Thursday, October 31, 2024
Moving with Nature in Mind – Yoga at the Farm
Join us at our beautiful Native Seed Farm for an all-levels Vinyasa yoga class. This one-hour outdoor yoga class will incorporate both static posture holds and a dynamic sequence of asanas, flowing from one pose to the next, while connecting breath with movement. The practice will include options for modifications, proper alignments and breathing techniques. Increase balance, flexibility, strength, and mental clarity while reducing tension and stress.
Please bring water, a yoga mat, a large towel (optional) to place under your mat, sun protection, and wear athletic clothing.
Evening Hike on Hicks Haul Road
Enjoy an evening hike through stunning rock formations and fragrant native plants as you listen to the sounds of nature. During this hike in the Irvine Open Space Preserve, you may travel at various hiking speeds based on your comfort level. This out-and-back program travels 3.5 miles round trip up to scenic Loma Ridge and back down. Please bring a red-tinted flashlight as the return portion of the hike may be after sunset.
Friday, November 1, 2024
Growing Together at the Native Seed Farm
Looking for a way to give back to Nature this Spring? Come help us behind the scenes at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s one-of-a-kind Native Seed Farm in Irvine! Every day at the farm is different; depending on the needs of the farm we will be harvesting seeds from beautiful native plants, planting new seeds in the annual plots, working in our native plant demo garden, or tending to younger seedlings in our nursery.
Working with us at the Native Seed Farm is a great way to grow your community and cultivate knowledge about local plant and wildlife! Absolutely no experience or special equipment required!
Little Explorers: Hike!
Join OC Park Naturalists for a Little Explorers hike! Bring your little ones (ages 3-6) on a 1.5-mile hike to Barbara’s Lake. While hiking, we will explore and search for interesting bugs, plants, tracks, and more! This hike is relatively flat on sandy soil.
Age: 3-6 year-olds. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Location: Nix Nature Center, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach 92651, East side of Laguna Canyon Rd/SR-133).
Parking: $3/car at Nix Nature Center parking lot. Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged.
Difficulty Rating: 1/5
Materials: Participants must bring plenty of water, closed-toed hiking shoes, and sun protection.
Safety precautions and protocols:
Advanced registration required. Every individual, including children, must be registered. Register here.
Group sizes are minimized for safety purposes. For group registrations or questions please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org
Participants must individually sign a waiver at the beginning of the program. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver.
To protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not attend if you are not feeling well, have symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone who was ill.
Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org or shelbi.richardson@ocparks.com with any questions.
Weather, including high temperatures and wet or muddy trail conditions, may lead to cancellation of this event.
Relax, Rewind, and Recharge: a guided nature therapy walk
Deeper your connection with nature on this gentle and meditative walk through Mile Square Regional Park. Inspired by the Japanese practice of “shinrin-yoku,” or “forest bathing,” you will discover the healing power of nature for yourself.
This slow-paced walk will begin with a guided meditation to help you tune in with your senses, followed by a series of invitations focusing on sense-based explorations. Throughout the program, will be encouraged to deepen your connection with nature, a proven process to help reduce stress and leave you feeling recharged.
Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat or other comfortable seating and their favorite tea or water for the closing tea ceremony. Please note this program involves drinking tea from sustainably sourced native plants. Wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water.
We will meet at the entrance to the Nature Area near parking lot H.
Advance registration required.
This program is recommended for ages 16 and older. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.
This program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. Please arrive on time to experience the full sequence of the program.
For questions, please call (657) 735-3596 or email averil.lough@ocparks.com.
Wild Tales
Spending time outside is one of the best ways to nurture curiosity and instill a love of the natural world. Bring your young ones and join OC Parks staff to learn all about the Newport Back Bay.
Our Wild Tales program is offered select Fridays from 10:00-11:00am and includes a story time, an age-appropriate hike, and a themed craft. Each week will focus on a different topic that encourages young ones to learn about the outdoors.
The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for the preschool level (ages 2-5), but all are welcome to attend. Minors under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult guardian. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes.
Advance registration is recommended. Program and parking are free.
Adverse weather conditions may move the program indoors or cancel it.
Nature Journaling: Skulls
Nature journaling is a wonderful tool to make observations, create lasting memories, and foster a deeper connection with nature. Each session will cover the basics of nature journaling, including basic art principles and journal anatomy. Monthly prompts will help guide your eyes and ears to the wonders in nature.
Bring a nature journal and your own art materials such as pencils, pens, or watercolors. A portable chair is recommended along with sun protection, water and snacks. Be prepared to move along the trail a short distance and sit to document the beauty around you.
This program is geared for ages 12 and up. Minors under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No experience necessary!
We will begin outside of the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. The program and parking are free.
Advance registration required. Rain or adverse weather will cancel the program.
Arts at the Oaks: Sugar(free) Skulls
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with Arts at the Oaks! Learn a brief history of the holiday and tradition of making and decorating sugar skulls, all while creating your own. Traditionally made from sugar paste and confectionary, we will be painting sugar-free ceramic versions to take home and enjoy 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 $3 per vehicle. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. The program will utilize acrylic paint, wearing clothes you don’t mind getting paint on is recommended. 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
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Fremont Loop Distance Hike
Join us for an extremely challenging and strenuous hiking adventure in the scenic Fremont Canyon Wilderness Area. This 16-mile loop hike is for experienced, physically fit distance hikers. The hike is on fire/SCE dirt roads with numerous significantly steep, unrelenting climbs and descents. We hike the entire rim of Fremont Canyon, passing by an abandoned coal mine, the Fremont Weather Station and the remnants of a rare stand of Tecate cypress. Along the way we’ll have sweeping views of Orange County, the Santa Ana Mountains and surrounding mountain ranges.
Limestone Canyon – Weekend Hike to Both Sides of the Sinks
Join us on this moderate-paced hike over the ridge and the through beautiful Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We will enjoy short breaks at the East and West Sinks viewing platforms before hiking back through the canyon. We will enjoy a view of wonderful vistas in addition to spectacular view of The Sinks. This hike involves hiking on both double and single-track trails with an elevation gain of 1000.
Moderate Cardio Hike: Weir Canyon Rifle Range Loop
Join us in beautiful Weir Canyon for this moderate paced cardio hike. Along the trail, you’ll pass through coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and oak woodlands where deer and bobcats are frequently observed. Multiple steep climbs and descents, and sweeping views, are included throughout this 6-mile hike. Please make sure you are in excellent physical condition! Even though this is a slower cardio hike, it is faster than a walk. You must be able to hike 3+ miles per hour the entire time without stopping.
Portola to The Sinks
Do you want to explore the Sinks, a geological rock formation that has got its reputation as “Orange County’s miniature Grand Canyon”? Come out and join us on a hike from the Portola staging area to the West Sinks in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon. Distance is about 6 miles, with some sustained climbing in one section. Participants must wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes. Remember to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, and all other necessary equipment to keep you safe on the trail. This activity originates in the City of Irvine (Portola Staging Area) and travels into OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space.
Native Plant Nursery – LCF Headquarters
Join us at Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters’ 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 generally help maintain the nursery. Gain hands-on experience with habitat restoration while working alongside other zany and interesting plant lovers!
Age: 16 or older. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Location: Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters (10 Phillips St. Laguna Beach, CA 92651, West side of highway 133)
Parking: Free for Native Plant Nursery volunteers! Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged.
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
Materials: Participants must bring plenty of water, closed-toed shoes, long pants, and sun protection. Gloves and tools are provided.
Safety precautions and protocols:
Advanced registration required. Every individual, including children, must be registered. Register here.
Group sizes are minimized for safety purposes. For group registrations or questions please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org
Participants must individually sign a waiver at the beginning of the program. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver.
To protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not attend if you are not feeling well, have symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone who was ill.
Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org or dulce@lagunacanyon.org with any questions.
Weather, including high temperatures and wet or muddy trail conditions, may lead to cancellation of this event.
Sunrise Yoga Hike in Orchard Hills
Enjoy a short hike and a gentle yoga practice in nature. A short but steep fast-paced climb takes us to an overlook view where we engage in an invigorating early morning yoga flow as the day awakens. A short descending hike takes us back. Please bring water, your own yoga mat and large beach towel and the means to carry them on the trail. Mats will not be provided. Closed-toe shoes, hats and sunscreen recommended for the hike.
Trail Stewardship – Laguna Ridge
If you use the Wilderness Parks for hiking, biking, photography or just relaxing, Trail Work might be right up your alley! Get up close and personal with the trails you use; you’ll see them in a whole new way. No experience necessary. This is FUN hard work. Whatever your skill level is, there is a job to do: clearing drains to get the water off the trail, pruning vegetation back to keep users on the trail, moving dirt to rebuild eroded tread, and restoring impacted areas are just some of the tasks we will accomplish. We will be using tools such as loppers, picks, shovels, and McLeod’s to improve the user experience, protect the fragile habitat and increase the sustainability of our trails. Expect to hike up to 4 miles while carrying tools.
Age: 16 or older. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Location: Big Bend Parking Lot, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (East side of highway 133).
Parking: Free parking for Trail Stewardship volunteers at Big Bend Staging Area parking lot. Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged.
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
Materials: Participants must bring at least 3 liters of water, closed-toed shoes, long pants, and sun protection. Gloves and tools are provided. Feel free to bring your own gloves if you prefer!
Safety precautions and protocols:
Advanced registration required. Every individual, including children, must be registered. Register here.
Group sizes are minimized for safety purposes. For group registrations or questions please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org
Participants must individually sign a waiver at the beginning of the program. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver.
To protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not attend if you are not feeling well, have symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone who was ill.
Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org or nicholas@lagunacanyon.org with any questions.
Weather, including high temperatures and wet or muddy trail conditions, may lead to cancellation of this event.
Wilderness Access Day: Black Star Canyon
Black Star Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, offers pleasant introductory trails for beginner hikers and families as well as challenging experiences for seasoned trail users. Designated trails are available for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian use. A variety of trail loops offer extended exploration throughout the canyons. Take time to explore the local plant communities and beautiful scenery in easy 30-minute walks or take in 7+ miles in a strong cardio trek.
Pre-registration is not required for this event, though it is available on the website. If you need driving directions, use the online registration to receive a map and instructions for getting to the Baker Canyon Staging Area. Parking is limited on Black Star Canyon Road and carpooling is strongly recommended. You will not be required to sign-in upon arrival, though an information booth with trail maps and suggested routes will be available in the staging area.
Wilderness Access Day: Black Star Canyon, Equestrian
Black Star Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, offers pleasant introductory trails for beginner hikers and families as well as challenging experiences for seasoned trail users. Designated trails are available for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian use. A variety of trail loops offer extended exploration throughout the canyons. Take time to explore the local plant communities and beautiful scenery in easy 30-minute walks or take in 7+ miles in a strong cardio trek.
There is limited space for equestrian parking along Black Star Canyon Road, carpooling is strongly encouraged. Riders must also have the ability to transport their horse to the staging area. It is a “first come, first serve” for trailer parking and therefore early arrival is HIGHLY recommended. Major crowds are typically present at the very start of the event. There are not typical equestrian amenities at the event such as hitching posts, steps to mount your horse or water troughs. Please be sure to time your arrival accordingly so you have plenty of time to enjoy the trails with your horse.
Chess and Checkers in the Nature Area
Drop by the nature area at Mile Square Regional Park for chess, checkers, art and fun!
A limited amount of chess and checkers sets will be available for free play as well as an array of art supplies including colored pencils, coloring pages, paper and watercolors. Feel free to bring your own materials!
We will be stationed on the south side of the nature area at the picnic tables. Vehicles can be parked in lot H.
Advance registration is recommended but not required.
This program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle.
For questions please call (657) 735-3596 or email averil.lough@ocparks.com.
Inclement weather may cancel this program
Keep It Wild – Aliso & Wood Canyons
Join Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks during our habitat restoration stewardship events in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park as we learn and work together to create a healthier home for the native plants and wildlife that call this area their home. Depending on the time of year, volunteers will assist with various stewardship events, including removal of non-native plants, seed collection, planting of native plants and/or trash pick-up along the creek. No experience is necessary. Come out and join the team to help restore the wild lands we all enjoy!
Age: 16 or older. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Location: Aliso & Wood Canyons Visitor Center, Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park (28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677)
Parking: Free parking for Keep It Wild volunteers! Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged.
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
Materials: Participants must bring plenty of water, closed-toed shoes, long pants, and sun protection. Gloves and tools are provided.
Safety precautions and protocols:
Advanced registration required. Every individual, including children, must be registered. Register here.
Group sizes are minimized for safety purposes. For group registrations or questions please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org
Participants must individually sign a waiver at the beginning of the program. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver.
To protect all employees, volunteers, and participants, please do not attend if you are not feeling well, have symptoms of illness or have been in contact with someone who was ill.
Contact volunteer@lagunacanyon.org with any questions.
Weather, including high temperatures and wet or muddy trail conditions, may lead to cancellation of this event.
Nature Scavenger Hunt at the Upper Newport Bay
Get ready for a FUN all ages Nature Scavenger Hunt, put on by Newport Bay Conservancy Naturalists. Prizes awarded to every participant who completes the scavenger hunt.
The day will consist of locating a series of interpretive tables and posts that have been “hidden” along the trails around the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. There will be lots to see, touch, and do, and you and your family and friends are sure to learn more about the Upper Newport Bay.
The program is designed for ages 7-12, but all are encouraged to come and participate! The FUN begins and ends at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Kick off is 9:30am, and the event concludes at 12:30pm. You may arrive at any point during this time window. The scavenger hunt itself takes roughly 45 minutes to complete.
The program and parking are free. Please register at unbscavengerhunt.eventbrite.com.