Uncategorized – TuCare

TuCARE 2026 Annual Dinner and Auction

Amy Dunlap — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 20:23:01 +0000

TuCARE will be holding our 2026 Annual Dinner and Auction on March 14^th, 2026, at the Sonora Elks Lodge. This year’s speaker, California State Assemblyman David Tangipa, who represents District 8, is a central California native. His focus is on public safety, economic opportunities, water and agriculture policies, and government accountability.

Our auctions (both live and silent) should be wonderful this year. We hope you enjoy supporting our “Tours for Kids” Program. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is our natural resources education program for kids, TK through high School. We are still looking for additional local businesses who would like to donate silent or live auction items to our event or be an event sponsor. This is a great way to promote your business while supporting a great cause. If you would like to donate an auction item, please call or email me at the information below. If you would like to be an event sponsor, please see the sponsorship information below, and contact Executive Director, Amy Dunlap at (209)352-6510 or email tucare@mlode.com.

Tickets start at $55, but go up to $70 after February 20^th, so grab yours early! To purchase tickets for the event, click the link below, or contact Amy Dunlap at TuCARE@mlode.com or (209) 352-6510.

https://www.eventcreate.com/e/tucare2026annualdinner

TuCARE truly appreciates your consideration for donating to our cause. TuCARE could not continue our good work without benefactors such as you. We appreciate all who have stood with us over the years and will continue to stand with us in the future.

2026 TuCARE Annual Dinner Flyer-American Flag

Tours for Kids

Amy Dunlap — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:11:00 +0000

Hello Everyone!

My name is Amy Dunlap, and I am the Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources & Environment (TuCARE) Executive Director and Education Coordinator! TuCARE is a local non-profit that educates the public on the wise use of our natural resources. As part of this effort, our “Tours for Kids” program is an excellent way to link what you teach in the classroom and apply it to the real world and what is being done in our own environment.
TuCARE’s “Tours For Kids” program provides FREE fieldtrips to natural resource sites such as the Stanislaus National Forest, active logging sites on forested land, as well as tours to local natural resource industry facilities such as Jamestown Energy, Sierra Pacific Industries, Heartwood Biomass, Tulloch Dam and more. We also have tours including livestock and horse ranches, gold panning, and more! We provide classroom presentations on wildlife biology, the life cycle of trees with a program called “Talk About Trees”, and we demonstrate the complexity of the mining industry with a fun activity called “Cookie Mining”. All our “Tours for Kids” and the related presentations are correlated with content standards for grade level appropriateness.
TuCARE is booking field trips and classroom presentations for the 2025-2026 school year now! If you are interested, please click the link below or email me at toursforkids@outlook.com. All TuCARE fieldtrips are FREE! If you need assistance with funding for your school field trip, please see the last page!
TuCARE is a community based non-profit organization founded in 1988. Our membership is made up of a cross-section of our community including local business persons, educators, and those actively engaged in working daily with our natural resources. TuCARE supports the wise use of the many resources on our federal lands. Multiple-use policies allow everyone to benefit. TuCARE believes that man must play an active role to ensure our resources are available both now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Amy Dunlap, Executive Director/Education Coordinator

Field Trips for the 2026-2027 School Year will be scheduled starting in August 2026!

See all tour options below!

TuCARE Wants to support you!

In an effort to promote environmental education and hands-on learning, a new initiative is being created to provide free transportation during the 2025-2026 school year! This program, spearheaded by Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment and partnered with the George James Memorial Fund at Sonora Area Foundation, aims to eliminate transportation costs- a common barrier that prevents many schools from offering enriching outdoor learning experiences.

The initiative is open to all k-12 Tuolumne County Schools and allows teachers to apply for a fully funded bus to use to transport their class to a variety of locations around Tuolumne County. Funding for the program comes from a combination of grants, community donations, and TuCARE educational funds. By removing logistical and financial hurdles, this initiative is opening the door to impactful educational experiences and helping cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards.

All classes, from all k-12 schools in Tuolumne County are able to apply. The 2025-2026 school year is a pilot program for this initiative, and therefore, TuCARE has not determined a maximum amount of funding available. The maximum will be determined based on the need in Tuolumne County and how well the program works. Please be patient with us as we review applications for funding and determine how much we can support.

To Apply: Email toursforkids@outlook.com

For questions about this initiative, please contact the TuCARE Education Coordinator, Amy Dunlap, at 209-352-6510 or toursforkids@outlook.com.

About the George James Memorial Fund:

George S. James was born in Hazen, Nevada in 1908. At age 6, his family moved to Sutter County, California. Following high school, George entered the University of California, Berkeley, earning a degree in engineering in 1933. After working in many different natural resources’ fields between 1933-1975, He became a founder of TuCARE, and was a large supporter of educating the public on the wise use of natural resources. This belief was based on the historic multiple-use philosophy governing the management of the National Forests. To honor his belief and dedication, TuCARE established the George James Memorial Educator Tours Fund to be administered by the Sonora Area Foundation. Because of his involvement with TuCARE’s Tours for Kids program and with much of his family involved with education. It is fitting that this fund was established in his memory to educate teachers about our natural resources.

TuCARE Annual Report

Amy Dunlap — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:50:23 +0000

TuCAREs 2025 Annual Report has been published! Stay tuned for more info!

36th Annual TuCARE Dinner and Auction

Amy Dunlap — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:12:03 +0000

On March 8, 2025, Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources & Environment (TuCARE) will hold their Annual Dinner and Auction. The event is an opportunity for members and the public to gather, enjoy a great dinner, have fun at the silent and live auctions, and be entertained and educated by a keynote speaker. Proceeds from the auctions go to support TuCARE’s “Tours for Kids” programs and other TuCARE initiatives. This year marks the organization’s 36th annual event.

Our speaker Darrell Slocum is the CEO of Sonora Area Foundation. Darrell will be talking about the local initiative that supports Senior High and College Certificated Technical Education programs such as forestry and heavy equipment certification.

Tickets for the Dinner are $50 if purchased before February 28th, and $60 after February 28th.
Tickets purchased prior to February 28th will be mailed along with auction information. Tickets purchased after February 28th will be held at the door for pickup.

TICKETS CAN NOT BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR

To purchase tickets online, click the link below:
(tickets purchased online will have a $1.50 transaction fee included)
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/TRLWHKWEFPKMC

Or Contact:
Amy Dunlap
Executive Director and Education Coordinator
amydunlaptucare@outlook.com
209-586-7816

To purchase a sponsorship (2’x4′ Banner + tickets), see information below and contact:
Contact Amy Dunlap
209-352-6510
Amydunlaptucare@outlook.com

Sponsorship Options:
Promotional banners need to be provided to TuCARE no later than Monday March 3
$250 : includes display of a 2’x4′ promotional banner at the event
$500 : 2’x4′ promotional banner + 2 tickets
$1000 : 2’x4′ promotional banner + 4 tickets with preferred, reserved seating
$1500 : 2’x4′ promotional banner + 6 tickets with preferred, reserved seating
$2500 : 2’x4′ promotional banner + 8 tickets with preferred, reserved seating