Hills For Everyone

Mission Statement

Hills For Everyone's mission is "to protect, preserve and restore the environmental resources and natural environs of the Puente-Chino Hills and surrounding areas for the enjoyment of current and succeeding generations." Four counties come together in these hills. Regional efforts to save the area have been underway since 1976. To date, over 27,000 acres have been saved. The hillside system is now connected to the Santa Ana Mountains at Coal Canyon with a wildlife crossing under the 91 Freeway.

Background Statement

Hills For Everyone (HFE) was formed in 1976 to establish Chino Hills State Park (CHSP). Our hills lie at the juncture of Southern California’s four most populous counties: Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino. While advocating for CHSP, HFE members educated elected officials about the value of open space in this highly urbanized region. A bipartisan and bicameral coalition of state legislators secured funds through many Park Bond Acts that our volunteers worked to pass. Since the Park lies within an hour’s drive of over half of California’s population, a wilderness experience is now available to people who might not otherwise be able to afford to travel to a distant state park. Though our earliest goal was the creation and completion of CHSP, we have since widened our vision. With our increased understanding of conservation biology and the need to connect large habitats to preserve the region’s rich biodiversity, we are working to permanently protect remaining critical parcels of undeveloped land in the Puente-Chino Hills. CHSP and other conservation and governmental entities protect nearly 15,000 acres in the eastern part of the hills, while another 4,000 acres in the west have been saved near Whittier as the Puente Hills Preserve. We are working to connect them through the "Missing Middle." After combining forces across the hills 30 years ago, HFE coordinated efforts to secure funds to add Coal Canyon Wildlife Corridor to the State Park. Two properties on both sides of the 91 freeway comprised the last viable linkage between this hillside system and the Santa Ana Mountains at Coal Canyon. It marks the first time a state agency purchased land solely for its connectivity value. Without the Coal Canyon connection, the entire Puente-Chino hillside system would have become “an island” of habitat and, over time, native species would have declined due to a limited gene pool and loss of large predators. We still work to ensure the ecological integrity of the hills are protected for future generations.

Impact Statement

Hills For Everyone has been cumulatively successful in its efforts to establish the 14,100 acre Chino Hills State Park and protect lands in the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor. Altogether over 27,000 acres have been saved in this hillside through acquisition, mitigation set aside, and planning. Our top three successes of 2024 include: (1) Managing the various partners working on the acquisition of 792 acres of mostly ridgeline land for eventual addition to Chino HiIls State Park. (2) Successfully generating public and other support to the Los Angeles County Planning Commission for the downzoning of land to one unit per 40 acres in the middle of the Corridor. (3) Organizing a coalition to successfully oppose a road widening project that would have severed the Wildlife Corridor in Brea. Additionally, our top goals for 2025 include: (1) Oppose development projects that threatened natural lands or protected parklands in the hills. (3) Complete the acquisition of the eastern ridgeline of Chino Hills State Park. (4) Lead the Southern California coalition of conservation groups to ensure that our region gets it fair share of conservation dollars in the Governor's 30x30 effort.

Needs Statement

HFE’s top five most pressing needs are funding for: (1) Planning and legal expertise to address land use issues to ensure the biological functionality of the Wildlife Corridor remains intact; (2) Outreach and education about the Wildlife Corridor and its important role in the quality of life of the region; (3) Funding to conduct biological studies of the functionality of the 91 Freeway wildlife underpass; (4) Continued legal presence when projects arise that threaten the functionality of the ecosystem; and, (5) Funding to improve the visitor experience and repair the recent damage to the Park from the Blue Ridge Fire.

Geographic Areas Served

The Wildlife Corridor spans four counties (Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino). Nearly half of Chino Hills State Park lies in northern Orange County with the entire four-county area benefiting from the preservation of the Corridor lands. Plants and animals do not recognize political boundaries. 

Top Three Populations Served

Latinos
Asian Americans Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (AANHPI)
Households with limited English proficiency

Statement from the CEO/Executive Director

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Statement from the Board Chair/President

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CEO/Executive Director

Claire Schlotterbeck

CEO/Executive Director Experience

Claire Schlotterbeck has been involved in preservation of the Puente-Chino Hills for over four decades, playing a key role in the formation of the 14,100+ acre Chino Hills State Park. She earned her bachelor's degree in Political Science from UCLA and a Master of Science from Purdue University. Active in her own community, she helped create the Brea Senior Center and the Brea Community Center. Former Republican Assemblyman Dick Ackerman selected Claire as "Woman of the Year in the 72nd Assembly District" in 1998 and former Democratic Senator Josh Newman selected her as "Woman of the Year for the Environment" in the 29th Senate District in 2018. In November 2019, she was selected to be "Woman of the Year for the Environment" by Republican Assemblymember Phillip Chen (District 55). In August 2001, she was honored as one of six nationwide recipients of the Chevron Corporation Conservation Award. In March 2002, she was honored by the California State Park Ranger Association as the Honorary State Park Ranger of the Year. Claire has received many other honors including, but not limited to: Sea and Sage Audubon Society, Whittier Audubon Society, Orange County League of Conservation Voters, and Women For: Orange County, Whittier Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. She serves as a Secretary of the Governing Board of UCLA UniCamp, UCLA's official student charity where student volunteers take underserved youth to the mountains for a week throughout the summer. Claire credits UniCamp for her conservation work where, as a student counselor, she witnessed first hand the power of nature to heal.