Campfire Program with Park Ranger Vianueva
2016-07-30 20:30 - 21:15 (America/Los_Angeles)
(Meet at the Campfire Area near Site 13)
* No need to sign up in advance, just show up at the location listed.
* Programs are open to campers and general public.
* A parent or chaperone must stay in area.
* For more information call 415 456-0766.

Free Ranger Led Program: The Ecology of China Camp State Park
2016-08-08 15:00 - 15:40
FREE 45 minute program led by China Camp Park Ranger
Location: China Camp Lower Village, at the picnic tables in front of the Museum
Learn how the plants, animals and bay waters are related to one another and how we can help to preserve that relationship.
For both children and adults. Ideal for children 7-12 years Ideal for children 7-12 years
(But exceptions are always made for younger children)
Earn your Jr. Ranger badge at the first program you attend!
* No need to sign up in advance, just show up at the location listed.
* Programs are open to campers and general public.
* A parent or chaperone must stay in area.
* For more information call 415 456-0766
* Prizes earned w/ each program

Free Ranger Led Program: The History of China Camp State Park
2016-08-15 15:00 - 15:40
FREE 45 minute program led by China Camp Park Ranger
Location: China Camp Lower Village, at the picnic tables in front of the Museum
Learn about the rich cultural history, from the Miwok Indians to the Spanish to the Chinese.
For both children and adults. Ideal for children 7-12 years Ideal for children 7-12 years
(But exceptions are always made for younger children)
Earn your Jr. Ranger badge at the first program you attend!
* No need to sign up in advance, just show up at the location listed.
* Programs are open to campers and general public.
* A parent or chaperone must stay in area.
* For more information call 415 456-0766
* Prizes earned w/ each program

Heritage Day Cancelled
2016-08-27

Park Champion Trail Work Morning
2016-09-18 09:00 - 13:00
Join us for a one or both sessions of a trail maintenance event. We will be clearing and grooming a section of Oak Ridge Trail. Lunch is offered for the morning shift and yummy snacks for the afternoon shift.
Please register for this event on the CalParks website. This helps us plan for tools, supplies, parking and, of course, food. CSPF will follow up with all registrants and provide details about what to wear, what to bring, where to meet, etc.

Park Champion Trail Work Afternoon
2016-09-18 12:45 - 16:00

Honey Badger 1/2 Marathon, 10k, 5K Run
2016-10-09 09:00 - 14:00

Celebrating Frank Quan's Life
2016-10-15 11:00 - 14:00
Please join Frank Quan’s family and his Friends of China Camp family in a celebration of a unique American life. We’ll celebrate with Chinese Lion Dancers, honor Frank’s service in World War II with a US Navy Flag ceremony, share remembrances and enjoy his legacy of a thriving park that was once his home. Chinese food will be served. Music of the 1940s, Frank’s favorite, will be played.
All those who wish to pay their respects, share stories and honor a remarkable man are welcome to join in the celebration.
The event will be in China Camp Village, located in China Camp State Park. Free parking is available at the Village and the Ranger Station. As those areas fill you will be directed to overflow parking. Shuttle service from and to the parking areas will be available from 10AM to 3PM. Please arrive early to allow enough time for parking and transport. A few handicapped parking spots are available in the Lower Village. As those fill up, guests are asked to drop off their handicapped riders and park as instructed.
The Frank Quan Fund has been set up to carry on Frank’s life work, preservation of the Village. Donations may be made to this fund either during the event (cash or check only) or from this link. Donations may also be mailed to the Friends of China Camp, 100 China Camp Village, San Rafael, CA 94901. Please make checks payable to Friends of China Camp.

Marin County Triathlon
2016-10-22 06:30 - 14:00
Triathlon – Sprint – Individual
Triathlon – Sprint – Relay
Duathlon – Sprint – Individual
Duathlon – Sprint – Relay
Kids Triathlon – Individual
Kids Triathlon – Relay

Marin Country Triathlon, Day 2
2016-10-23 06:00 - 14:00
Triathlon – Olympic – Individual
Triathlon – Olympic – Relay
Duathlon – Olympic – Individual
Duathlon – Olympic – Relay

Park Champion Trail Work Morning
2016-10-29 09:00 - 13:00
Join us for our morning project grooming and brushing on Oak Ridge Trail starting at the eastern intersection with McNears Fire Trail. Lunch will be provided. Registration required – go to CalParks website for details.

Park Champion Trail Work Afternoon
2016-10-29 12:45 - 16:00
Join us for our afternoon project repairing, completing and sealing food storage lockers for the campgrounds. If time permits we will clean and sharpen tools.
Registration required. Go to Calparks for details

Mountain Lions at China Camp? A talk at the Village Museum
2016-10-29 17:00 - 18:30
What are the chances of your coming face to face with a Mountain Lion at China Camp? Or anywhere else while you are hiking in Marin? And if that happened, what should you do?
Mountain Lions are the subject of the first of a series of free illustrated talks for the whole family sponsored by Friends of China Camp. Led by Bay Area rangers and naturalists, the talks will be held in the museum at China Camp Village, starting on Saturday, October 29. Talks begin at 5 pm and will last a little over an hour.
The presenter for the first program will be Zara McDonald of the Felidae Conservation Fund, a global organization dedicated to the study and protection of wild cats and their habitats. Zara will talk about the critical role that mountain lions (also called pumas and cougars) play in maintaining the health and biodiversity of our ecosystems. She will show videos on mountain lion ecology and history, and the challenges of sharing our habitat with mountain lions. And she will offer essential tips for living and enjoying normal recreation without fear in places where mountain lions are found. For more information, go to Bay Area Puma Project.
Free refreshments will be served before the presentation begins, so come early and take time to browse the history exhibits in the China Camp museum.
Space is limited and reservations are required. To reserve, call the China Camp Ranger Station at (415) 456-0766 and leave your name, the number of seats you need, and your phone number so that we can confirm your place.

Tamalpa Cross Country Race
2016-10-30 06:00 - 14:00
The Cross Country Running Series is is sponsored by the Pacific Association of USA Track and Field (PA/USATF) and consists of ten off-road races spread around Northern California. The races range in length from about 5K to 10K and have perhaps the most competive fields of any races in Northern California. This is a Grand Prix with point totals being kept over the race series for both individuals and teams. Every year Tamalpa Runners hosts the Johhny Lawson Challange which is one of the races in the series. This race is held at China Camp.

Park Champion Trail Work Morning
2016-11-12 09:00 - 13:00
Trail grooming. Details TBD.

Park Champion Trail Work Afternoon
2016-11-12 12:45 - 16:00

Inside Trail Racing 1/2 Marathon, 10k, 5k
2016-11-19 06:00 - 14:00
Once a thriving Chinese settlement subsisting off of shrimp fishing, China Camp is now a popular state park for boaters, runners/hikers, and mountain bikers. An extensive trail network will greet you with views of Mt. Tam, San Pablo Bay, and San Francisco Bay as you traverse twisting single-track trails, climbing up and over the peak. The courses wind along thick forests and descend out into open trails on the San Pablo Bay side of the park. Each race is relatively fast, with a nice punch of a climb beginning 1.5 miles into the course, leaving plenty of room to push it or just hike and enjoy the wild turkeys and sounds of the woods around you. China camp is a rare locale for a running race, so be sure not to miss this special event.

Fall and Winter Birds at China Camp
2016-11-19 17:00 - 18:00
Thanks to its remarkable habitat range — from the expanse of San Pablo Bay to its oak forest — China Camp offers a great wintering area for many species of birds.
You’ll find Surf Scoters in China Camp’s sheltered bays in advance of a winter storm. And if you’re lucky, you might spy the four-inch-long Ruby-crowned Kinglet hovering in pursuit of insects…or hear its “ditt-ditt” call that sounds a lot like an old IBM typewriter.
But you don’t have to be an active birder to enjoy the free illustrated talk scheduled for the Museum at China Camp Village on Saturday, November 19. Designed to appeal to the whole family, it will help you appreciate and identify the waterfowl and songbirds you come across in and around China Camp.
The presenter will be Neill Fogarty, the Supervising Ranger at Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa. Neill has worked in over 50 parks from Santa Cruz to the Oregon border. His birding trips have taken him all over North and Central America, as well as to Madagascar and South Africa. “Currently”, says Neill, “I’ve traded in my binoculars for running shoes to keep up with my one-and-a-half-year-old son Kieran, whose vocabulary already includes ‘Gull’, ‘Hummingbird’,’Owl’, ‘Phoebe’…and the sound of crickets.”
Joining Neill in the presentation will be Phil Johnson, Senior Ranger of the Marin Municipal Water District.
This is the second in the Fall-Winter series of monthly talks to be held at the Museum. The October program on Mountain Lions was enthusiastically received by a full house.
Free refreshments will be served before the presentation begins, so come early and take time to browse the history exhibits in the China Camp museum.Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com
Leave your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.

King Tides at China Camp
2016-12-17 17:00 - 18:00
After a week of “King Tides”, come to China Camp State Park to learn what extreme high tides can tell us about sea level rise. As part of NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System, China Camp’s tidal marshes play a key role in helping scientists understand how marshes respond to sea level rise and how we can protect them. In this evening talk, we will hear about what scientists have learned so far and how they are learning more through research right here at China Camp.
This talk is presented by Sarah Ferner, Education Coordinator for the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Sarah loves to learn and teach about marshes and estuaries, and has a knack for translating complex science into everyday fun. This talk is an expansion of the popular King Tide Walks Sarah leads each year at China Camp and Rush Ranch (in Solano County). If you’ve left a walk wanting more, this is your chance to go deeper into the science!
This is the third in a monthly series of free illustrated talks at the museum designed to appeal to the whole family. The first two programs — on mountain lions and on birds at China Camp — were enthusiastically received by fully-reserved audiences.
Free refreshments and a hands-on learning station will be available before the presentation begins, so come early. Additionally, take time to browse the history exhibits in the China Camp museum.
Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com
Leave your name and the number of seats you need.

King Tide Guided Nature Walk: Flooded with Science and Seawater!
2017-01-12 11:00 - 13:00
Learn about local sea level rise from scientist and educator Sarah Ferner of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Join her at the Turtle Back Hill nature trail to witness the rising tide slowly flood the marsh during one of the highest high tides of the year.
You will learn about the marsh, about scientific research occurring there, and what King Tides can teach us about sea level rise. You are invited to bring your camera to participate in the California King Tide Initiative program of citizen science photo monitoring.
Registration is required. 20 people maximum. This event is primarily for adults.
To reserve, send email to chinacamp.programs@gmail.com by January 9th. Leave the names of each registrant. We will reply to confirm your reservation and provide additional information about where to meet and what to bring.

Frogs, Newts and Other Amphibians - a talk by David Herlocker
2017-01-21 17:00 - 18:00
There’s no better time than January to encounter frogs and toads and newts and other salamanders on the trails of China Camp and other Marin parks. For now is the time these ancient animals called “amphibians” come out of their dry season hiding places.
The story of their survival for over 300 million years, and the strategies that allow many to thrive in our forests, fields and streams, will be the subject of this month’s illustrated talk in the China Camp Village museum. It will be presented by David Herlocker, an award-winning Interpretive Naturalist for Marin County Parks.
David has been a lifelong lover of amphibians and has taught about them in the classroom and in the field for over 30 years. He will delve into the identifying characteristics and natural history of our local species, and how we can be better stewards of their habitats. And he will discuss the two species that have suffered most from habitat alteration and are now listed as threatened and endangered.
This is the fourth in a monthly series of free illustrated talks at the museum designed to appeal to the whole family. The first three programs — on mountain lions, birds at China Camp, and King Tides — were enthusiastically received.
Free refreshments will be served before the presentation begins, so come early and take time to browse the history exhibits in the China Camp museum. Dress warmly, and bring a flashlight for the walk from the parking lot.
Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com
Leave your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.

Park Champions Work Day
2017-01-28 09:00 - 15:00
Join us as we keep the trails safe for all, cutting back brush and draining puddles. We’ll provide lunch and companionship. We will be working in two locations to repair the trail tread, particularly areas that allow standing water and show significant erosion. These locations will be close to the campground, so not much hiking will be required to get to the work site. Note that we’re only having one session, 9-3, and no separate afternoon session (leaving after lunch is totally OK). Registration is required – sign up at CalParks.

We're talkin' Mushrooms!
2017-02-18 17:00 - 18:00
Mushrooms!!!
Mushrooms evoke images of folklore, fairytales and epicurean eating. But mushrooms are so much more and are important actors on the global stage. Did you know that mushrooms are vital for healthy ecosystems, help maintain bio-diversity and are being used for medicines, soil amendments, vegan leather and more?
Come find out more about the versatile, impressive and fascinating world of mushrooms at this month’s illustrated talk, “Mushrooms and Their Many Uses.” The talk will be presented by Enrique Sanchez.
Mr. Sanchez has been an active member of the Mycological Society of San Francisco for 15 years. A lifelong interest in herbs passed on by his grandmother led him to explore what else in the natural world could be beneficial for humans. This curiosity led him to bio-dynamic farming, bee keeping and mushrooms. On Saturday, February 18 at 5 PM, he will tell us about the world of fungi, past, present and future.
After our beautiful rains, China Camp abounds with mushrooms and fungi. Now is a great time to take a mushrooms walk on one of our many trails. Look on the ground, on logs and in the tress above for these fascinating fungi. They literally spring up over night!

Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com
Leave your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.

Park Champions Work Day
2017-02-25 09:00 - 15:00
Join our crew in keeping the park healthy, accessible and safe. Better (and dirtier) than a day at the gym. We’ll be repairing storm damage to Shoreline Trail, rebuilding sections of the trail that have failed due to heavy rains and extraordinary runoff. Culverts will be cleared of debris. Large equipment will be in use (Tractor, toters, compactor, dump truck). Rakes, shovels, buckets, McLoeds and wheelbarrows will be used.

Sign up at CalParks.

Turtleback Hill Nature Hike
2017-03-15 08:00 - 17:00
Do you want to learn about spring wildflowers, native grasses and find out more about the prized Salt Marsh at China Camp? There will be a free 2 hour hike at Turtleback Hill Trail on March 18 at 10AM. The hike will be led by Kathy Cuneo, a very knowledgable local educator, biologist and environmentalist. This is a wonderful opportunity to find out more about your park. If you are interested, registration is necessary. Please sign up at chinacamp.programs@gmail.com, as space is limited. We will meet at the trail head opposite Turtleback Hill.
We look forward to seeing you there.

JADE: Stone of Heaven
2017-03-18 17:00 - 18:00
Jade has been the most treasured mineral in Asian cultures. Gram for gram, carat for carat, it is the most valuable gem in the world market today. The presumed mystical power believed to be possessed by jade can be traced back thousands of years in Chinese history and archeology.
Dr. John Suen is Professor Emeritus of Hydrogeology at California State University, Fresno. In this talk, he will examine the history, mineralogy, and geologic genesis of jade. Rational explanations for the origins of mystical beliefs associated with jade will be presented from a scientific perspective. The geology of California will also be covered.
Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com
Leave your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.

Park Champions Work Day
2017-03-25 09:00 - 15:00
Join our crew in keeping the park healthy, accessible and safe. Better (and dirtier) than a day at the gym. We’ll be tackling the severe storm damage to the park’s trail system. We need to build split rail fencing to protect a section of trail next to a landslide, and to block off four other sections of trail until we can get them repaired and safe again. We’ll be carrying posts and rails, digging post holes, building fences, and clearing away debris.
Sign up at CalParks.

Park Champions Work Day
2017-04-01 09:00 - 15:00
As many of you know, we had to cancel our work day last week due to the weather and the resulting condition of the trails. This is short notice to recruit for volunteers, but we are hopeful that you will join us on Saturday, April 1st to help us install split rail fencing. We will be blocking access to one trail, until the proper sustainable repairs can be made. We will also be installing fencing to provide safe passage on other trails. It will be a full day of work from 9AM – 3PM. Lunch is included. Limited shared free camp sites are available for our registered volunteers. Volunteers will be working with posthole diggers, shovels, McLeods, tampers, digging bars, wheelbarrows, buckets and other hand tools.
To register, go to the Cal Parks Champion website. Your registration helps us plan for tools, supplies, equipment and, of course, food.
The FOCC Trails Team is looking forward to working with you. Bring your teamwork attitude, smiles and stories to share while playing in the dirt.

Village Talk - Spring Flowers of Marin
2017-04-15 17:00 - 18:00
Spring is an amazing time to experience the wonders of wildflowers and to gain an appreciation of the value of native plants.
We are honored to have Doreen Smith, member of the Marin County Native Plant Society, as our April speaker at the Village Museum. Doreen will present a slideshow and talk about the more familiar wildflowers of Marin, with an emphasis on those growing at China Camp State Park.
Doreen is well known for her expertise on the native flora of the county, and has spent many decades identifying and updating the local wildflower species lists on behalf of the Marin chapter of the California Native Plant Society. She also worked as a taxonomist at the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England and more recently at the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, preparing the newer edition of Howell’s Marin Flora. She is a botanist and educator and is a Marin County resident.
Space is limited and reservations are required. To reserve, send email to: chinacamp.programs@gmail.com Include your name and the number of seats you need. We will reply to confirm your reservation.

Earth Day at China Camp
2017-04-22 09:00 - 16:00
FOCC, in partnership with the California State Parks Association, will hold our second Earth Day event. This year’s focus is restoration and clean up, which couldn’t be more perfect. As a result of the persistent storms and excessive rain, we have plenty of trail restoration that needs to be done.

The volunteer trail event check in and morning snacks begin at 8:30, and the work is from 9AM to 12:30PM. A lunch is provided compliments of Panera Bread.
We’d love to have you join us for a day in the dirt. To register, go to the CalParks website. Your registration helps us plan for tools, supplies and food. CalParks will contact you with information about where to meet, what to wear and what to bring (in addition to your Earth Day smile). After lunch, volunteers are welcome to continue the trail work with FOCC core trail maintenance team. Hint: there is much to be done.
There will be crafts for children in the Village from 1:30 to 4:00, including animal tracks, Zodiac signs on Chinese Newspapers and face painting. There is a $5 parking fee, unless you have an annual pass. No preregistration is needed, just drop in.

Nature Hikes will be offered at 1:30 and 3:00. This is the perfect way to learn about the fascinating natural history of China Camp and San Pablo Bay. Group size is limited to 20. To reserve, send email to chinacamp.programs@gmail.com. You will receive a confirmation email with information about the meeting location.
