Friends of China Camp Geology: Rocks, Sand, and Mud What’s older than memory, as mighty as a mountain, but can fit in the palm of your hand? You guessed it…rocks! We might not notice them as much as we do China Camp’s wildlife and plants, but rocks–from big boulders to tiny grains of sand–make... Read more »
Winter: A time for renewal When you think of winter, you might imagine the snowy Sierra, when most animal and plant life enters a time of dormancy. Not so in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here, winter is a time of awakening and renewal after the long and dry summer... Read more »
Moonrise over Rat Rock by Steve Ziman Doesn’t the full moon just make you want to… howl? This month, it might be the best time to do just that, as we head out to get the first glimpse of 2022’s “Wolf Moon.” The story goes that this month’s full moon... Read more »
Winter is a great time to spot both California brown pelicans and striking white pelicans along China Camp’s shoreline. What are the key differences between these two entertaining waterbirds? Aside from the color, the white pelican is much larger, boasting a nine-foot wingspan that makes the bird one of the... Read more »
There will be a footrace beginning at Miwok Meadows on January 29th from 8am-2pm. Please expect increased foot traffic on Shoreline Trail, Bayview Trail, Back Ranch Fire Trail, and Oak Ridge Trail during that time. Go to the Urban Coyote Racing website for more details.
THE WINDS OF CHANGE BY EUGENE LINDEN Join this online event for what promises to be a lively conversation about this well-researched and fascinating discussion of nature, history, and civilizations. Join this month’s online naturalist book club as we discuss The Winds of Change. Author and journalist Eugene Linden delves into... Read more »
From February 11 to 13, portions of Shoreline Trail will be closed for restoration. The Friends of China Camp volunteer trail team will be restoring the handicap-accessible portion of Shoreline Trail, to ensure equitable access for people with mobility disabilities. Please stay off closed areas, trespassing could risk disturbing the... Read more »
Winter is alive! This program will highlight the awakening of new life as the winter rains and cool temperatures refresh the plant and animal life of China Camp. Junior Rangers will look for new life as wildflowers, grasses, ferns, and trees begin to bud. Discover birds, insects, frogs, newts, and... Read more »
There will be a footrace beginning at Miwok Meadows on February 13th from 8am-2pm. Please expect increased foot traffic on Shoreline Trail, Bayview Trail, and Oak Ridge Trail during that time. Go to the Sasquatch Racing website for more details.
New ideas & research Naturalist Harold Hirsch will lead a program celebrating international Darwin Day by discussing the evolution of—well—the theory of evolution! We will cover Charles Darwin’s contribution to science and also explore the ideas of the late E.O. Wilson and Richard Leakey, two scientists who greatly influenced modern... Read more »
This moon is deemed the “snow moon” because February is usually the coldest, snowiest month in the U.S. Though Bay Area residents might have to head to Tahoe to actually see some snow this month, you can join us on a journey to watch the snow-white moon ascend into the... Read more »
By the first two weeks of February, we can expect to see many species of swallows returning to the Bay Area from their winter home in Mexico. On this month's birding hike, we will look for barn swallows swooping and diving above Miwok Meadows in pursuit of flying insects. Barn... Read more »
