GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM

Naturalist Hikes at China Camp

Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.

See stunning wildflowers.

Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists  for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.

Hikes range from easy to advanced and range from 1.5 to 6 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

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• 3/3  Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm:  Moderate, 3 miles, 400 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
• 3/24 Knight Drive – 12:30pm  Intermediate,  2-3 miles, 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

If you are bringing more than 5 people, please RSVP to  chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or (415)456-0766, otherwise you can just show up! Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

NATURALIST BOOK CLUB

 Join Friends of China Camp for March’s discussion:

Life’s Engines by Bernd Heinrich

“For almost four billion years, microbes had the primordial oceans all to themselves. The stewards of Earth, these organisms transformed the chemistry of our planet to make it habitable for plants, animals, and us. Life’s Engines takes readers deep into the microscopic world to explore how these marvelous creatures made life on Earth possible―and how human life today would cease to exist without them.

Paul Falkowski looks “under the hood” of microbes to find the engines of life, the actual working parts that do the biochemical heavy lifting for every living organism on Earth. With insight and humor, he explains how these miniature engines are built―and how they have been appropriated by and assembled like Lego sets within every creature that walks, swims, or flies…

A vibrantly entertaining book about the microbes that  support our very existence, Life’s Engines will inspire wonder about these elegantly complex nanomachines that have driven life since its origin. It also issues a timely warning about the dangers of tinkering with that machinery to make it more “efficient” at meeting the    ever-growing demands of humans in the coming century.”

     (Exerp from Amazon.com)

When: Sunday, March 24th, 2019

Time: 7pm-8pm  

Meeting Place: China Camp Village Museum, China Camp State Park

Please RSVP to chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or (415)456-0766

Please bring warm clothing, water and snacks.

Include your name and the number of seats you need.

We will reply to confirm your reservation.

Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Introduction To Birding: Part 2

Beginning to Advanced Students Welcome! Join our beginning bird class with naturalist Jerry Coe, no birding experience needed! This is an expansion of March’s Intro to Birding class. In our class you will learn how to identify common birds in the field and how to effectively use binoculars and bird identification guides. We will explore  birds of the oak woodland habitat and marsh: raptors, bushtits, wrens, and much more!

Jerry Coe is a naturalist with over eight years of intensive training in ornithological field identification. He spent 15 years as a volunteer in Great Basin, Nevada doing Point Count Surveys using bird activities to assess the health of habitats and has led guided expeditions all over the world.

Date: April 6th,  2019

Time: 8am-10am

Location: Turtleback Trailhead

Length: 1.5 miles

What to Bring: Please wear layers, good walking shoes. Bring water, and snacks and binoculars. Optional items include: Daypack, scope, guide books, camera.

Please RSVP. Space is limited and reservations are required.   To reserve, send email to: chinacamp.programs@gmail.com, or call (415) 456-0766. Please indicate a) the date of the program you would like to reserve b) your name, c) your phone number, d) the total number of places you are reserving. We will reply to confirm your reservation.

GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM

Naturalist Hikes at China Camp

Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.

See stunning wildflowers.

Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists  for guided weekend hikes at China Camp. Hikes range from easy to advanced and range from 1.5 to 6 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

• 4/7  Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm:  Moderate, 3 miles, 400 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
• 4/28 Knight Drive – 12:30pm:  Intermediate,  2-3 miles, 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

If you are bringing more than 5 people, please RSVP to  chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or (415)456-0766, otherwise you can just show up! Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY AT CHINA CAMP STATE PARK

On Saturday, April 13, volunteers will come together to make a difference in State Parks across California for our annual Earth Day celebration! China Camp is one of 5 State Parks that will be expanding our Earth Day celebration to include volunteer projects in addition to a family-friendly open house event. We will offer guided park explorations, arts and crafts, games and much more!

Sign up to volunteer: Help complete essential projects and critical maintenance to support climate resiliency. We will clear fire-hazard brush, restore split rail fencing, remove invasive plants, and clean up our coastline. Please register on the California State Parks Foundation Website. 

Free parking is available for all open house participants on a first-come first-served basis.

Questions? email Earthday@calparks.org or call (916) 442-2119.

Primary Meeting location

China Camp Village,

100 China Camp Village Road,

San Rafael CA 94901

VOLUNTEER  SCHEDULE:

To participate, please sign-up on the California State Parks Foundation Website. 

9:00 am – 9:30 am Open Registration & Refreshments at China Camp Village

( NOTE: If you would like to participate in the split rail or brush clearing volunteer activity, you can go directly to the Backranch Campground parking lot at 9am for registration.)

9:30am- 11:45am Split up into volunteer work groups

-Split Rail Team@ Campground parking lot; (park in en route parking lot). Ages 16+,  (15 people max)

– Brush Clearing @ Campground parking lot; (park in en route parking lot) Age 12+ (30 people max)

– Invasive Broom Removal @ China Camp Village. Ages 10+, (30 people max.)

– Coastal Trash Cleanup @ China Camp Village. All ages, (25 people max)

Noon  Lunch at China Camp Village

NOTE: For all volunteer events, volunteers should bring filled water bottles and work gloves.

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE

Hours:  9am-3pm

Scheduled Activities:

(Note: Scheduled activities will be available on a first come, first-served basis. Come early to sign-up!)

9am Bilingual Nature hike in Spanish with Naturalist Marco Berger (All Ages, 30 people maximum) [9 – noon]

(Please sign up at chinacamp.programs@gmail.com for meeting location) 

10:30am-11:30am: Turtleback walk with the National Estuarine Research Reserve (All ages, 20 people max); Begins at Turtleback Trailhead

12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2:15pm: Docent-led Museum tour (All Ages, 15 people maximum).

12:30-2:30 Wildflower Hike with a naturalist beginning at the Village (all ages, 25 people maximum)

12:30-1:30 Mini soccer relays (ages 6 and up) 

1:00-3:00pm Birdwatching (in English) with naturalist Jerry Coe (Ages 12+,  20 people maximum)  Begins at Miwok Meadows

Ongoing Activities:

• Arts, crafts & fun activities for the whole family
• Chinese games and activities
• Fun scavenger hunt and games

April’s Village Talk: Eons of Change

The Dynamic Geology of China Camp State Park

How did this land called China Camp come to be and what will it become in the future?  China Camp is the story of Marin County writ small. When did life emerge and when did major events like extinctions occur?  Naturalist Harold Hirsch will present an overview of what geologists know about how the pieces came together and how they may come apart again.  He will talk about when life emerged and major extinction events. Come join us for this unique presentation!

Date: April 20th, 2019

Time: 6pm-7pm

Location: China Camp Village Museum, China Camp State Park

Space is limited and reservations are required.

To reserve, send email to:

chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766

Include your name, the number of seats you need, and your phone #.

We will reply to confirm your reservation.

Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Easter Turtleback Hike

for Kids!

Go on a fun hike around Turtleback trail and explore the beauty of nature on Easter Sunday. Rather than Easter eggs, we’ll spot wildflowers, nesting birds, and butterflies!

Please bring appropriate hiking gear, water, a hat and sunscreen. Adults must accompany children.

Date: April 21st, 2019

Time: 10am-12pm

Location: Turtleback Trailhead. (Directions will be provided in email response)

Space is limited and reservations are required.

To reserve, send email to:

chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766

Include your name and the number of people attending.

We will reply to confirm your reservation.

Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.