Friends of China Camp

Heritage Day Festival
2024-09-21 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
China Camp’s signature festival is back! Watch the historic China Camp Village come alive with thunderous drumming, shimmering costumes, and the wide smiles of Chinese lions. Snack on steam buns, play mahjong, browse local art exhibits, enjoy performances of traditional music, and hear childhood anecdotes from original residents of China Camp. Kids activities include building toy boats and making dragon kites—perfect for our breezy shoreline.
This event is made possible by Friends of China Camp, the Marin Chinese Cultural Association, the Redwood Empire Chinese Cultural Association, California State Parks, and the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.
The lion dance begins at 11 a.m. sharp!
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: China Camp Village

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
11 A.M. Lion dance and traditional drumming
Marin Chinese Cultural Association youth lion dance team

11:35 A.M. Traditional dance
Redwood Empire Chinese Cultural Association cultural dancers

11:45 A.M. Guzheng music and traditional dancers
Melody Yan and friends. See more of Melody’s fusion music here.

12:15 P.M. Dragon Dance
Redwood Empire Chinese Cultural Association youth dragon dance team

12:30 P.M. Grace Quan Chinese junk ship arrives
National Park Service: The San Francisco Maritime Museum

1:00 P.M. Dizi (bamboo flute), hulusi, and konglinggu music
San Francisco Guqin and Xiao Music Society with Coral Liang, Larry Wong, Jennifer Zhang, Peggy Liang, and May Huang

1:40 P.M. Tai Chi lesson with David Cheung
Redwood Empire Chinese Cultural Association

Milton Quan and cousin Georgette Dulkha
2 P.M. Village Talk: Life in the 1940s and 1950s at China Camp
Join original village resident Milton Quan as he gives a tour of China Camp beach and discusses the fascinating history of his childhood growing up in the village. He will also discuss the shrimping and boating industry in the 1940s and 50s in the village.

ACTIVITIES & EXHIBITS

Beachside mah jong & Chinese games
Marin Chinese Cultural Association

Children’s toy boat building & dragon kite crafting
San Francisco National Maritime Museum & Friends of China Camp

Traditional Chinese clothing exhibit
Northern California Hanfu Association
The Northern California Hanfu Association, a non-profit organization founded in 2017, has around 900 active members of diverse backgrounds from around the San Francisco Bay Area. Our mission is to promote Chinese-American cultural exchange and appreciation through the celebration and sharing of traditional Chinese-American culture and clothing. Learn more about their organization here.

Art exhibits
Michael Feldman- Learn more about Michael’s artwork here.

Jennifer Siegal- Learn more about Jennifer’s artwork here.

Interactive educational exhibit
Wildcare

$5 parking fee for non-members.
Shuttle service from overflow parking at the ranger station.
For more information, contact programs@friendsofchinacamp.org.
This event is made possible by Friends of China Camp and our partners, the Marin Chinese Cultural Association and the Redwood Empire Chinese Cultural Association, National Park Service (San Francisco Maritime Museum), Wildcare, and Marin History Museum.

Birding Walk
2024-09-21 08:00 - 10:00
American wigeon by Jerry Coe, FOCC volunteer
One of the season’s most exciting times is upon us—the fall migration. More than half of all North American birds migrate south between September and November, and about 250 migratory species travel through Northern California. This month we’ll look for fall arrivals, such as American widgeons, Baird’s sandpipers, yellow warblers.
Birding expert Jerry Coe will share information about China Camp’s varied habitat: open bay, tidal wetlands, grassland, and oak-and-bay forests dotted with pockets of redwoods.
Space is limited; registration is required.
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Meeting location: Turtle Back Trailhead
Difficulty: easy 1.5 to 2-mile walk
Cost: free to FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
Reserve Now

Give-back morning at China Camp
2024-09-19 09:00 - 12:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Make a difference and have fun doing it! With limited dollars coming from the State, volunteers are essential in keeping the park safe and beautiful. Come groom a trail, pull invasive weeds, split firewood, paint a fence, or do the countless other tasks that keep the park humming. Fun, interesting, challenging—it’s a great way to give back to our beautiful park.
No previous experience or long-term commitment required. Wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy shoes (no sandals!). Bring a filled water bottle and wear sunscreen (bug spray optional). For groups of five or more, contact our volunteer maintenance coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net.
Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar.

Dates: September 19 (no need to register; just show up)
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Location: China Camp Ranger Station
Difficulty: easy to strenuous (you choose)
Ages: 14 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

Full Moon Hike
2024-09-17 18:00 - 20:30
Full moon by Steve Ziman, FOCC volunteer
Celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival, with an invigorating hike to watch the moonrise. The full moon in September, known as the “Harvest Moon,” occurs closest to the fall equinox. The name reflects this moon’s extended period of moonlight, which once helped farmers with autumn harvests. After the hike, enjoy traditional mooncakes with your fellow hikers.
Space is limited; registration is required.
Date: Tuesday, September 17
Time: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Meeting location: China Camp Ranger Station
Difficulty: moderately challenging 3.5-mile loop with 530-ft. elevation gain
Cost: free to FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

Reserve Now

Poetry In Parks 2024
2024-09-14 12:00 - 17:00 | China Camp Village, 100 China Camp Village Rd, San Rafael, CA, CA, 94901, United States
California State Parks & Quiet Lightning, in partnership with Friends of China Camp, present Poetry in Parks 2024, a daylong literary arts festival. Programming will include a set by Better Ancestors and a submission-based literary mixtape featuring all forms of writing. The Better Ancestors set will feature readings by Karla Myn Khine, Alex Feliciano Mejia, Kato Bisase, Zouhair Mussa and Sarah O’Neal.
The Literary Mixtape will be curated by Connie Zheng and Evan Karp.

Date: September 14, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: China Camp Village
Ages: all ages welcome
This event is ADA-accessible

REGISTER HERE

Give-back morning at China Camp
2024-09-12 09:00 - 12:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Make a difference and have fun doing it! With limited dollars coming from the State, volunteers are essential in keeping the park safe and beautiful. Come groom a trail, pull invasive weeds, split firewood, paint a fence, or do the countless other tasks that keep the park humming. Fun, interesting, challenging—it’s a great way to give back to our beautiful park.
No previous experience or long-term commitment required. Wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy shoes (no sandals!). Bring a filled water bottle and wear sunscreen (bug spray optional). For groups of five or more, contact our volunteer maintenance coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net.
Special Brown-Bag Lunch Day, Thursday, September 12: After our work morning, bring your own lunch for an informal gathering with fellow volunteers at China Camp Village. Cold drinks provided by Friends of China Camp.

Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar.
Dates: September 12 (no need to register; just show up)
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Location: China Camp Ranger Station
Difficulty: easy to strenuous (you choose)
Ages: 14 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

Give-back morning at China Camp
2024-09-04 09:00 - 12:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Make a difference and have fun doing it! With limited dollars coming from the State, volunteers are essential in keeping the park safe and beautiful. Come groom a trail, pull invasive weeds, split firewood, paint a fence, or do the countless other tasks that keep the park humming. Fun, interesting, challenging—it’s a great way to give back to our beautiful park.
No previous experience or long-term commitment required. Wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy shoes (no sandals!). Bring a filled water bottle and wear sunscreen (bug spray optional). For groups of five or more, contact our volunteer maintenance coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net.
Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar.

Dates: September 4 (no need to register; just show up)
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Location: China Camp Ranger Station
Difficulty: easy to strenuous (you choose)
Ages: 14 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

Geology Beach Stroll
2024-08-31 09:15 - 11:30
When you pick up a pebble along the China Camp shoreline, you’re holding a piece of an epic story. Find out why on this leisurely shoreline walk with Nicole Myers, a geology instructor at Sonoma State University. Nicole will shed light on the Franciscan Assemblage, the landmass that encompasses the North Bay. She’ll also explain the volcanoes, faults, and massive forces of nature that created the landmass. And at the sandstone cliffs near China Camp Village, we’ll get a close-up look at metamorphic rocks and other geologic features.

Date: Saturday, August 31
Time: 9:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: China Camp Village Museum
Difficulty: easy, 2-mile round trip walk; some gentle inclines
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 8 and older; ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
ADA accessible: no

REGISTER NOW

Give-back morning at China Camp
2024-08-27 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-24 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-07 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-29 09:00 - 12:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Enjoy a morning making a difference in the park. Our weekly maintenance days tackle a host of jobs large and small, so there’s something for everyone. You don’t need to be a weightlifter or a construction worker to help out, in fact we’ve got men and women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities volunteering at the park. But there are things that our volunteers have in common: a willingness to pitch in and work together, a healthy sense of humor, and desire to help the park.
Whether you’re a newbie or experienced, pitch in to keep the park safe and beautiful. There’s no long-term commitment required—but we hope you come again.
Meet promptly at 9 a.m. in the maintenance area next to China Camp Ranger Station (101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael). Bring work gloves and a filled water bottle. Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Sunglasses or other eye protection are recommended. Please leave your four-legged friends at home, as no pets are allowed on our trails.
If you are volunteering as a group of 5 or more, please contact our team coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net. This helps us plan for tools and supplies.
Ages: 14 and up (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).
Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar.

Naturalist Book Club
2024-08-25 19:00 - 20:00
Take part in a lively discussion about Sounds Wild and Broken, by David George Haskell, professor of biology and environmental studies at Tennessee’s University of the South and a Guggenheim Fellow.
From the publisher’s website:
“Starting with the origins of animal song and traversing the whole arc of Earth history, Haskell illuminates and celebrates the emergence of the varied sounds of our world. In mammoth ivory flutes from Paleolithic caves, violins in modern concert halls, and electronic music in earbuds, we learn that human music and language belong within this story of ecology and evolution. Yet we are also destroyers, now silencing or smothering many of the sounds of the living Earth. Haskell takes us to threatened forests, noise-filled oceans, and loud city streets, and shows that sonic crises are not mere losses of sensory ornament.”

Date: Sunday, August 25
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: online meeting; registration required
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 12 and up

RESERVE NOW

Full Moon Hike
2024-08-18 18:45 - 21:15
August’s full moon, known as the “sturgeon moon,” gets its name because it rises during the peak season for lake sturgeon, a large fish that lives in East Coast watersheds. Here at China Camp, we too have sturgeon—the white sturgeon thrives in the murky waters of San Pablo Bay. Growing up to 20 feet long, the federally endangered white sturgeon is North America’s largest freshwater fish, though it also thrives in brackish waters like those off the coast of China Camp. Our hike follows a winding trail to a 500-foot overlook, offering a superb view of this year’s “sturgeon moon” as it rises over the East Bay hills and the bay.

Space is limited; registration is required.

Date: Sunday, August 18
Time: 6:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Location: China Camp Ranger Station
Difficulty: moderate, 3-mile round trip hike; 500-ft. elevation gain, including some steep sections
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
ADA accessible: no

REGISTER HERE

Birding Walk
2024-08-17 08:00 - 10:00
Pileated Woodpecker (female)
Move over Ozzy Ozborne. Nature’s ultimate headbangers—woodpeckers—are taking center stage at China Camp this month. These dedicated rockers hammer out rhythms that echo throughout our oak woodlands. How can these super-cool birds pound their beaks into a tree without injury? Find out about woodpeckers’ amazing morphology during this month’s guided walk with bird expert Jerry Coe. He’ll share info about our resident headbangers, such as highly social acorn woodpeckers, colorful Northern flickers, and spectacular pileated woodpeckers.
All levels of birders welcome.
Space is limited; registration is required.

Date: Saturday, August 17
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Turtle Back Trailhead
Difficulty: easy, 1-mile round trip
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 8 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
ADA accessible: no

REGISTER HERE

Give-back morning at China Camp
2024-08-16 09:00 - 12:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Enjoy a morning making a difference in the park. Our weekly maintenance days tackle a host of jobs large and small, so there’s something for everyone. You don’t need to be a weightlifter or a construction worker to help out, in fact we’ve got men and women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities volunteering at the park. But there are things that our volunteers have in common: a willingness to pitch in and work together, a healthy sense of humor, and desire to help the park.
Whether you’re a newbie or experienced, pitch in to keep the park safe and beautiful. There’s no long-term commitment required—but we hope you come again.
Meet promptly at 9 a.m. in the maintenance area next to China Camp Ranger Station (101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael). Bring work gloves and a filled water bottle. Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Sunglasses or other eye protection are recommended. Please leave your four-legged friends at home, as no pets are allowed on our trails.
If you are volunteering as a group of 5 or more, please contact our team coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net. This helps us plan for tools and supplies.
Ages: 14 and up (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).
Special Brown-Bag Lunch Day, Wednesday, August 15: After our work morning, bring your own lunch for an informal gathering with fellow volunteers at China Camp Village. Cold drinks provided by Friends of China Camp.
Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar.

Give-back morning at China Camp
2024-07-30 09:00 - 13:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Enjoy a morning making a difference in the park. Our weekly maintenance days tackle a host of jobs large and small, so there’s something for everyone. You don’t need to be a weightlifter or a construction worker to help out, in fact we’ve got men and women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities volunteering at the park. But there are things that our volunteers have in common: a willingness to pitch in and work together, a healthy sense of humor, and desire to help the park.
Whether you’re a newbie or experienced, pitch in to keep the park safe and beautiful. There’s no long-term commitment required—but we hope you come again.
Meet promptly at 9 a.m. in the maintenance area next to China Camp Ranger Station (101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael). Bring work gloves and a filled water bottle. Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Sunglasses or other eye protection are recommended. Please leave your four-legged friends at home, as no pets are allowed on our trails.
If you are volunteering as a group of 5 or more, please contact our team coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net. This helps us plan for tools and supplies.
Ages: 14 and up (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).
Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar

Naturalist Book Club
2024-07-28 19:00 - 20:00
This month, we discuss Natural History, an engaging compilation of historical fiction short stories by Andrea Barrett, winner of the National Book Award.
Excerpt from publisher’s website:
“A masterful collection of…six exquisite stories…set largely in a small community in central New York state… spanning the decades between the Civil War to the present day… Told with Barrett’s characteristic elegance, passion for science, and wonderful eye for the natural world, the psychologically astute and moving stories gathered in this collection evoke the ways women’s lives and expectations—in families, in work, and in love—have shifted across a century and more. Building upon one another, these tales brilliantly culminate to reveal how the smallest events of the past can have large reverberations across the generations, and how potent, wondrous, and strange the relationship between history and memory can be.”
Date: Sunday, July 28
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: online meeting; details emailed with registration confirmation
Cost: free to FOCC members
Age: 12 and up
Maximum attendees: 25
RESERVE NOW

Give-back morning at China Camp
2024-07-27 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-07-10 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-07-02 09:00 - 12:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Enjoy a morning making a difference in the park. Our weekly maintenance days tackle a host of jobs large and small, so there’s something for everyone. You don’t need to be a weightlifter or a construction worker to help out, in fact we’ve got men and women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities volunteering at the park. But there are things that our volunteers have in common: a willingness to pitch in and work together, a healthy sense of humor, and desire to help the park.
Whether you’re a newbie or experienced, pitch in to keep the park safe and beautiful. There’s no long-term commitment required—but we hope you come again.
Meet promptly at 9 a.m. in the maintenance area next to China Camp Ranger Station (101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael). Bring work gloves and a filled water bottle. Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Sunglasses or other eye protection are recommended. Please leave your four-legged friends at home, as no pets are allowed on our trails.
If you are volunteering as a group of 5 or more, please contact our team coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net. This helps us plan for tools and supplies.
Ages: 14 and up (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED… JUST SHOW UP!
Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar.

Full Moon Hike
2024-07-21 08:00 - 22:30
July’s full moon is named the “Buck Moon,” commemorating the time of year when male deer, who shed their antlers in early spring, start to show off a new velvety rack. We hope to see some dashing stags on our 3-mile round-trip hike that follows a winding trail to a breathtaking 500-foot overlook, offering us a superb view of the moon as it rises over the East Bay hills and the sparkling bay. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring hiking poles, a filled water bottle, a camera or smartphone, and a headlamp and flashlight. Pack bug repellant and extra layers for changeable weather.
NOTE: Arrive by 8 p.m. to check in; hike starts promptly at 8:15 p.m. for a 9:17 moonrise.
Space is limited; registration is required. Cancellations notified via email.

Date: Sunday, July 21
Time: 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Meeting location: China Camp Ranger Station
Difficulty: moderate, 3-mile round trip hike; 500-ft. altitude gain, including some steep sections
Cost: free for members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 10 and older (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult)
ADA accessible: no

REGISTER HERE

photo credit: NASA

Give-Back Morning at China Camp
2024-07-18 09:00 - 12:00 | China Camp Ranger Station, 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, 94901, United States
Join us for a morning of making the park look beautiful. There’s always plenty to do—trail grooming, fence mending, log splitting, litter pickup, and so much more. Join us and make a difference! No previous experience needed. Difficulty ranges from easy to a good work out. No long-term commitment required—but we hope you come again!
If you are volunteering as a group of 5 or more, please contact our team coordinator at kjsmead@comcast.net. This helps us plan for tools and supplies.
Cancellations will be posted on our events calendar.
Meet promptly at 9 a.m. in the maintenance area next to China Camp Ranger Station (101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael). Bring work gloves and a filled water bottle. Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirt, and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Sunglasses or other eye protection are recommended. Please leave your four-legged friends at home, as no pets are allowed on our trails.
Special Brown-Bag Lunch Day, Wednesday, July 18: After our work morning, bring your own lunch for an informal gathering with fellow volunteers at China Camp Village. Cold drinks provided by Friends of China Camp.
Ages: 14 and up (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED… JUST SHOW UP!

Midsummer Night’s Dream wildlife walk
2024-07-16 18:30 - 20:00
Owl’s hoo-hoot. Hares hop out from the shadows. Raccoons prowl. Frogs sing to the stars. There’s magic in the park on soft summer evenings. On this easy, flat walk we will stop, look, and listen for all the life that unfolds in the park as day turns to night. Guide Harriot Manley will shed light on the park’s animals and their special adaptations for nighttime.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a filled water bottle and layers for changeable weather. Binoculars are a plus. We won’t be out past dark but feel free to bring a headlamp or flashlight to light your way home. Leave four-legged friends at home as our trails are not open to pets. Space is limited; registration is required. Cancellations notified via email.

Date: Tuesday, July 16
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Miwok Meadows Trailhead
Difficulty: flat and gently rolling, 1.5-mile round-trip walk
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 8 and older (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult)
ADA accessible: no

REGISTER NOW

black-tailed jackrabbit by Scott Rheam/USFWS

Trees of China Camp
2024-07-14 10:00 - 12:30
Join us on a walk through China Camp’s upland forest to learn about the park’s diverse woodland ecosystem. Learn about the unique adaptations of majestic buckeyes, elegant willows, hardy manzanitas, and grand coastal and valley oaks; some of these species serve as critical keystone species, nurturing the landscape’s rich tapestry of life. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and dress in layers for warmer weather. Bring water and your camera/cell phone; walking poles optional. Pets are not allowed on our trails, so please leave your four-legged family members at home.

NOTE: Arrive by 9:45 a.m. to check in; hike starts at 10 a.m. sharp.
Space is limited; registration required. Cancellations will be notified by email.
Date: Sunday, July 14
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Back Ranch Meadows Campground kiosk
Difficulty: moderate, 3-mile round trip hike; roughly 500-ft. altitude gain, including some steep sections
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 10 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
ADA accessible: no
Maximum number: 20

RESERVE NOW

Junior Ranger Program: Animal Olympics
2024-07-13 10:00 - 12:00
The Summer Olympics have arrived at China Camp — Squirrels take the lead in arboreal gymnastics, grasshoppers beat out the competition at the grassland long jump, cormorants get a 10 out of 10 at the high dive, and woodpeckers nab acorns and dodge interceptions at forest rugby.
Who’ll come out on top in this year’s Animal Olympics? During this month’s Junior Ranger Program, your little explorers will engage in fun activities and learn about the extraordinary adaptations that allow our local critters to leave the competition in the dust.

Space is limited; registration is required. Cancellations notified via email.

Date: Saturday, July 13
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Meeting Location: China Camp Village Beach
Difficulty: easy, ¾-mile walk
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 7 to 9; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
ADA accessible: no

RESERVE NOW

Photo credit: Eastern gray squirrel by Ed Sweeney/Wikimedia Commons/CC 2.0

Birding Walk
2024-07-13 08:00 - 10:00
A flock of sanderlings shimmers across the water. Marbled godwits poke their long beaks into the mud. Snowy plovers and Western sandpipers scurry in ragged rows along the shoreline. July is peak time for shorebirds at China Camp, and bird expert Jerry Coe will help you catch all the action during this month’s birding hike. In addition to “peeps” (the generic name for small sandpiper-type shorebirds) and larger waders, we’ll be on the lookout for other birds that frequent the edges of the marsh, such as dabbling and diving ducks, ruby-crowned kinglets, and Anna’s hummingbirds.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a filled water bottle, snacks, and layers for changeable weather. Binoculars highly recommended. Please leave four-legged friends at home as our trails are not open to pets.
Space is limited; registration is required. Cancellations notified via email.

Date: Saturday, July 13
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Bullhead Flat Parking Lot
Difficulty: easy, 1-mile round trip
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 8 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
ADA accessible: no
Maximum number: 20

RESERVE NOW

Book Club: The Backyard Bird Chronicles
2024-06-30 19:00 - 20:00
During June’s Naturalist Book Club, we will discuss The Backyard Bird Chronicles by critically acclaimed local author, Amy Tan, who also shows off her impressive illustration skills in this memorable book.
Excerpt from the publisher’s website:
“Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world. In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.”
Date: Sunday, June 30
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: online meeting; details emailed with registration confirmation
Cost: free to FOCC members
Age: 12 and up
Maximum attendees: 25

RESERVE NOW

Summer shorebirds walk
2024-06-29 08:00 - 10:00
During this month’s birding walk, we will scan the bay and marshland in search of shorebirds, including sandpipers, ducks, gulls, egrets, and majestic great blue herons. Among the most challenging species to identify are newly-fledged gulls. These newbies are undergoing a remarkable four-year transformation, with the color of their plumage shifting from mottled browns and grays to black-gray-white adult plumage. After our shoreline observations, we’ll search for songbirds and other species in neighboring habitats.
Hike leader Jerry Coe will discuss how to distinguish bird calls and songs. Jerry will share the four keys to identifying birds in the field: color, size and shape, behavior, and habitat. Bring binoculars, a filled water bottle, and snacks. Dress in layers for changeable weather and wear appropriate walking shoes.
Space is limited; registration is required. Cancellations notified via email.

Date: Saturday, June 29
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Bullhead Flat Parking Lot
Difficulty: easy, 1-mile round trip
Cost: free for FOCC members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 8 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
ADA accessible: yes
Maximum number: 20

RESERVE NOW

Secrets of our tidal wetlands
2024-06-22 10:30 - 12:00
Summertime is go time in China Camp’s tidal wetlands. Plants grow lush and full; baby birds hatch; tiny fish thrive in the channels. Learn about this boom season on an informative walk following Turtle Back Nature Trail, offering some of the park’s best views of our ultra-productive and important “pickleweed prairie.” FOCC volunteer Harriot Manley will share info on endangered and threatened species, including Ridgway’s rails and tiny salt-marsh harvest mice, and share what makes them specially adapted to live in tidal wetlands. You’ll also get the inside scoop on scientific research now underway in our marshlands, including studies on habitat resilience in the face of climate change.
This trail is ADA-accessible, so all abilities are welcome. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a filled water bottle and binoculars if you have them. Dress for changeable weather. Pets are not allowed on our trails, so please leave your four-footed friends at home.
Space is limited; registration is required. Cancellations notified via email.

Date: Saturday, June 22
Time: 10:30 – noon
Location: Turtle Back Nature Trail trailhead
Cost: Free for members; $5 donation appreciated for non-members
Age: 8 and older (ages under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult)
ADA accessible: yes
Maximum number: 15
Space is limited; registration is required. Cancellations notified via email.

REGISTER HERE
