About Burton Homestead    

Burton Homestead is a 38-acre parkland on Lake Vera Road in Nevada City, California.  Several years ago the site was donated to the Land Trust by Francis Burton, a retired Nevada County librarian for the purpose of education and the love of nature.  The site has a diversity of ecosystems including large, spreading oaks and soaring conifers, wetlands, ponds, plus a network of woodland trails, and the original Burton cottage and gardens.  There is evidence that a Maidu settlement was located on the site, as well as subsequent mining activity typical of the area. 

Burton Homestead has become a community site for environmental education and programs.  It provides an outdoor classroom for youth where they can find their place in the natural world as they develop science literacy.  It is a resource center for educators to learn methods and provide hands-on, interactive curriculum for experiential nature education.  It’s a place where people of all ages can explore ways to be better stewards of the land.

The Land Trust has operated a three-week long summer nature camp for kids called Earth Encounters.  We’ve held educational restoration days, and member and volunteer picnics.  The Tsi Akim Maidu Tribe has an agreement for an active cultural center for tribal activities on a three-acre section of the property called Pata Panaka. 

Other programs held at Burton Homestead include:

•     BYLT’s Junior Stewards Program for the next generation of conservationists

•     Living Lands Agrarian Network: Food Love Project

•     4 Elements Fox Walkers Program: Outdoor skills for youth

•     Movimiento Rural-Urban Youth Environmental Leadership program

•     Numerous public and private school science field trips

Renting Burton Homestead

Burton Homestead is available for rent for organizations or individuals who would like to run an event or program that is compatible with the mission. 

CLICK HERE to download the Burton Use Agreement

CLICK HERE to download the Burton Use Application

For more information contact Jean Gilbert at (530) 272-5994 ext 205 or email  jean@bylt.org.