Sunday Hiking Program
2018-08-19 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join naturalist Harold Hirsch for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 2 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

8/5 Turtleback Trailhead- 9:30am Easy Family Friendly hike. 3/4 mile.

Topic: Marshland ecology

8/12 Village Parking Lot by China Camp Point – 9:30am. Easy Hike. 2-3 miles. Topic: Summer wildlife!
8/19 Back ranch meadows- 9:30am Intermediate. 4.5 miles. (9:30am-1pm)

Topic:Oak woodlands!

8/26 Knight Drive – 9:30am Intermediate. 2 miles. Topic: Bay vistas

This hike is brought to you by Friends of China Camp. 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!

Nature Book Club
2018-08-19 19:00 - 20:00
BOOKS UNDER THE BOWER
Monthly Book Club at China Camp State Park
August’s selection:
“The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions”PART 2

by David Quammen
July’s event covered the first half of this stimulating book- August’s discussion will cover the second half:
“The Song of the Dodo, is a brilliant, stirring work, breathtaking in its scope, far-reaching in its message… In The Song of the Dodo, we follow Quammen’s keen intellect through the ideas, theories, and experiments of prominent naturalists of the last two centuries. We trail after him as he travels the world, tracking the subject of island biogeography, which encompasses nothing less than the study of the origin and extinction of all species. Islands are where species most commonly go extinct — and because, as Quammen points out, we live in an age when all of Earth’s landscapes are being chopped into island-like fragments by human activity.
Through his eyes, we glimpse the nature of evolution and extinction, and in so doing come to understand the monumental diversity of our planet, and the importance of preserving its wild landscapes, animals, and plants. “
-Exerpt from Goodreads.com
When: Sunday, August 19th, 2018
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.

Beginning Birding Part 1:Discussion
2018-08-24 18:00 - 19:00
Beginning Birding:
What Birds Tell Us About the Health of Habitats

How can you tell if an ecosystem is healthy? One way is to look for the species diversity of our avian friends! In this two-part beginners birding class you will learn to identify common birds that reside within different habitats along the San Pablo shoreline while understanding how their population numbers and species diversity reflects the health of the local environment. This class also includes beginning instruction on how to effectively use a bird identification guide and binoculars.

Jerry Coe is a naturalist and mountaineering guide with over 8 years of intensive training in ornithological identification. He spent 15 years as a volunteer in the Great Basin, Nevada doing “Point Count surveys” to study health of habitats and has lead guided expeditions all over the world.

Lecture and Discussion- Friday, August 24th, 6-7pm
Bird Walk in the Park – Saturday, August 25th, 8am-10am

Cost for both events: Members: Free
Non-Members:$5

To find out the meeting locations 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.

Beginning Birding Part 2: Bird Walk
2018-08-25 08:00 - 10:00

Park Champions Work Morning
2018-08-25 09:00 - 13:00
Do it all in China Camp State Park!
Our intrepid volunteers will be doing a variety of tasks, from wood splitting to painting to vegetation trimming.
Lunch, tools, and a friendly team will be provided.
Kids 14-17 welcome with parent.
Sign up at CalParks, so we can plan for lunch and logistics.

REGISTRATION FULL: Full Moon Tai Chi
2018-08-25 19:30 - 20:30
THIS EVENT HAS A FULL REGISTRATION AND IS WAITLIST ONLY

Join Friends of China Camp as we provide our first ever Full Moon Tai Chi class at China Camp Point in China Camp State Park. Martial Arts instructor Will Yturriaga will lead us in a gentle moving meditation while the full moon rises and casts glittering light across the bay. This event is open to all ages.
Date: August 25th 2018
Time: 7:30pm sharp – 8:30pm
Admission: $20 per person
There is a limited number of spaces and reservations are required.
RSVP to chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or (415)456-0766 to sign up. If rain is predicted, you will be notified if the event is cancelled. Please bring warm clothing and a flashlight. We will meet at 7:30pm sharp.

Sunday Hiking Program
2018-08-26 09:30 - 11:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join naturalist Harold Hirsch for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 2 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

8/5 Turtleback Trailhead- 9:30am Easy Family Friendly hike. 3/4 mile. Topic: Marshland ecology
8/12 Village Parking Lot by China Camp Point – 9:30am. Easy Hike. 2-3 miles. Topic: Summer wildlife!
8/19 Back ranch meadows- 9:30am Intermediate. 2 miles. Topic:Oak woodlands!

8/26 Knight Drive – 9:30am Intermediate. 2 miles. Topic: Bay vistas

This hike is brought to you by Friends of China Camp. 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!

Sunday Hikes
2018-09-02 12:30 - 13:30, 2018-09-09 12:30 - 14:30, 2018-09-16 12:30 - 14:30, 2018-09-23 12:30 - 13:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join naturalist Harold Hirsch for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 2 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

9/2 Turtleback Trailhead-12:30pm Easy Family Friendly hike. 1 mile. Topic: Marshland ecology
9/9 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection- 12:30pm . Challenging. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain.

9/16 Back ranch meadows- 12:30pm Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain (9:30-1pm)

9/23 Knight Drive – 12:30pm Intermediate. 2-3 miles. Topic: Oak Forests

This hike is brought to you by Friends of China Camp. 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!

Park Champion Work Morning
2018-09-16 09:00 - 13:00
Want to Help us spiff up the Park?
Now is your chance to help us put some finishing touches on improvements in our historic shrimping village. We’ve been working hard to be ready for the 150th anniversary celebration of the village and we need your help. We’ll be repairing split rail fencing on the Village Trail switchbacks, and painting fencing, sign posts, trash can containers, and possibly parking lines in upper Village parking lot.
Lunch, tools, and friendly co-workers are provided. Limited free camping is available to registered volunteers.
Ages 14 and up are welcome. Any volunteer under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
TO REGISTER, please go to the California State Parks Foundation website. Once you are registered, they will send additional information about where to meet, what to bring (in addition to your smiles and volunteer spirit) and what to wear. Your registration helps us prepare for equipment, supplies and, you guessed it, food.

Heritage Day 2018!
2018-09-22 11:00 - 16:00
Schedule of Events

11:00a.m. Introduction by Friends of China Camp Executive Director Martin Lowenstein and Board Chair Steve Deering.
11:10 Resolution presented by Assembly member Marc Levine
11:15 Speech by Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly
11:20 Marin Chinese Cultural Association Lion Dance
11:55 Marin Chinese Cultural Association Tai Chi
12:40 Purple Silk Chinese Youth Orchestra
1:40 Speech by CA Senator Mike McGuire
2:10 Chinese Folk Music by Stephen Shen
2:40 10,000 Victories – Kung Fu
3:30 Interactive Ribbon Dance – all ages welcome!
4pm End of event

Full Moon Tai Chi
2018-09-24 19:00 - 20:00
Full Moon Tai Chi

Join Friends of China Camp as we provide an exclusive Full Moon Tai Chi class at China Camp Point in China Camp State Park. Martial Arts instructor Will Yturriaga will lead us in a gentle moving meditation while the full moon rises and casts glittering light across the bay. Registration fills up fast, you won’t want to miss this event!
Date: September 24th 2018
Time: 7pm sharp – 8pm
Admission: $20 per person

There is a limited number of spaces and reservations are required.
RSVP to chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or (415)456-0766 to sign up. If rain is predicted, you will be notified if the event is cancelled. Please bring warm clothing and a flashlight. We will meet at 7pm sharp.

Village Talk: Raptors
2018-09-29 19:00 - 20:00
SEPTEMBER’S SPEAKER SERIES
CALIFORNIA RAPTORS PREDATORS OF THE SKY

Each autumn, tens of thousands of hawks, kites, vultures, eagles, osprey, and harriers pass through Marin County and coalesce briefly over the Headlands before heading south. Since 1983, volunteers of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory have monitored and tracked this flight, providing today a 30+ year database on California raptor numbers, and a lot of interesting stories about these magnificent birds. Come hear Allen Fish, the GGRO director, speak about the Pacific Coast hawk migration as it relates to climate change, Rachel Carson, Peet’s Coffee, and chicken giblets.

Date: Saturday September 29th, 2018
Location: Lower Village Museum, China Camp State Park
Time: 7pm-8pm
Admission: Members- Free
Non-members-$5
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.

Naturalist Book Club
2018-09-30 19:00 - 20:00
BOOKS UNDER THE BOWER
Monthly Book Club at China Camp State Park
September’s selection:
By Elizabeth Kolbert

Over the last half-billion years, there have been five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us.

In prose that is at once frank, entertaining, and deeply informed, The New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert tells us why and how human beings have altered life on the planet in a way no species has before. Interweaving research in half a dozen disciplines, descriptions of the fascinating species that have already been lost, and the history of extinction as a concept, Kolbert provides a moving and comprehensive account of the disappearances occurring before our very eyes.

When: Sunday, September 30th, 2018
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.

Sunday Hikes with a Naturalist!
2018-10-07 12:30 - 13:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.
Join naturalist Harold Hirsch for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 2 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

10/7 Turtleback Trailhead-12:30pm Easy Family Friendly hike. 1 mile.
10/14 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection- 12:30pm . Challenging. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain.

10/21 Back ranch meadows- 12:30pm Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain

10/28 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection- 12:30pm . Challenging. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain.

This hike is brought to you by Friends of China Camp. 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!

Migratory Bird Walk
2018-10-14 08:00 - 10:00
Bring your binoculars on this stimulating hike as we explore the lives of the migratory birds at China Camp as they make their way north for the winter. We will talk about the different species of birds that make long, medium and short migrations. Also, we will learn about how resource availability drives population abundance, feeding, and colonial behavior
Birding beginners welcome!

Bring a pair of binoculars, pen and notebook. Also please bring snacks, water and good walking shoes.

Jerry Coe is a naturalist and mountaineering guide with over 8 years of intensive training in ornithological identification. He spent 15 years as a volunteer in the Great Basin, Nevada doing “Point Count surveys” to study health of habitats and has lead guided expeditions all over the world.

Sunday Oct 14th, 8am-10am
Cost for both events: Members: Free
Non-Members:$5

To find out the meeting locations 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.

Park Champions Work Morning
2018-10-14 09:00 - 13:00
It doesn’t happen often, but once in a while our hard work gets wrecked. Recently the split rail fencing at one of our popular picnic areas was vandalized and we need volunteers to help us make the repairs. Depending on the number of volunteers, we may also be removing invasive plants and doing some painting. Your help would be appreciated.
Lunch is provided. Limited free camping is available to registered volunteers. Ages 14 and up are welcome.
To register, please go to the California State Parks Foundation website. Once you are registered, they will send additional information about where to meet, what to bring (in addition to your smiles and volunteer spirit) and what to wear. Your registration helps us prepare for equipment, supplies and, of course, food.
In general, our work days are quite successful and often entertaining. Join us and meet new people who, like you, care about our parks. To get a flavor of our work day events see the FOCC photo gallery.

Sunday Hikes with a Naturalist
2018-10-14 12:30 - 15:00

Sunday Hike with a Naturalist
2018-10-21 12:30 - 14:30

CANCELLED:Full Moon Hike for Kids!
2018-10-24 18:15 - 19:30
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE CHILDREN’S EVENTS!

Children’s Full Moon Hike!

October: “Hunters Moon”

China Camp State Park
Date: Wed Oct 24th 2018
Time: 6:15pm -7:30pm
This month’s full moon hike is perfect for children and family. We will go on an easy, 40-minute hike and watch the radiant full moon cast glittering light over the bay. There will be snacks and fun activities as well!
Children ages 5 and up. Free admission.
RSVP to chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or (415)456-0766 to sign up. You will be notified of the meeting location once you RSVP. If rain is predicted, you will be notified if the hike is cancelled. Please bring warm clothing, appropriate hiking gear, water, and a flashlight. We will meet at 6:15pm sharp.

Sunday Hike with a Naturalist
2018-10-28 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.
Join naturalist Harold Hirsch for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 3 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

10/7 Turtleback Trailhead-12:30pm Easy Family Friendly hike. 1 mile.
10/14 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection- 12:30pm . Challenging. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain.

10/21 Back ranch meadows- 12:30pm Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain

10/28 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection- 12:30pm . Challenging. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain.

This hike is brought to you by Friends of China Camp. 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!

Naturalist Book Club
2018-10-28 19:00 - 20:00
BOOKS UNDER THE BOWER
Monthly Book Club at China Camp State Park

Join us for our monthly nature book club as we discuss Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. A charming story of Mozart and his pet starling, along with a natural history of the bird.
On May 27th, 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart met a flirtatious little starling who sang (an improved version of!) the theme from his Piano Concerto Number 17 in G to him. Knowing a kindred spirit when he met one, Mozart wrote “That was wonderful” in his journal and took the bird home to be his pet. For three years Mozart and his family enjoyed the uniquely delightful company of the starling until one fitful April when the bird passed away.
In 2013, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Crow Planet, rescued her own starling, Carmen, who has become a part of her family. In Mozart’s Starling, Haupt explores the unlikely bond between one of history’s most controversial characters and one of history’s most notoriously disliked birds. Part natural history, part story, Mozart’s Starling will delight readers as they learn about language, music, and the secret world of starlings.

When: Sunday, October 28th, 2018
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.

China Camp Annual Meeting
2018-11-10 10:00 - 12:00
Friends of China Camp
Annual Community Meeting

Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 10:00AM
At the Peacock Gap Club House, 333 Biscayne Drive, San Rafael
You are invite to the Friends of China Camp’s Annual Community Meeting to learn what FOCC has accomplished in the past year and what it hopes to accomplish in coming years. Learn about our current management and operational challenges, and share your thoughts. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and learn how to get involved. A representative from the Department of Parks and Recreation has been invited. Board Members and the Executive Director of FOCC will be present.
China Camp State Park is flourishing, and becoming a showplace for how a community takes care of its natural and cultural heritage. Your questions, comments and suggestions are essential to building our strategic plan. FOCC has been operating the park since 2012, and we need your involvement (suggestions, volunteering, donations, membership) to insure the park continues to thrive. Please join us on November 10th.
A continental breakfast will be served.

Sunday Hiking Program
2018-11-11 12:30 - 15:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join naturalist Harold Hirsch for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 2 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

11/11 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection- 12:30pm . Challenging. 4 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain.

11/18 Back ranch meadows- 12:30pm Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain

This hike is brought to you by Friends of China Camp. 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!

REGISTRATION FULL- Village Talk: BATS!!!
2018-11-11 16:30 - 17:30
THIS TALK CURRENTLY HAS A FULL REGISTRATION AND SIGN-UPS ARE WAITLIST ONLY
November’s Village Talk
NorCal Bats
Who are masters of echolocation and the only mammals that can legitimately fly? BATS! Friends of China Camp is pleased to welcome special guest appearances of LIVE California native bats to this month’s Village Talk! This talk will reveal the hidden lives and features of these specialized nocturnal creatures. Discover the diversity of native bat species in your local neighborhood, and how these delicate aerial beings communicate and navigate under the cover of darkness. You will also learn fascinating details about their physiology, diet and life cycle. Corky Quirk is been the founder of NorCal Bats, a Sacramento based organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of bats throughout Northern California. She has a degree in natural resources from Humboldt State University and she currently resides in Yolo County.
Date: Sunday November 11th, 2018
Location: Lower Village Museum, China Camp State Park
Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm
Admission: Members- Free
Non-members-$5
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.

CANCELLED Park Champions Work Day
2018-11-17 09:00 - 15:00
Poor air quality has caused us to cancel.

Please join us for our next work day, date TBD, but probably mid January.

Thank you to all our loyal volunteers.

CANCELLED: Sunday Hiking Program
2018-11-18 12:30 - 15:00
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO POOR AIR QUALITY IN THE BAY AREA.

GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join naturalist Harold Hirsch for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 2 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

11/11 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection- 12:30pm . Challenging. 4 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain.

11/18 Back ranch meadows- 12:30pm Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain.

This hike is brought to you by Friends of China Camp. 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!

Turtleback Trail Hike for Families!
2018-12-02 09:00 - 10:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Explore China Camp With a Naturalist
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.
Join naturalist Susan Edwards as we uncover the secrets of the Heart of China Camp: Turtleback trail. We’ll start at the Turtleback trailhead and wander among the pickleweed marsh and the oak woodlands to discover the plants and creatures that make it home. This will be a slow, joyful walk to see, smell, taste, hear and feel as much as we can. Susan is a seasoned naturalist who loves to share her knowledge of the intricate secrets of natural world along the trails of China Camp.
Families with children of all ages, welcome!
Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

Please bring appropriate hiking gear, water, and sunscreen. Weather conditions may cancel event.
To RSVP or for directions please contact chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or
call (415)456-0766.
