Please join us at the Native Plant Nursery located at the Augustine Staging Area. This is a unique opportunity to help propagate coastal sage scrub plant species in the same location they will be planted. All work at the nursery is community-driven, and the plants grown will help to enhance the native habitat within Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve! This month, help us to grow native California sagebrush and buckwheat by planting the small seeds into containers. We will be working in the shade of the nursery located in close proximity to the parking area. 

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

Leave your park better than you found it! Join Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff during monthly habitat stewardship activities at Irvine Regional Park, aimed at keeping the park’s trails and habitat healthy. Identified in collaboration with the Park Rangers that patrol the trails everyday, stewardship projects can include planting to combat the effects of off-trail use, removing invasive plant species that threaten to crowd out the diversity of native plants, and more!

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

Miss playing in the dirt?  Want to give back to Nature? Then sign up to help behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind native seed farm in Irvine! You’ll have a chance to “dig into” this easy, satisfying work.

Together we will be planting new plants into our growing fields, and weeding to protect them while they grow. Tools, knee pads and a how-to lesson will be provided. No experience needed! Reviewing the 1-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this Level 1 activity.

The Youth Action Team, an after school community-service based program throughout the City of Irvine regularly volunteers their time to steward the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. This week, middle school students will spend their morning helping to enhance Quail Hill! Stewardship activities can include planting native species and weeding off of the Quail Hill loop trail, nursery work, watering and more. Please help lead this group and provide a wonderful experience they will never forget!

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

Ranger Reserve Monthly Meeting – Mandatory.

Come out to assist OC Park Rangers service a system of access monitoring cameras on the Irvine Ranch Open Space. Explore the beautiful Irvine Ranch Open Space while providing critical assistance to the camera program. Must be a current OC Parks Ranger Reserve to participate. Prior experience on the Open Space camera route, or working with someone who has, is required.

Invading weeds degrade habitat for birds and other wildlife. Help us keep wildlife healthy by weeding artichoke thistle from the Quail Hill loop in Irvine. This activity takes place on uneven terrain and sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. All training, tools, and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen here and generally avoid people, but protective gear 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.

Sahara mustard is a nasty exotic that has invaded thousands of acres across Southern California and is just beginning to encroach upon the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Now is the time to act! Over the last five years volunteers have been successfully keeping this plant at bay at Loma Ridge within the Irvine Ranch Open Space. Your help is needed to search for and remove new mustard plants that have come up from seed so that we can keep this weed from infesting our wild lands! This event will include bending, kneeling and walking across slopes and uneven terrain. All training and tools will be provided. We hope you can join us!

Please join us at the Native Plant Nursery located at the Augustine Staging Area. This is a unique opportunity to help propagate coastal sage scrub plant species in the same location they will be planted. All work at the nursery is community-driven, and the plants grown will help to enhance the native habitat within Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve! This month, help us to grow native California sagebrush and buckwheat by planting the small seeds into containers. We will be working in the shade of the nursery located in close proximity to the parking area. 

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

The cactus wren need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things like weeding and watering native plants can greatly improve habitat for this threatened bird and other wildlife. You can be part of this positive impact while enjoying the scenery along Mule Deer Trail in the Irvine Open Space Preserve. This activity takes place on sloped terrain and sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. All training, tools, and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen here and generally avoid people, but protective gear will be provided. Note that this activity is held on the 3rd Friday of each month.

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

Are you a nature lover, hiker, gardener, or just need to get outside to refresh yourself? Does the idea of adopting a canyon across four seasons and being part of a longer term project interest you? Please come help Irvine Ranch Conservancy restore local habitat, native plants, and wildlife so they may thrive in the canyon of Agua Chinon. No experience is necessary other than a desire to explore and care for our open space. Participants may engage in plant identification, removal of invasive weeds, and planting native plants.

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

Join the Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks for a morning of invigorating habitat restoration work in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Help us create a healthier habitat for the native plants and wildlife that call the canyon their home. Depending on the time of year volunteers will assist with various restoration activities.including removal of non-native plants, seed collection and/or planting of native plants. No experience is necessary and all tools will be provided.  Please wear closed toe shoes, sun protection and bring water. Come out and join the team to help restore the wild lands we all enjoy! Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Rd/SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-5/405). Online reservations required: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities. For questions call: 949-497-8324. Parking: Free for Keep-It-Wild volunteers!

Requesting assistance from Ranger Reserves for weekend patrol. Ranger Reserves will assist with patrolling the park, advising for codified ordinance violations, traffic/parking control, and making public contacts.

Sahara mustard is a nasty exotic that has invaded thousands of acres across Southern California and is just beginning to encroach upon the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Now is the time to act! Over the last five years volunteers have been successfully keeping this plant at bay at Loma Ridge within the Irvine Ranch Open Space. Your help is needed to search for and remove new mustard plants that have come up from seed so that we can keep this weed from infesting our wild lands! This event will include bending, kneeling and walking across slopes and uneven terrain. All training and tools will be provided. We hope you can join us!

Miss playing in the dirt?  Want to give back to Nature? Then sign up to help behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind native seed farm in Irvine! You’ll have a chance to “dig into” this easy, satisfying work.

Together we will be planting new plants into our growing fields, and weeding to protect them while they grow. Tools, knee pads and a how-to lesson will be provided. No experience needed! Reviewing the 1-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this Level 1 activity.

Come learn about the opportunities for volunteering at the Upper Newport Bay such as kayak and outrigger tours, nature walks, Interpretive Center visitor services, habitat restoration (invasive plant removal & planting native species), leading tours with youth, judging science fairs, Earth Day, and other special events. Also we will explore the world of interpretation through customer service and how it relates to an open space setting.
This training is designed for adults (or teens 16 yrs+) who can commit to approximately 4 hours per month or 48 hours in their first 12 months of volunteering.
This orientation/training event makes one eligible to volunteer in any Orange County Parks space, and is the site-specific training for the Upper Newport Bay. Free training for CPR/First Aid/AED is provided on a separate date and is required.
Many organizations proclaim that their people are their greatest asset. For NBC this is resoundingly true. Our passionate and talented volunteers have contributed well over 100,000 hours of service at Upper Newport Bay working in partnership with our seasoned staff. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and commitment of our roughly 200 active volunteers. We look forward to having you join us. Feel free to familiarize yourself with our programs and events by going to www.newportbay.org.

Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/newport-bay-conservancy-oc-parks-volunteer-training-feb-18-2017-tickets-31355990612

Requesting assistance from Ranger Reserves for weekend patrol. Ranger Reserves will assist with patrolling the park, advising for codified ordinance violations, traffic/parking control, and making public contacts.

The Tecate Cypress is a rare species found only in southern California and northern Baja California. Unfortunately, the northern most population in the Santa Ana Mountains is in severe decline due to too-frequent wildfires. In effort to protect this rare species, locally genetic trees have been planted in Fremont Canyon, in close proximity to the staging area. Join us as we deeply water and weed around the young trees. Your work will ensure the newly-planted Tecate has all they need to thrive, and will directly help the effort to ensure the persistence of this unique forest community here in Orange County!

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

Please join IRC staff as we convert Dripping Springs ranch road into a single track trail! Activities may include planting native plants along the trail side, weeding out non-native invasive species and watering newly planted plants.  Your effort will help to create a beautiful clear path for people as well as important habitat for wildlife. Spend the day working through grassland, coastal sage scrub, and woodland habitats and then hike to Dripping Springs, a natural water source dripping out of an earthquake fault and then down a gorgeous fern-covered rock face. This unique feature supports many rare plants and animals in the area. No previous experience is needed; however we will be hiking approximately 2.5 miles with heavy tools. Thank you for your continued support of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks!

Please review the Difficulty Ratings before registering. Understanding the 1-through-5 ratings system will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.

Miss playing in the dirt?  Want to give back to Nature? Then sign up to help behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind native seed farm in Irvine! You’ll have a chance to “dig into” this easy, satisfying work.

Together we will be planting new plants into our growing fields, and weeding to protect them while they grow. Tools, knee pads and a how-to lesson will be provided. No experience needed! Reviewing the 1-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this Level 1 activity.