Wolves Preserve at (661) 858-1115 for questions and more information.

Suggested Items to Bring

• layered clothing
• jacket
• long pants (protect yourself from ticks)
• close-toed shoes
• sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• water/electrolytes
• snacks

This event is free, but please consider a donation to support The Wildlands Conservancy’s mission! Check out the website here: wildlandsconservancy.org.

About Us

Wind Wolves Preserve is a 93,000-acre nature preserve located approximately 30 miles south of Bakersfield, and is owned and operated by The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC). The preserve is open to the public daily and visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, or attend a staff led program, all free of charge.

TWC is a private, non-profit organization that operates more than 25 preserves along the west coast. Our mission is “To preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and to provide programs so that children may know the wonder and joy of nature.” To learn about the Conservancy’s guiding principles, ways to get involved, upcoming events at various preserves, and inspire others to protect nature’s beauty, visit our website at wildlandsconservancy.org.

The Wildlands Conservancy/ Wind Wolves Preserve: Free Summer Hikes

Wind Wolves Preserve is in an ecologically unique region where the Transverse Ranges, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Mojave Desert and San Joaquin Valley influences converge. Due to elevation ranges from 640 to 6,005 feet, the Preserve has an impressive array of landforms and habitats that serve as a critical landscape linkage and wildlife corridor between the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada.

On the San Joaquin Valley floor, the Preserve is a 30-square-mile veritable sea of grasslands with remnant stands of saltbush. These grasslands are home to the endangered San Joaquin kit fox and blunt-nosed leopard lizard as well as one of the largest stands of the endangered Bakersfield cactus. The Preserve’s main wetland is home to the Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew—one of the most endangered mammals in the United States. Rolling grasslands rise from the valley floor, transitioning into classic California blue oak and valley oak savanna with extensive riparian wetlands. The oak savanna ascends into juniper and pinyon forests that vault into stands of ponderosa pine and big cone spruce.

Volunteers have played a major role in working with staff to restore this heroic landscape. Fourteen years of monthly work parties have removed invasive tamarisk from 30 miles of stream channels. Volunteers have made miles of boundary fencing antelope friendly, as well as make kit fox dens for the recruitment of kit foxes. And volunteers through school, family work parties, and collaborating organizations have planted tens of thousands of native trees and shrubs.

The preserve includes the entire San Emidio Land Grant, once owned by John C. Fremont. Wind Wolves’ rich cultural history includes some of the most noteworthy Native American rock art in North America.

La Vida Nueva: New Location Grand Opening

Join La Vida Nueva’s new clinic location! There will be inspirational speakers, raffle prizes, tours of the new clinic and refreshments.

Date: Friday, July 19, 2024

Time: 5 – 7 PM

Location: 5080 California Ave. Suite 100 Bakersfield, CA

This event will include the following: Free Backpack and Resupply of educational items, free giveaways to all that attend, bounce house, art & crafts for the kids, Karaoke, hygiene ‘Cal-City Starbucks will be there free to our community and much more.. Pictures with Sponsor & (SHKLCC) team, last year we served over 600 kids in our backpack giveaway. We want to continue seeing the smiles on their faces. The community was able to apply for not just jobs but careers with your help (SHKLCC) has been doing amazing things here in our community. We now have our community resource center open to all communities in East Kern County. This year we would love to give even more with your help. It has become increasingly difficult for organizations to continue to provide excellent services. community. The reason behind this is due to the increasing costs and the current economic environment. That’s the reason why we need your help. I feel strongly about the (SHKLCC) your help to our organization will help us continuously serve our community.

(SHKLCC) works very hard for the kids & families of our community.

Safe Haven Kids League of California City does not discriminate against race, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation, as well as other categories.

SAVE THE DATE: Healthful Harvest

Join the Kern Connected Community Network (KCCN) and other vendors at the 2nd Annual Community Health Event: Healthful Harvest presented by Adventist Health, Dignity Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Kern Medical. Last year had over 35 vendors in attendance along with over 6 mobile units providing various health screening services. Connect with providers and local resources. Make sure to visit informational booths for a chance to win prizes!