March 30 to April 5, 2015 Adventures, Events in Area and Upcoming Special Events, California State Parks

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1 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Linda Hitchcock/Elizabeth Hammack, SPI III Start: March 30, 2015 Phone No.: (831) End: April 5, 2015 Jodi Apelt, SPI I (831) japelt@parks.ca.gov March 30 to April 5, 2015 Adventures, Events in Area and Upcoming Special Events, California State Parks Half Moon Bay State Beach Francis Beach 95 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay, CA (650) Volunteer Opportunity - Help Save the Snowy Plover! Tuesday, March 31 from 9 am to 2 pm California State Parks is seeking volunteers to help monitor and protect snowy plovers on the beaches of the San Mateo Coast. The Plover Watch program, based out of Half Moon Bay State Beach, invites you to a workshop to train new volunteers on Tuesday, March 31. You can play a major role in protecting the Western Snowy Plover, a small endangered shorebird that nests on sandy beaches. The workshop runs from 9 am to 2 pm and includes indoor learning sessions in the morning and an outdoor field session in the afternoon. Once trained, volunteers will monitor select beaches regularly (weekly or bi-weekly), complete survey forms to record data, close-off habitat areas and help protect the plovers by pointing them out to beach visitors who might not otherwise see them. Some volunteers further help by participating in more formal public education such as classroom presentations, school group field trips and informational booths at community events. Thirty years ago, Snowy Plovers used to nest on more than 50 beaches in California, but now the number of nesting beaches has dwindled to fewer than half. To register for the workshop or for more information, call Nelle Lyons or Jessie Harvey at (650) or HMBinterpreter@parks.ca.gov. Events made possible by California State Parks and Coastside State Parks Association Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Located on School St. off of Mission and Emmet Street in Santa Cruz (831) March hours: Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. Guided Adobe Tour Monday, March 30 at 2 pm Thursday, April 2 at 1pm Join us at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park for a guided tour of the oldest building in Santa Cruz. Come learn about the many families who have called this 180 year old mission

2 adobe their home. This event is free. Tours are conducted rain or shine. The Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is located on School St. off of Mission and Emmet Street in Santa Cruz. Please call (831) for more information. Gardens of Time Friday, April 3 at 1 pm Stroll through history as you visit the various gardens within our courtyard and patio. We can learn a good deal about people who lived here in the past by exploring the plants they used and cultivated. Tour our native plant gardens, demonstration vegetable beds and Victorian Nearyland. Take home history in a seed. The event is free. Rain Cancels. Wool, Spinning, and Weaving Saturday, April 4 at 1 pm How did an isolated settlement clothe the hundreds of people who lived there? Take an in depth look at the cloth industry of Mission Santa Cruz. We will follow the path of wool from the sheep to the shirt. You will have the chance to try your hand at a drop spindle and spin your own wool. The event is free. Rain or Shine. The Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is located on School St. off of Mission and Emmet Street in Santa Cruz. Please call (831) for more information. Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is located on Highway One, 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 30 miles north of Santa Cruz (650) April is Whale Watch Month at Pigeon Point! Thursday through Monday in April from 10 am to 4 pm From the boardwalk behind the fog signal building, watch for gray whales on their annual migration. Docents are stationed on site to help you know what to look for and share information about the migration of gray whales. While you re there, you can learn about the other marine life that frequent the area, the history of the lighthouse and more. Pigeon Point Light Station is located off Highway One near Pescadero, California, approximately fifty miles south of San Francisco. For more information, call the Pigeon Point information line at (650) Thursday through Monday or visit online at Events made possible by California State Parks and Coastside State Parks Association and Follow us on Facebook at Natural Bridges State Beach Located at the end of West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz (831) Seeking Volunteers to be Tide Pool Stewards Wednesday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 28

3 Join the Tide Pool University! This is your opportunity to learn about the park, reach out to the public and be a part of an amazing volunteer community. The tide pools are one of California s Marine Protected Areas and volunteers are able to help educate the public about the tide pool plants and animals that make up the diverse habitat of the inter-tidal zone along our coast at Natural Bridges State Beach. The training requires attendance to classes on Wednesday evening and Saturdays for the duration of the month of April. Once a docent, we require at least 6 hours a month of volunteering. If you are interested in becoming a docent to lead tours, host the Visitor Center or serve as a steward please call Natural Bridges to sign up! (831) Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Butano State Park 1500 Cloverdale Rd., Pescadero, CA 94060, (650) or facebook.com/butanostatepark Wildflower Walk Sunday, April 5 at 11 am Walk along the trails of Butano State Park with Volunteer Naturalist Scott Peden. This is a slowly-paced walk with time to discover and identify plants, flowers and animals in the park, and allow for photography if you choose. Bring water, lunch or snacks, and plenty of questions. Meet Scott at the park's Visitor Center near the entrance station. Allow 3 to 4 hours for this walk. Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Coastside State Parks Foundation. Visit us on the web at and Facebook.com/CoastsideStateParks or Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Located Off Hwy 9 in Felton (831) Old-Growth Redwood Walks Saturday, April 4 at 1 pm Meet at the Visitor Center via the Park s main entrance off Hwy 9 in Felton. Experience a guided forest adventure on a docent-led walk through the magnificent old-growth coast redwood forest. This 0.8 mile long stroll begins at 1pm and lasts about 1.5 hours. The trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Program is free, parking fee is $10. More information is available at (831) Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Mountain Parks Foundation. Visit us on the web at or Big Basin Redwoods State Park Located 9 miles outside of Boulder Creek on Hwy 236 (831) Redwood Loop Walk Every Saturday and Sunday at 11 am and 2 pm

4 How do these grand redwoods grow to be so old? So tall? How are they important to humans? Join us for this fun and informative guided half-mile stroll through a magnificent old-growth redwood forest. Meet the famous Mother Tree, the Father of the Forest and the incredible Chimney Tree on this 90-minute walk. Stroller and wheelchair accessible. Meet at Headquarters. Shadowbrook Stroll Friday, April 3 at Noon Join Docent Hal Anjo as he guides you on a less-traveled trail that takes you by Union Creek, to the Sempervirens Falls and back through the redwoods. This is a 4 mile, 3.5 hour hike. Bring water and good hiking shoes. Meet at Park Headquarters. Meteor Trail Hike Saturday, April 4 at 10:30 am Join docent Peggy O Shea on one of our most diverse hikes by mountain streams, oak woodlands, chaparral and redwoods. You ll discuss forests, flowers and fires on a 6 mile, 3.5 hour hike. This somewhat strenuous ascent is rewarded with ocean views on a clear day. Bring water, lunch and good hiking shoes. Meet at Park Headquarters. Snakes Alive! Saturday, April 4 from Noon to 3 pm Why are snakes important to us? How do they see, smell, taste, hear? What and how do they eat? What does a snake feel like? Come to the Old Lodge, across the street from the Nature Lodge/Museum, and meet Docent Diane Shaw and learn about the fascinating world of snakes. Diane will give a talk about snakes at 12:30, or stop by anytime to meet the snakes and talk to Diane. Snake crafts for the kids too! Discover Big Basin Redwoods! Saturday, April 4 at 12 pm Sunday, April 5 at 12 pm Explore some of the park s less travelled backcountry with docent naturalist Barry Grimm. This hike will be individually tailored to your group, so distance can vary from 2 to 8 miles, depending on your needs. The pace is always moderate with occasional short stops to discover the park s unique animals, plants and other natural features. Based on group size, experience level and weather conditions, we will choose from the many trails that explore the park s most scenic areas. Dress in layers for changeable weather and temperatures. Bring sturdy walking shoes, water and trail snacks. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at Park Headquarters. The Road Less Traveled A Dog-Friendly Walk Sunday, April 5 at 10:30 am On this dog-friendly walk, we travel on North Escape Road, a paved road closed to traffic. We tour stunning old-growth redwood groves along beautiful Opal Creek. We'll discuss redwood ecology and park history while exploring the deep shade of the redwood forest. This is a fun, easy, three-mile, two-hour roundtrip walk. Wheelchairs welcome too! Dogs not required, but welcome! Bring water and meet at Park Headquarters. Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Mountain Parks Foundation

5 Upcoming Special Events Half Moon Bay State Beach Francis Beach 95 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay, CA (650) California Native Plants Week Special Event! 2 nd Annual Coastal Wildflower Day Saturday, April 11 from 10 am to 4 pm Coastal Wildflower Day supports California State Park s stewardship of the natural resources on the San Mateo coast. Park staff at Half Moon Bay State Beach invites you to get to know the flowering plants of the coast. This event is filled with activities for the entire family, including: games and educational activities for youth, a habitat restoration project, guided wildflower walks, resources to help you grow your own native plants, coast side artists painting, and a native plant sale. Donations for native plants will support the State Beach native plant nursery, which raises plants for restoration projects along the coast. Most activities begin at the Half Moon Bay State Beach visitor center. Discover more about these seaside survivors unique beauty and special features that help them thrive in a windy, sandy, salty environment. Event is free. Parking is $10. 9 am to Noon Sign-up to Volunteer with the California State Parks Foundation! Volunteer to restore habitat along the Coastside Trail. Sign up in advance on the California State Parks Foundation Park Champions website: For more information, visit the Coastside State Parks Association website at: If you have questions, HMBParksVolunteer@Park.ca.gov or call Jessie at (650) Coastal Wildflower Day is co-sponsored by California State Parks and Coastside State Parks Association. It is also supported by the California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter. Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center Located 17 miles north of Santa Cruz, at 3600 Highway One, Davenport, California Open Weekends Noon to 4 pm. Call (831) A Special Event! Annual Wildflower Weekend Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April am to 4 pm Spring is coming to the Waddell Valley! Each year a unique variety of flowers appear, in an assortment of colors and forms to delight the senses. Come and see what's in bloom in the western portion of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. View the flowers on display at the Nature and History Center and visit them on the park's trails with displays featuring 50 or more native and non-native species, labeled and grouped by habitat. There will be kid-friendly activities in the Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center as well! Naturalist led wildflower walks at 11:00

6 am and 1:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday that will enable you to see the blooms in their natural setting while learning about their unique features. Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Waddell Creek Association. Visit us on the web at or or Wilder Ranch State Park Located two miles north of Santa Cruz, on Highway 1 (831) April hours: 8 am to sunset. A Special Event! Garden Planting and Wool Day Saturday, April 25 from 11 am to 3 pm Celebrate Spring and help us plant the organic heirloom vegetable garden at Wilder Ranch State Park. The garden helps bring the c dairy ranch atmosphere to life. Bring the family all ages are welcome. Children can plant and bring home their own heirloom bean in a paper pot, and everyone can enjoy living history demonstrations, sheep shearing (9 am to 10am), spinning and more. Bring a pair of gardening gloves and sun hat. Snacks, drinks, tools and seedlings will be provided. For more information, call (831) Wilder Ranch is located two miles north of Santa Cruz, on Highway 1. Event is free. Parking is $10. Events made possible by California State Park Docents, California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks # # #