The critical wilderness surrounding Big Bear Lake, which serves as the primary hunting and nesting grounds for the world-famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow, has been officially secured for permanent conservation. On Friday, the non-profit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) announced the successful completion of a high-stakes $10 million fundraising campaign aimed at purchasing a 62-acre lakefront property known as Moon Camp. This achievement ensures that the pristine forest and shoreline, which have faced the threat of luxury development for over two decades, will remain an undisturbed sanctuary for the eagles and the diverse ecosystem of the San Bernardino Mountains.
The campaign reached its ambitious target ahead of a July 31 deadline, bolstered by a transformative $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Brockman. Greg Brockman is the co-founder and President of OpenAI, the research laboratory behind ChatGPT. This significant contribution capped a grassroots movement that saw more than 25,000 individual donors from around the globe contribute nearly $4.5 million in smaller increments. The success of the fundraiser represents a rare convergence of viral internet culture, high-tech philanthropy, and local environmental activism.
The Significance of Moon Camp and the Threat of Development
For more than 20 years, the stretch of land known as Moon Camp has been a prime target for developers envisioning luxury housing estates and private marinas. Situated on the north shore of Big Bear Lake, the property sits less than a mile from the current nesting site of Jackie and Shadow. More importantly, it borders the section of the lake where the eagles primarily hunt for fish to sustain themselves and their offspring.
Had the development proceeded, the resulting human activity, light pollution, and loss of shoreline access would have likely driven the eagles away from the territory they have occupied for years. Beyond the eagles, Moon Camp is a biological "hotspot." It houses an undisturbed old-growth forest that provides habitat for various migratory birds, squirrels, and larger mammals. It is also one of the few places on Earth where the ash-gray Indian paintbrush (Castilleja cinerea) thrives. This rare, threatened plant is endemic to the San Bernardino Mountains, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world.
The purchase of the land was facilitated through a negotiated agreement between the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) and the property’s owner, developer RCK Properties. The $10 million price tag reflects the land’s high appraisal value as prime real estate, but its value as a conservation asset is considered immeasurable by local biologists and environmental advocates.
A Legacy of Advocacy: The Vision of Sandy Steers
The drive to save Moon Camp was the life’s work of Sandy Steers, the former executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley. Steers, who passed away on February 11, 2024, after a battle with cancer, was the primary architect of the eagle conservation program in Big Bear. She was instrumental in launching the 24/7 live-stream cameras in 2015, which turned Jackie and Shadow into international celebrities and fostered a global community of "eagle-watchers."
Steers recognized early on that protecting the nest tree was insufficient if the surrounding ecosystem—the eagles’ "kitchen" and "living room"—was destroyed. She spent years lobbying local officials, educating the public, and negotiating with developers to find a path toward permanent preservation. Following her death, the fundraising campaign became a tribute to her legacy, with supporters viewing the $10 million goal as a final promise kept to a woman who dedicated her life to the mountain’s wildlife.
Jenny Voisard, the media manager for FOBBV, noted that Steers signed the preliminary purchase agreement just before her passing. "Sandy put all of that on her shoulders because she wanted to save everything," Voisard stated. "We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months. This is a special community that has a real love for Jackie and Shadow’s wellbeing along with nature."
The Current State of the Big Bear Bald Eagles
While the news of the land acquisition provides long-term security for the species, the immediate situation for the Big Bear eagle family is fraught with challenges. The female eagle, Jackie, is currently undergoing medical treatment at a specialized rehabilitation center in Ojai, California. She was rescued after sustaining injuries during a violent territorial dispute with two subadult bald eagles earlier this month.
Veterinarians are monitoring her recovery, but her absence has left the male, Shadow, in a precarious position. For the past several weeks, Shadow has been the sole provider for the pair’s 2026 eaglets, named Luna and Sandy. In a display of avian perseverance that has captivated thousands of live-cam viewers, Shadow has been successfully hunting, feeding, and defending the nest alone.
Biologists expect Luna and Sandy to "fledge"—or take their first flights—within the coming weeks. The timing of the land purchase is particularly poignant as these young eagles will soon need the very hunting grounds and forest cover that Moon Camp provides as they begin to navigate the world outside the nest.
Chronology of the Moon Camp Preservation Effort
The journey to protect Moon Camp spans decades of legal battles and community organizing:
- Early 2000s: RCK Properties proposes a luxury residential development at Moon Camp, including dozens of homes and a marina. Local environmental groups begin a series of legal challenges based on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- 2015: Friends of Big Bear Valley installs the first live-stream camera on the eagle nest. Public interest in the eagles begins to grow exponentially.
- 2018-2022: Jackie and Shadow become a global phenomenon. Their struggles with heavy snow, failed hatches, and successful fledglings are watched by millions, creating a massive base of potential donors for conservation efforts.
- Late 2023: The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust enters formal negotiations with RCK Properties to purchase the land for conservation rather than development.
- February 2024: Sandy Steers passes away shortly after the $10 million purchase agreement is outlined. FOBBV launches a massive public fundraising campaign to meet the deadline.
- April 2024: Donations pass the $2 million mark, driven by small contributions from eagle fans in over 50 countries.
- July 2024: With the deadline approaching, Anna and Greg Brockman provide the $5.5 million "matching" style donation required to close the gap.
- July 26, 2024: FOBBV officially announces that the $10 million goal has been met.
Philanthropic Impact and Official Responses
The involvement of the Brockmans highlights a growing trend of Silicon Valley leadership directing wealth toward biodiversity and land conservation. In a statement, Anna Brockman emphasized the emotional and ecological connection that drew them to the cause.
"Greg and I are grateful to all those who championed saving the home of these majestic eagles, Jackie and Shadow," she said. "Like many people around the world, we love watching them be amazing partners to one another and raise their young. They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature."
The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust will hold the title to the land, ensuring it remains protected from development in perpetuity. This acquisition is one of the largest private-to-public land conservation successes in the history of the San Bernardino National Forest.
Broader Implications for Wildlife Conservation
The success of the Moon Camp fundraiser serves as a case study for the future of wildlife conservation in the digital age. By using live-stream technology to create an emotional bond between the public and individual animals, FOBBV was able to mobilize a financial response that far exceeds what traditional local advocacy typically achieves.
However, the event also underscores the rising cost of conservation. As real estate prices in mountain resort areas like Big Bear continue to climb, the price of protecting habitat becomes increasingly prohibitive for small non-profits. The intervention of high-net-worth donors is becoming a necessary component of large-scale land acquisition.
Furthermore, the protection of Moon Camp provides a buffer against the impacts of climate change. By maintaining a large, contiguous block of forest and shoreline, the land acts as a carbon sink and provides a "cool" refuge for species as temperatures rise. The preservation of the Castilleja cinerea also maintains the genetic diversity of the region, which is essential for ecosystem resilience.
As Jackie continues her recovery and Shadow prepares Luna and Sandy for their eventual departure from the nest, the community of Big Bear Valley can take solace in the fact that the landscape these eagles call home is now safe. The "Moon Camp" name, once synonymous with a controversial development project, will now represent a landmark victory for the preservation of California’s natural heritage.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, the parent company of various media outlets reporting on this event, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging copyright infringement in the training and operation of its AI systems. Greg Brockman, a primary donor in this story, serves as President of OpenAI.
