Friends of Big Bear Valley raised $10 million to buy Moon Camp, a parcel near Big Bear Lake located under a mile from the nest of bald eagles Jackie and Shadow. A $5.5 million gift from Anna and Greg Brockman pushed the campaign past its July 31 goal after more than 25,000 donors had already contributed. The purchase preserves shoreline, undisturbed forest and the rare ash-gray Indian paintbrush (Castilleja cinerea), and honors the late Sandy Steers, the campaign’s longtime champion.
Donation Drive Secures $10 Million to Protect Moon Camp, Home of Bald Eagles Jackie and Shadow
Jackie and Shadow seen earlier this year on their nest in Big Bear Valley.
Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) announced it has reached a $10 million fundraising goal to purchase a parcel known locally as Moon Camp, preserving critical habitat near Big Bear Lake that lies less than a mile from the nest of the famed bald-eagle pair Jackie and Shadow.
Major Gift Pushes Campaign Over the Finish Line
A $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Brockman — Greg is co-founder and President of OpenAI — moved the campaign past its July 31 deadline. Before that gift, more than 25,000 individual contributions had already raised nearly half of the total needed.
"Greg and I are grateful to all those who championed saving the home of these majestic eagles, Jackie and Shadow," Anna Brockman said in a statement. "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. We are proud to be supportive."
Why Moon Camp Matters
Moon Camp sits under a mile from Jackie and Shadow’s nest and borders a stretch of shoreline that supplies the fish the adults and their chicks depend on. The property includes an undisturbed forest that supports birds, squirrels and other wildlife, and it is home to the rare ash-gray Indian paintbrush (Castilleja cinerea), a threatened plant endemic to this region.
Honoring a Longtime Advocate
Securing Moon Camp was a personal mission for Sandy Steers, FOBBV’s former executive director and resident bald-eagle expert. Steers, who helped launch the live cams in 2015, negotiated a limited purchase agreement earlier this year with the landowner, developer RCK Properties, and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust. She died on February 11 after a battle with cancer; the acquisition is being completed in her honor.
Current Status of Jackie, Shadow and the Chicks
The fundraising victory comes amid concern for the pair. Jackie is currently at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Ojai, California, after being found injured following an altercation with two subadult bald eagles. Shadow has been caring for their 2026 eaglets, Luna and Sandy, alone since Jackie’s rescue; the chicks are expected to fully fledge in the coming weeks.
Next steps: The purchased land will be managed to protect shoreline access, preserve forest habitat and safeguard the rare plant population for future generations.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Popular Science’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025 alleging infringement of Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating AI systems.
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