The cactus wren need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things like planting 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.

Come on out and help restore the wild lands we so enjoy! There’s no better way to start a Saturday morning than by joining Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks staff in an invigorating project of non-native plant removal and/or planting native plants. Help us make a healthier environment for the native wildlife and for ourselves. 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!

Do a good deed, get a dose of Nature, and learn about the plants around you, all at once! Come experience the cool mornings and the spicy aromas of a California autumn while working with us at our one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm in Irvine. Absolutely no experience or special equipment required.

You will be harvesting seeds from robust native fall wildflowers and bushes— things like California Buckwheat and our iconic Sagebrush. Check here for details on the difficultly rating of this Level 1 Stewardship activity. 

Please join IRC staff and volunteers as we convert the Dripping Springs ranch road into a single track trail! Spend the afternoon 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 down a gorgeous fern-covered rock face. Your work on the trail will benefit the rare plants and animals that this unique feature supports!

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. Join us at our native plant nursery as we care for native plants from their seed stage to their mature, ready-to-be planted stage. Volunteers may collect seeds, sow seeds in flats, bump plants up, plant at restoration sites, sterilize plan containers, and/or help maintain the facilities for the plants. Gain hands-on experience with habitat restoration while working alongside other zany and interesting plant lovers! Online reservations required are: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities. For questions, call 949-497-8324.

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

No previous experience is needed, however please note that we will be hiking at least one mile up a steep trail (Oak Trail and Bumble Bee Trail) to reach our planting site, and then back down upon conclusion of the activity.

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

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.

Seeking Ranger Reserves and OC Parks Volunteers to assist with backcountry patrol of park trails. Patrolling the trails is at times is strenuous and will include passing out maps, educating public about importance of keeping their dogs on a leash and making a presence on the trails. Other duties may include repairing broken fencing, checking for graffiti and investigating illegal trail use in Weir canyon.

Volunteers should be motivated individuals who do not mind hiking long distances alone and can act as an ambassador of OC Parks when encountering visitors on the trail.

Please contact Park Ranger Mike Wilson for more information. Times and days are flexible. Michael.wilson@ocparks.com.

If you are an OC Parks Volunteer who has not previously been trained at Santiago Oaks. Please call to set up training prior to working your shift.

Please be prepared to hike the trails of the park and bring:
– Backpack with water and snacks
– OC parks hat
– Volunteer vest or shirt
– Green or brown colored hiking pants / shorts
– Cell phone with full battery
– Sturdy hiking boots
– Have completed first Aid and CPR training.

Assist Park Staff with Sign Inventory Project.

Do a good deed, get a dose of Nature, and learn about the plants around you, all at once! Come experience the cool mornings and the spicy aromas of a California autumn while working with us at our one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm in Irvine. Absolutely no experience or special equipment required.

You will be harvesting seeds from robust native fall wildflowers and bushes— things like California Buckwheat and our iconic Sagebrush. Check here for details on the difficultly rating of this Level 1 Stewardship activity. 

Birds, turtles and other wildlife need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things  can greatly improve habitat for wildlife. You  are a  part of that positive impact!

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.

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.

Seeking Ranger Reserves and OC Parks Volunteers to assist with backcountry patrol of park trails. Patrolling the trails is at times is strenuous and will include passing out maps, educating public about importance of keeping their dogs on a leash and making a presence on the trails. Other duties may include repairing broken fencing, checking for graffiti and investigating illegal trail use in Weir canyon.

Volunteers should be motivated individuals who do not mind hiking long distances alone and can act as an ambassador of OC Parks when encountering visitors on the trail.

Please contact Park Ranger Mike Wilson for more information. Times and days are flexible. Michael.wilson@ocparks.com.

If you are an OC Parks Volunteer who has not previously been trained at Santiago Oaks. Please call to set up training prior to working your shift.

Please be prepared to hike the trails of the park and bring:
– Backpack with water and snacks
– OC parks hat
– Volunteer vest or shirt
– Green or brown colored hiking pants / shorts
– Cell phone with full battery
– Sturdy hiking boots
– Have completed first Aid and CPR training.

Seeking Ranger Reserves and OC Parks Volunteers to assist with backcountry patrol of park trails. Patrolling the trails is at times is strenuous and will include passing out maps, educating public about importance of keeping their dogs on a leash and making a presence on the trails. Other duties may include repairing broken fencing, checking for graffiti and investigating illegal trail use in Weir canyon.

Volunteers should be motivated individuals who do not mind hiking long distances alone and can act as an ambassador of OC Parks when encountering visitors on the trail.

Please contact Park Ranger Mike Wilson for more information. Times and days are flexible. Michael.wilson@ocparks.com.

If you are an OC Parks Volunteer who has not previously been trained at Santiago Oaks. Please call to set up training prior to working your shift.

Please be prepared to hike the trails of the park and bring:
– Backpack with water and snacks
– OC parks hat
– Volunteer vest or shirt
– Green or brown colored hiking pants / shorts
– Cell phone with full battery
– Sturdy hiking boots
– Have completed first Aid and CPR training.