Save Moon Camp is a decades-long effort to protect one of Big Bear’s last undeveloped lakeside properties. For more than 20 years, conservationists have worked to preserve this important habitat, and now the campaign has reached a pivotal moment.
A coalition led by Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust is racing to raise $10 million by July 31, 2026, to purchase nearly 63 acres of privately owned land before it can be developed into a luxury residential community.
If successful, the property will be permanently protected and eventually become part of the adjacent United States Forest Service land.
Who are Jackie and Shadow
If you’re new to Big Bear, Jackie and Shadow are the valley’s famous resident bald eagle pair. Their nest, watched by millions of people around the world through the live eagle camera, has become one of Big Bear’s biggest attractions.
Two live cams stream 24/7, giving viewers a front-row seat to the famous bald eagle nest. Live Cam 1 offers a close-up view of the nest, where you can watch Jackie and Shadow build their nest, incubate eggs, feed their eaglets, and interact throughout the year. Live Cam 2 provides a wider view of the surrounding forest, making it easier to spot the eagles as they fly in and out of the nest or perch in nearby trees.
Every nesting season, viewers tune in to watch the pair build their nest, lay eggs, and raise their eaglets, making them beloved ambassadors for the area’s wildlife.
One of the simplest things to do in Big Bear is spend some time by the lake and keep an eye on the sky. If you’re lucky, you might spot Jackie or Shadow soaring overhead or diving toward the water in search of fish. Seeing one of Big Bear’s famous bald eagles in the wild is an unforgettable experience.
What Is Moon Camp?
Moon Camp is a proposed development site located in Fawnskin, less than one mile from the famous nest of Big Bear’s bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow.
The original proposal includes approximately 50 luxury homes and a marina on land that wildlife experts say serves as an important foraging area for the eagles. Environmental groups also say the property supports other wildlife, including the San Bernardino flying squirrel and the rare Ash-gray Indian Paintbrush, a plant found only in the Big Bear Valley.
Why Is saving moon camp Important?
Unlike the nesting tree itself, bald eagles depend on a much larger surrounding habitat to survive.
Jackie and Shadow regularly hunt and forage throughout the North Shore. Conservationists believe developing Moon Camp could permanently alter that habitat through increased human activity, shoreline disturbance, lighting, noise, and boat traffic. They also point to concerns about wildfire evacuation and the loss of one of the last undeveloped sections of shoreline along Big Bear Lake.
A Fight That Started in 2001
Opposition to the project isn’t new.
Friends of Big Bear Valley was originally formed in 2001 after residents learned about plans for the Moon Camp development. Over the next 25 years, environmental organizations challenged the project through public hearings and multiple lawsuits under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Although the project was temporarily halted in court in 2022, revised plans were later approved by San Bernardino County in 2025, leading conservation groups to file another lawsuit.
A Different Solution
Rather than continuing years of legal battles, a new opportunity emerged in 2026.
The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust negotiated an agreement to purchase the property for $10 million. If the fundraising goal is reached before the July 31 deadline, the land will be permanently preserved, protecting one of Big Bear’s most significant wildlife habitats for future generations.
save moon camp donation is tax deductible
Whether you’ve been following Jackie and Shadow for years or are just discovering them for the first time, the Save Moon Camp campaign is about preserving a special part of Big Bear for future generations.
If you’d like to support the effort, donations are tax-deductible through the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Make sure that you only donate at the SaveMoonCamp‘s official website.
No matter what happens, the campaign is a reminder of how much this community values its wildlife, natural beauty, and the places that make Big Bear unlike anywhere else.
