Led by Sea and Sage Audubon in partnership with the Irvine Ranch Water District, Wildlife Walks is a free monthly nature walk for all ages at the beautiful San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our friendly naturalists will share the interesting relationships between plants and animals as we walk around the freshwater ponds, easy trails, and butterfly garden of this 300 acre freshwater wetland. Learn about bird migration, plant and animal adaptations, and more as we encounter egrets and herons, shorebirds, swallows, songbirds, raptors, white pelicans, lizards, butterflies, harlequin bugs, sycamores, bulrush, wild rose, bladderpod and more. Come prepared to touch, smell, and hear nature throughout the seasons! Please contact www.seaandsageaudubon.org for further information or speak with the Audubon House volunteer at 949-261-7963. There is no registration required.

The Newport Bay Conservancy offers a 2-hour guided kayak tour of the Back Bay in the heart of Newport Beach every Saturday. This is one of the best ways to appreciate Upper Newport Bay by getting out on the water. Kayaking in the Newport Beach Back Bay is fun and easy. Tours leaves from the Newport Aquatic Center at 10:00 am. They are great for both novices and experiences paddlers alike.

In partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Newport Bay Conservancy asks you to get ready to clean in the New Year. Since fall, the Bay has collected quite a bit of trash as our winter storms have been washing down the streets. We all know how much of a hazard this form of pollution can be to wildlife, recreation and human health, so let’s get together and make a dent in the amount of trash that will reach the ocean. Join us to help clean the bay. All supplies provided; make sure to come in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty (close-toed shoes, boots a plus!). Great time for service hours. Email Carissa Macias at carissa.macias@newportbay.org to sign up.

Led by Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers in partnership with OC Parks. Come and enjoy an easy, 2.5-mile family hike over moderate but uneven terrain (45-ft. elevation gain). Starting at the James Dilley Preserve we will hike one of the most diverse areas of the park to Barbara’s Lake and back. Hike is led by Laguna Canyon Foundation naturalist volunteers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve (I-5 or 405 to 133 south to stoplight at 73 toll road; make a U-turn, go 1 block. Dilley is on the right). Online reservations required: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities.html. For questions call: 949-497-8324. Parking: $3.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­For a bird watcher, every walk is filled with anticipation.  Birds are everywhere and provide one of the most exciting ways to connect with nature.  Whether you see them out in the open space or in your backyard, birds can bring wonder, beauty and song to your world.  Come join us on a leisurely walk and learn how to develop your birding skills as well as gain an understanding of why birds matter in our world. Bring binoculars, if you have them.  This activity originates in the City of Irvine and travels into OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land.

We start our ride on the paved Hicks Haul Road, the extension of Jeffrey Rd north of Portola Pkwy. As we warm up on the climb to the top of the road, we enjoy increasingly beautiful views over Irvine. We then follow Loma Ridge to the East, with fantastic vistas of Orange County, the surrounding wildlands, and even Catalina Island on clear days. From Loma Ridge we fly down into Limestone Canyon and then visit the Sinks, Orange County’s own “Grand Canyon.”

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land.

After a snack break on the viewing deck, we continue to the Box Springs, which provides year round water for wildlife like deer. Oak trees provide shade and acorns, which the Indians used to grind into acorn meal. We can still find traces of their work. On our way back, we ride down on Limestone Ridge, a fun singletrack that leads us towards the Augustine Staging area, enjoying views of Saddleback and Santiago Canyon. From there we will follow the Shoestring Trail to climb back up to Loma Ridge, and then coast back down on the paved Hicks Haul Road to our starting point.

Led by Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers in partnership with OC Parks. If you enjoy using the park trails and aren’t afraid of a little hard work, this is your opportunity to give back by improving trails. You will also learn to see your favorite trails in a new way! Join Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks for a morning of trail maintenance. We will be using tools such as loppers, picks, shovels and McLeods to clear brush out of trails, restore features that protect the trail, and/or build new features to improve trail sustainability. Ages 17 and up. Lunch and refreshments served. Laguna Coast Wilderness, Willow Staging Area, (I-5 or 405 to 133 south, just past El Toro Road intersection, on right-hand side). Online registration required: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities.html. For more information please call Alan at (928) 853-9467. Parking: Free for Trail Stewardhip Day volunteers!

Hiking combined with outdoor yoga adds a unique dimension to your fitness experience and yoga practice. YIKING allows the spirit to link with the natural environment. The rigorous cardio hike meanders around an avocado orchard on the edge of the open space preserve followed by a  steep ascent and descent to and from West Loma Ridge through Changala’s Pass. The hike distance will be about 4 miles, making your muscles more pliable, enhancing the yoga stretches. YIKING invokes a sense of harmony and flow, as you breathe deeply, refreshing your mind, body and spirit— all in a location with sweeping views of Irvine and the Pacific coastline.

All participants must bring a yoga mat and carry it along on the hike to the hillside yoga site. Please wear clothes comfortable to stretch in. Hiking poles and sun protection are encouraged.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-5 activity on the land.

While enjoying colorful displays of wildflowers planted by Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and volunteers, additional help is needed to remove aggressive weeds that threaten to overtake these plantings in Bee Flat/Limestone Canyon. Your contributions will give wildflowers room to grow and your efforts will have a lasting impact on the landscape and the wildlife which depend on it. Participants will learn the names of common weeds and wildflowers, view wildlife, and enjoy rarely visited scenic vistas looking over Orange County, the Pacific Ocean, and Catalina Island! All tools and training, including plant identification, will be provided. Expect a challenging and unique workout experience as this event will include bending, kneeling and walking across slopes and uneven terrain. Sturdy footwear is recommended.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land.

There is a lot of area to cover and many wildflowers to save so your assistance is greatly appreciated. Hope you can join us!

Are you ready to try a new exercise that is fun and energetic while enjoying the great outdoors? Come dance to the fantastic aerobic workout, ZUMBA!! Join us as we take on a variety of Latin flavor moves through dancing the Salsa, Maringa, Flamenco and more! Different dance routines feature interval moves from fast to slow rhythms, adding in resistance training to tone and sculpt your body while burning calories. You don’t need to be a professional dancer, just have the drive to try! It’s high energy, it’s zesty…it’s ZUMBA! Please wear comfortable workout clothes, closed toed shoes, bring plenty of water, and be ready to move!

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.

Come visit the Office of Natural Resources, Recreation and Senior Services Department at the City of Newport Beach at the Back Bay Science Center (located at 600 Shellmaker Road, Newport Beach, CA 92660) every Sunday from 10:00AM to 2:00PM to experience the beauty of Upper Newport Bay while browsing a research and education facility! Explore tidepool touch tanks, observe coastal bay and estuary birds, or examine some biofacts in the Teaching Lab. No reservations are required for this free event and it is open to all ages. For any questions, please contact marineeducation@newportbeachca.gov.

The Newport Bay Conservancy offers a 2-hour guided kayak tour of the Back Bay in the heart of Newport Beach every Sunday. This is one of the best ways to appreciate Upper Newport Bay by getting out on the water. Kayaking in the Newport Beach Back Bay is fun and easy. Tours leaves from the Newport Aquatic Center at 10:00 am. They are great for both novices and experiences paddlers alike.

Please join us at the Community Stewardship Native Plant Nursery located at the Quail Hill Trailhead in Irvine. We have been growing native Purple needle grass and Cobweb thistle, and they are now ready to plant! We will be meeting at the nursery within the trailhead yard to gather our plants, and then we will head to the loop trail planting site (around 150 yards from the trailhead). Your work at the nursery will help to enhance the native habitat at Quail Hill – directly benefiting the local wildlife!

Learn about some of the fun and interesting animals that live at Crystal Cove State Park on Sunday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Historic District Education Commons where Park Naturalist Alex will host a Beachside Chat.  Park in the Los Trancos lot (PCH inland at stoplight Los Trancos then walk through the tunnel or take the shuttle.) Day-use fee: $5/per hour (max. $15).

Come join us for an interactive evening under the stars.  Immerse yourself in a scaled down version of our solar system.  Test your imagination in naming the constellations.  Reenact the struggle between Orion and the Scorpion.  The hike will average 2-3 miles round trip at an easy pace with a high level of interpretation. This program is for participants who would like a slower paced hike. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes and bring water for the hike.

Please review the Difficulty Ratings on the banner above before registering. Understanding the 1-through-5 ratings system will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land.

California native grasslands are a disappearing habitat that is home to many unique and endangered plants and animals. Please join Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and fellow IRC volunteers for an opportunity to participate in a hands-on habitat restoration activity.  Come join the team and help native plants and wildlife so they may thrive in West Loma.

No experience is necessary other than a desire to explore and care for our open space. Participants will help IRC staff with planting native plants.  Sturdy footwear is recommended for walking on uneven terrain, kneeling, bending, and gardening in the wilderness.  All tools will be provided.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-4 activity on the land.

Join us every Monday night for a fitness-focused hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road. During the summer, hikers will enjoy wonderful sunset views and a panoramic overview of Orange County. This hike travels about 3.5 miles, up to the top of Loma Ridge and back down.

The hike is conducted at about 3-3.5 miles per hour, but you may travel a bit faster or slower, at a walk, run, or jog depending on your comfort level.  Most participants finish the route in about 1 hour.  Because of the paved surface of the road, you may wear regular running or walking shoes.  Trail shoes are fine, but not required.  Please bring adequate water!

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.

Discover unique historical tales about the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks as we celebrate different cultures together! Each month, a different culture and celebration will be highlighted, with the possibility of the program presented in multiple languages which will allow for everyone to fully enjoy the beauty of the land.

This month we will focus on the Chinese New Year. Come explore how people who are born in The Year of the Monkey are enthusiastic, innovative and adventurous, just like those who enjoy the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks!

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land.

Come out and enjoy the evening with us on the Orchard Hills loop trail. This trail meanders around an avocado orchard on the edge of the open space preserve and provides fantastic ridge-top views of Irvine and the Pacific coastline.

The three-mile loop has several very steep climbs, but the hike is done at a moderate pace. The effort is rewarded with a beautiful, unobstructed view to the west. Please bring water and wear sturdy shoes. This hike is not suitable for children under 12.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land

Led by Laguna Canyon Foundation in partnership with OC Parks. Learn about the many fascinating uses of California native plants during the pre-mission period, on this 2-mile hike (490-ft elevation gain) over steep and uneven terrain. This hike will focus on plants used historically for tools, food and building materials. For ages 12 and up. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve (I-5 or 405 south to 133 south to stoplight at 73 toll road; make a U-turn, go 1 block. Dilley is on the right). Online reservations required: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities.html. For questions call: 949-497-8324. Parking: $3.