Fundraiser to Protect Eagle Habitat from Moon Camp Development

Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust launched a February 2024 campaign to raise $10 million to buy over 62 acres slated for the Moon Camp project. The land would be placed under permanent conservatorship and later transferred to U.S. Forest Service.

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Moon Camp plans 50 home lots and a marina with 55 slips less than a mile from the nest of bald eagles Jackie and Shadow and their eaglets Sandy and Luna. Conservationists warn the project would damage rare plants, fragment wildlife corridors, and endanger the eagles.

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Friends of Big Bear Valley leads the drive, with San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust providing land-preservation expertise. Jenny Voisard coordinates outreach; resident T.J. Fraser opposes the development. The campaign has raised $2.5 million—about 25 % of $10 million goal—through two $50,000 gifts, an anonymous $77,000 donation, and grassroots support such as $373 from Wildwood Elementary and $970 from a Connecticut school.

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Voisard said protecting California’s biodiversity “is important to every one of us on this planet” and called donations “an investment in conservation and humanity.” She outlined a backup financing option that would allow purchase with quarterly payments at interest rate if the $10 million goal is not met by July 31. The plan seeks protected status for the acreage under the Forest Service, though she noted uncertainty after Trump-administration staffing cuts.

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Resident T.J. Fraser voiced “100 % opposition” to Moon Camp, warning that “we don’t expect the forest to adapt to us” and stressing preservation of the valley’s quiet, close-knit character. Meanwhile, fundraiser’s eagle livestream has become a classroom staple, prompting schools such as Wildwood Elementary to organize fundraisers and thousands of small donors to contribute regularly, some pledging monthly “morning latte money.”

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• “Biodiversity is responsible for the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and the medicine we take. And you're all heroes.” — Jenny Voisard, Media Manager, Friends of Big Bear Valley

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• “This is our next generation of environmental caretakers and stewards, and so that's why this is so important,” — Jenny Voisard

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• “This land will also have special protected status, so that we don't go through all of this for nothing,” — Jenny Voisard

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The campaign aims to close the $10 million gap by July 31. If the goal is not reached, the groups will pursue the financing plan while continuing outreach to secure long-term protection for the eagles.

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