Announcing Jack Ladd Jr. Tribute Challenge Grant
March 25, 2025
To fund the Jack Ladd Jr. Tribute Apprenticeship at The Palomarin Field Station in Bolinas, California
A Life of Service
Jack was an incredible friend to Point Blue Conservation Science. Jack served on Point Blue’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 2009. During that time, Jack guided Point Blue, then PRBO Conservation Science, through a period of rapid growth. This included a capital campaign to build its first permanent headquarters in Petaluma, leaving their much beloved location on the Bolinas Lagoon.
Point Blue’s board and staff made significant improvements in operations and expanded the organization’s scientific programs during those years. Also, the annual budget tripled in size during his tenure and Point Blue secured its first million-dollar grant! Jack’s keen sense of humor guided Point Blue through this exciting time in its history.
Former board chair Ed Sarti said, “Jack was as good-hearted as they come and always had time for a smile and a laugh. He loved all things Point Blue, actively participating for many years as a board member, hosting numerous fundraising and other events in San Francisco. Jack served as the Audit Committee Chair well after he was off the Board. Jack and his spouse Adrienne hosted many wonderful Bird-A-Thon lunches at their home in Bolinas. Jack was forever an ambassador for conservation.”
To honor Jack’s service to Point Blue and his and his family’s love of the Palomarin Field Station, a generous $20,000 challenge grant was made to fund the Jack Ladd Jr. Tribute Apprenticeship for the Spring of 2025 at the Palomarin Field Station in Bolinas. The goal is to secure the remaining $10,000 to support this named apprenticeship.
Point Blue’s apprenticeships provide early career training for young scientists. The Jack Ladd Jr. Tribute Apprenticeship will be at Point Blue’s Palomarin Field Station, located in Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County California from March until August of 2025.
The field station has a rich history as a leader in conservation science. It is open to the public, and receives visitors from the Bay Area, across the country, and internationally. The Palomarin Field Station is also a premier location for hands-on, entry-level training for careers in applied conservation, natural resource management, and academic research, with a focus on avian ecology.
The Jack Ladd Jr. Apprentice will live on site with three other apprentices and will receive intensive, field-based training in conservation research, data management, bird banding, and identification, and science communication, all while contributing to our long-term research while under the supervision of skilled Point Blue scientists. They will also learn how to engage with the public and have weekly discussions of scientific papers. At the end of their apprenticeship, they will develop a capstone project and will present to their staff mentor and other Palomarin Field Station staff.
Approximately 80% of the more than 750 alumni of our early-career training programs (from over twenty-two countries) have gone on to related careers in science, education, and resource management at non-profit organizations, government agencies, and universities.
We hope you will agree that this is a truly impactful way to honor Jack’s life of service and extend his passion for budding young scientists. Please click here to support the Jack Ladd Jr. Tribute Challenge Grant.
For more information or questions, please contact Nancy Gamble at ngamble@pointblue.org or call at 415-342-9776
Thank you for honoring Jack – he was a gem and will be sorely missed.