CULTIVATE THE FUTURE
A campaign in support of the Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden

Inspiring tomorrow’s environmentalists through play
The three-acre Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden at South Coast Botanic Garden will nurture a love of nature, wildlife and horticulture through a series of adventurous zones that inspire whimsy, discovery and physical activity. With a marine fossil dig, fig forest canopy walk, trickling waterfall, and a great plant maze, this will be unlike any place.

Nature is necessary
Today’s kids have so many things to worry about – pandemic living, overscheduled lifestyles, and academic pressures. Their parents are stressed out too — worried their children are spending too much time tethered to screens and disconnected from nature.

At South Coast Botanic Garden, our mission is to connect ALL to the wonders of nature and create experiences that inspire stewardship and sustainability. Our programs invite our guests to leave their worries at the garden gates and enjoy some unbridled nature time.

Cultivate the Future
Cultivate the Future is a philanthropic campaign in support of the construction, programming and future operations of the new Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden at South Coast Botanic Garden. The campaign is ideal for investors interested in improving the health and well-being of children through nature exploration and environmental education. Our campaign target is $16 million, and we are just $1 million away from achieving our goal. Make a commitment today and see your investment flourish!

The Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden will:

⋅  Develop early nature connections and environmental literacy for children

⋅  Reduce barriers to nature access including physical barriers like ADA accessibility, and invisible ones like fear of the outdoors and financial hardship

⋅  Serve as a hub for families and schools for teaching water conservation, habitat protections and biology

The Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden Plan:
Click the picture to learn more about the area.

Entrance Plaza and Comfort Station

The Bloom and Sprout Garden

Fig Forest Canopy Walk

The Great Plant Maze

Marine Fossil Dig 

The Fred and Peggy Hartley Foundation Pollinator Pathway

We are grateful for the generosity of our Cultivate the Future Campaign donors who have made leadership gifts

Dorothy and John Bohannon
Ann and David Buxton
Conze Trust
Vicki and James Cunningham
Mitch Dion
The Friesl Family
Jan and Jim Gardner
Susan and Michael Gray
Aryan Papoli and Abas Goodarzi
Fred and Peggy Hartley Family Foundation
Timothy M. Keenan Trust
The Long Family Foundation
Marilyn and John Long
Lynn and Steve Lord
Los Angeles County Regional Park
and Open Space District Proposition A and Measure A 
Karen and Michael Melideo
Teresa and Mike Molina
Drs. Tricia and Tom Paulsen
Merredith and John Rea
The Reis Foundation
Twanna and Tim Rogers
Marcia and Mike Schoettle
John R. Sealy MD
Laurel Woodley
Mark and Kristine Waronek

Contact Us:

Danielle Lacharite Brown

Chief Development Officer

Direct: 424-452-0925

[email protected]

Audra Platz

Director, Development

Direct: 424-452-0930

[email protected]