Redwood Forest Center Announced: A Game-Changing Hub for Education and Collaboration on Fort Bragg’s Main StreetIn the heart of Fort Bragg, California—just miles from the iconic redwoods that have inspired generations—a bold new vision is taking shape. The Redwood Forest Foundation (RFF) is thrilled to announce the creation of the Redwood Forest Center, a dynamic and inclusive hub for education, collaboration, and community engagement, right on Main Street.Set to open its doors in 2025, this flagship center will serve as a public-facing home for the redwood region’s past, present, and future. It’s more than a building—it’s a gateway to the forest, an incubator for ideas, and a gathering place for everyone who believes in the power of nature to connect, heal, and inspire.Why a Redwood Forest Center—and Why Now?For years, RFF has worked to protect and restore the Usal Redwood Forest, a 50,000-acre community-owned landscape just north of Fort Bragg. While the forest is vast and wild, its stories—of ecological resilience, Indigenous stewardship, and sustainable innovation—need a space where people can engage with them up close.The Redwood Forest Center bridges that gap. Located in a central, accessible spot in downtown Fort Bragg, it brings the forest into the community and invites the community into the forest.This project is critical, as climate change, biodiversity loss, and community disconnection challenge us to rethink our relationship with nature. The Center responds with something tangible: a space for learning, collaboration, and regeneration.What the Center Will OfferThe Redwood Forest Center is designed to be interactive, welcoming, and multi-purpose. Plans include:*An immersive visitor experience: Touchscreen maps, time-lapse forest restoration visuals, and exhibits that tell the story of the redwoods, the Usal Forest, and the people who steward them.*Educational programming: Workshops, field trip coordination, and curriculum development for K-12 and college students, focused on forest science, climate resilience, and Indigenous knowledge.*Community meeting space: A flexible, light-filled gathering room for environmental groups, local organizations, Tribal partners, and residents to come together for events, dialogues, and celebration.*Volunteer and internship coordination: A central hub to match local citizens and students with hands-on forest restoration, monitoring, and research opportunities.*Retail and merchandise: Sustainably sourced products, local art, and redwood-themed items to support ongoing RFF projects and community partnerships.With public programming at its core, the center will serve students, scientists, tourists, landowners, and lifelong learners, building a living connection between the urban coast and the wild inland.A Rooted Vision for the FutureThe Redwood Forest Center isn’t just about interpretation but activation. It fosters collaborative leadership in sustainable forestry, regenerative land use, and climate action.Key partners include:*Local schools and colleges, who will use the Center as a living lab*Tribal governments, sharing ancestral knowledge and co-creating stewardship plans*Rural businesses and nonprofits, connecting economic development with environmental care*Artists, storytellers, and youth leaders are bringing the redwood experience to life in new waysIn the spirit of the redwood tree itself—rooted, resilient, and interconnected—the Center will be a place where diverse ideas can grow, and where solutions to our most pressing challenges are cultivated together.Fort Bragg’s Role in a Regional MovementChoosing Fort Bragg as the Center’s home was intentional. Historically shaped by timber and fishing, this vibrant coastal town is now embracing a new chapter grounded in ecological restoration and community revitalization.With the Skunk Train, the Coastal Trail, and a thriving arts scene already drawing visitors, the Redwood Forest Center adds an important piece: a direct link to inland conservation efforts and climate solutions that can be seen, felt, and supported in real time.For locals, it offers pride and opportunity. For tourists, it provides insight and inspiration. For the broader region, it represents a model of what happens when communities redefine conservation—not just as protection, but as participation.Join Us in Growing This VisionThe Redwood Forest Center will open in phases beginning in 2025, and we invite donors, volunteers, educators, and organizations to help shape its development.Visit [LINK] to learn more about the project, sign up for updates, or contribute to the campaign. Naming opportunities, founding memberships, and early involvement opportunities are now available.Together, we can build a space where the redwoods are not just remembered—but reimagined.Because the forest isn’t just out there—it lives in all of us. And now, it has a home in the heart of town.
