About Care For Big Bear
Get to know the campaign calling for responsible tourism, volunteering for the environment and preservation of our natural surroundings.
Our Mission
Our little mountain town has seen an incredible boom in popularity and prosperity thanks to the hard work of local entrepreneurs, dedicated employees and eager visitors. With this boom comes the side effects of increased traffic, noise, litter, graffiti and wear on the natural environment.
Care For Big Bear is an ongoing campaign committed to empowering our community through cooperation of locals and visitors. This is our call to action for all who love Big Bear to preserve, protect and unify our natural playground for future generations to enjoy. Through education, motivation and awareness, we unite to Care For Big Bear on an endless scale.
The Care For Big Bear campaign and programming is made possible by the generous support and funding by Visit Big Bear.
Our Mantra
C - Care for the Community
- Support local businesses
- Dine at local restaurants
- Keep your home or accommodations free of litter
- Support and attend local events
A - Appreciate our Environment
- Pack it in, pack it out - don't leave litter behind
- Stay on designated hiking/biking trails
- Leave natural objects you find
- Admire wildlife form afar
R - Respect Our Neighbors
- Be mindful of using loud music
- Respect parking rules for your neighborhood
- Control your pet's behavior - i.e. barking - and clean up after your pet
- Trespassing is not permitted anywhere in the valley
E - Enjoy Our Valley Together
- Get to know Big Bear's trails
- Find things to do in any season
- Enjoy a variety of dining options
- Find great events
Our Projects
Green Business Program
Beginning in 2025, Care For Big Bear launched the new Green Business Program offering additional partner benefits to those practicing sustainable and green initiatives in their businesses.
Fostering a Love for Our Environment
In 2024, Care For Big Bear launched new programming aimed at connecting our locals and visitors to the natural beauty around them. Parent & Me Nature Yoga is an outdoor exploration class for kids 5 years and younger with their parent. Art in the Wild is a family-friendly creative series to connect with each other and the natural environment. This instructor lead event is a special time to create memories and art together!
Community Work
Since 2021, Care For Big Bear has partnered with community members to address littering issues in the valley. We're proud to work alongside locals, visitors and organizations on clean-ups along the lake shoreline, city parks, and trails and to highlight important community groups like the Southern California Mountains Foundation and Big Bear Zoo.
A More Beautiful Valley, One Pound at a Time
Care For Big Bear partners with local landscapers NativeScapes on a trash cleanup initiative that runs year-round. NativeScapes makes weekly clean-up runs to popular recreation areas like Aspen Glen and around the Senior Citizens Center.
Between years 2021 and 2022, NativeScapes collected 78,000 pounds of garbage from National Forest recreation areas. From 2023 through 2024, NativeScapes removed 66,000 pounds of trash. To date in 2025, they have collected about 8,000 pounds. Most of the garbage are small items like paper, plastic bottles and food wrappers. In the winter, plastic sled debris is a large contributor.
2022 Poppy Award: Destination Stewardship & Sustainable Travel
Care For Big Bear was awarded the 2022 Poppy Award for Destination Stewardship & Sustainable Travel.
Operation Potties & Dumpsters
Since 2020, CFBB has funded the placement of porta-potties and dumpsters at trailheads and picnic areas. Pitch in by tossing your litter - and any you find - into the designated dumpsters.
