The activities below are offered by a variety of organizations and their dedicated volunteers. All programs are FREE unless noted below. Programs led by IRC-Certified Volunteers require pre-registration, which closes at 4 p.m. on the day prior to the event. No walk-up registrations will be permitted for these events. For policies of other organizations, please use the sign-up information provided. For mobility device policies click here.
Note: Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for these events. For programs requiring online registration, each adult and child must be registered. |
Need help? For the fastest answers, look for organization-specific contact information in each event listing (click More Information for full listing). If no contact information is listed, email info@irconservancy.org for assistance.
Click here to learn more about IRC-Certified Volunteers. • Click here to learn more about the Difficulty Ratings.
Search & Filter Activities
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Nursery and Plant Care
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 plant 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: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities.
Monday, January 16, 2017
Staff Santiago Oaks Nature Center
Allow Park Rangers to keep the beautiful Santiago Oaks Regional Park Nature Center open for public enjoyment. Volunteers will monitor visitors and keep attendance. Building is climate controlled.
No experience is necessary. If you have not volunteered in this position before you will need to attend a brief nature center training 30 minutes prior to the start of your shift. Please contact Ranger Shelly Meneely to set up training – Shelly.Meneely@ocparks.com or (714) 973-6623.
CANCELLED: Youth Action Team Stewardship at Quail Hill
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.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Dig in! Plant Wildflowers at the Native Seed Farm
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.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Ranger Reserve Camera Service, Irvine Ranch Open Space, OC Parks
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.
Backcountry Patrol
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.
CANCELLED: Pulling Together at Quail Hill
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.
Friday, January 20, 2017
CANCELLED: Be a Friend to the Cactus Wren
The cactus wren need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things like weeding and planting 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.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
CANCELLED due to Trail Conditions: Adopt a Canyon – Agua Chinon Stewardship
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.
Keep it Wild – Laguna Coast Wilderness
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!
CANCELLED: Dig in! Plant Wildflowers at the Native Seed Farm
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.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
4th Wednesday Habitat Restoration at Quail Hill
Birds and other wildlife need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things like weeding can greatly improve habitat for wildlife. You can be part of that positive impact! All training, tools, and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Note that this activity is held on the 4th Wednesday of each month.
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.
Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land.
Dig in! Plant Wildflowers at the Native Seed Farm
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.
Youth Action Team Stewardship at Augustine
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 Limestone Canyon! Stewardship activities can include planting native species and weeding at the Augustine Staging Area, 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.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Nursery and Plant Care
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 plant 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: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities.
Dig in! Plant Wildflowers at the Native Seed Farm
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.