Celebrate the winter season with Arts at the Oaks! Learn about the rise of citrus agriculture in Orange County with a brief tour of our historic orange grove and embrace the cross-cultural art of making citrus decorations by creating your own. We will be using real dried oranges and fragrant spices to create unique yet traditional decorations to bring good tidings to your home and a friend’s for years to come!

Arts at the Oaks is a monthly program exploring the cultural and natural history of Orange County and beyond through hands-on creative expression. Each month features a new artistic medium and topic to discover. Absolutely no previous art experience is necessary, all are welcome to join and try something new!

The program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. The program will be held below the Santiago Oaks nature center.

Due to limited availability, registration is required for this program.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist, Shelly Marshall at shelly.marshall@ocparks.com.

Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, this walk invites you to take a break from the busy world and immerse yourself in the nature around you. Through a series of invitations, you will be encouraged to explore your surroundings using all your senses to deepen your connection with nature.

This is a guided, slow-paced walk with frequent opportunities to meditate and relax, designed for participants ages 16 and older. Participants are encouraged to bring along a yoga mat or other comfortable seating and their favorite tea or water for the closing tea ceremony. Please wear comfortable attire and be prepared to walk on uneven terrain.

The program will begin outside the Santiago Oaks Nature Center. Please arrive on time to experience the full sequence of the program.

Registration is required.

Inclement weather will cancel the program.

The program is free, and parking is $3 per vehicle.

For questions, please contact resource specialist, Shelly Marshall at 657-253-3681 or shelly.marshall@ocparks.com

Celebrate 50 years of recreation at Santiago Oaks Regional Park by hiking through its history! Learn about the Windes family that called this park home, the flood of 1969 and the grassroots effort to preserve Barham Ranch as parkland. Stops will include the Historic and Villa Park Dams, the Historic Orange Grove, the Nature Center and more.

The walk will begin in front of the Nature Center located near the parking lot and travel approximately 3 miles with little elevation gain.

Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended.

Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian during the program and strollers are not recommended. Sun protection, sturdy footwear and plenty of water are strongly encouraged.

The program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle.

Inclement weather will cancel the program.

For questions, please contact resource specialist Shelly Marshall at (714) 973-6625 or shelly.marshall@ocparks.com.

The OC Parks’ Backcountry Patrol volunteers share trail etiquette, answer questions about the park, monitor trail maintenance, and scope out trail details at Park Staff’s request. This role can overlap with Trail Ambassador Volunteer role, which provides positive educational interactions between representatives of OC Parks and trail users while delivering a message that reflects the importance of trail safety and responsible trail use to park visitors.

Backcountry Patrol Volunteers can explore more of the park’s vast trail system to connect with visitors throughout the park. Trail Ambassador opportunities are primarily stationary (at trailheads or booth) or limited hiking to best connect with park visitors.

This training takes place half the time in the classroom for discussion and group activity, with the second half walking the trails for field experience. Please be prepared for partial hiking.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Shelly Marshall at shelly.marshall@ocparks.com or (714) 973-6625.