REWILD
Who We Are
The Red Oak Society is a conservation-focused environmental organization formed in direct response to recent attempts by the Trump administration to open America’s public lands to exploitation and plunder. We believe these lands are a shared inheritance belonging to all of us. These lands are sacred spaces that must be defended for the benefit of all people and future generations.
We are hikers, campers, hunters, fishermen, kayakers, and snowboarders. We are scientists, students, activists, and concerned citizens from all walks of life. What unites us is a deep and unwavering commitment to protecting the natural world from those who would destroy it for short-term gain.
Bound together by our love for the land and waters, we take action through education, volunteer projects, advocacy, and direct conservation work. Whether on the trail, in the classroom, or at the policy table, we stand together as a growing force for stewardship, justice, and ecological integrity.
Our Mission
The Red Oak Society exists to organize people into the struggle against deforestation, destructive extraction industries, and the exploitation of our shared natural heritage. We stand united in defense of America’s forests, waters, and wildlands, saying with one voice: HANDS OFF to speculators and profiteers seeking to plunder our public lands.
We are committed to building a just energy transition, one that moves swiftly away from fossil fuels, uplifts communities, and safeguards both workers and ecosystems. Our fight is for a future powered by clean, renewable energy, not the false promises of extractive greed.
Through education, outreach, and grassroots action, we mobilize volunteers and activists to restore habitats, remove invasive species, and confront the industries that threaten our climate and our children’s inheritance. We believe in the power of organized people to protect the Earth, and we will not stop until our public lands are preserved, our communities are resilient, and our energy systems work in harmony with the planet we share.
“Leave it as it is. You cannot improve upon it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, your children’s children, and for all who come after you.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
Strategic Plan
Phase 1: Education & Awareness
Goal: Build a foundation of public knowledge and engagement with conservation issues.
Develop and distribute educational content across social media, YouTube, and Substack.
Conduct in-person presentations and workshops at schools, libraries, community centers, and outdoor festivals.
Create printed materials and infographics explaining topics like habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species.
Phase 2: Building a Volunteer Force
Goal: Create an active, skilled network of people ready to work on conservation projects.
Recruit volunteers through events, word-of-mouth, and partnerships with local recreation clubs and environmental groups.
Host clean-up events in parks, riverbanks, and trailheads.
Organize outdoor recreation events like guided hikes, kayaking trips, and nature photography walks to foster community.
Provide training for volunteers on safety, ecology basics, and habitat restoration techniques.
Develop partnerships with universities, scout troops, and civic organizations to offer service opportunities.
Phase 3: Political Organizing
Goal: Advance Conservation and Sustainability initiatives through electoral means
Recruit, train, and mobilize activists, labor organizers, and politicians.
Create educational materials explaining political issues relating to conservation and the environment.
Conduct voter registration drives.
Issue voter guides and endorsements.
Phase 4: Pollinator Garden & Bird Sanctuary
Goal: Demonstrate small-scale, high-impact habitat restoration in an urban or suburban setting.
Identify a small, affordable, derelict lot for purchase.
Conduct a community clean-up to prepare the site.
Plant native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Install bird feeders, nesting boxes, and small water features for local bird species.
Add interpretive signage to educate visitors about pollinators and native species.
Use the site as an educational field trip destination for schools and nature clubs.
Phase 5: Invasive Species Removal Projects
Goal: Reduce the ecological impact of invasive plants and animals while educating the public.
Identify key invasive species threats in targeted regions (e.g., kudzu in the South, garlic mustard in the Midwest, tamarisk in the West).
Create species-specific educational materials—ID cards, removal guides, videos.
Organize volunteer invasive species removal days in cooperation with land managers.
Document work through video and photography for social media and fundraising campaigns.
Phase 6: Community Garden Initiative
Goal: Improve food security and community resilience while promoting urban ecology.
Partner with an established community organization (food banks, neighborhood associations) to co-develop the project.
Identify an underserved area where access to fresh produce is limited.
Transform vacant land into a shared food-growing space with raised beds, compost bins, and rainwater collection systems.
Provide workshops on sustainable gardening, composting, and seed saving.
Phase 7: Community Solar Project
Goal: Expand renewable energy access and demonstrate the viability of local solar cooperatives.
Partner with a solar non-profit or installer experienced in community-scale projects.
Identify a small-scale site (e.g., school, community center, parking lot, public building).
Secure funding through grants, donations, and green energy programs.
Install panels and establish a community ownership or benefit-sharing model to keep energy affordable.
Use the site as a platform for public education on renewable energy.
Phase 8: Climate Brigades
Goal: Build regional rapid-response units for climate-related challenges.
Appalachian Climate Brigade and Rocky Mountain Climate Brigade will be volunteer corps trained in:
Disaster response (floods, fires, tornadoes).
Wildfire mitigation (fuel reduction, firebreak creation).
Habitat restoration after climate disasters.
Develop partnerships with local emergency management, fire departments, and environmental agencies.
Conduct annual training exercises and simulations.
Maintain equipment caches for rapid deployment.
Implement region specific climate resiliency initiatives.
Phase 9: 1,000-Acre Nature Preserve (Flagship Achievement)
Goal: Secure and protect a large tract of land for biodiversity, research, and public enjoyment.
Identify a biologically rich and threatened area suitable for long-term protection.
Launch a multi-year capital fundraising campaign.
Partner with land trusts, conservation easement programs, and research institutions.
Protect the land from development through legal conservation status.
Designate space for light recreation (hiking, birding, nature photography) and scientific research.
Develop educational programming and host outdoor workshops on-site.
What is to be done?
The struggle against extraction and exploitation requires our full attention. In order to build a truly sustainable and equitable future, we will need your help. Make your contribution today!