Friends of China Camp Moonrise over Rat Rock by Steve Ziman July “Buck Moon”The “buck moon” is named for the season when bucks begin to grow new antlers. For this full moon hike, we will go on a moderately strenuous, 4-mile round-trip hike and watch the radiant full moon cast glittering light over the... Read more »
In the summer, when many bird species are wrapping up nesting in China Camp, warbling vireos are just starting to raise their young here. A great place to look for them is in the tall trees surrounding Miwok Meadows. With a little practice, you can identify these beautiful seasonal visitors. ... Read more »
Join us for this month’s Junior Ranger Program. We’ll investigate nature’s works of art and musical sounds hidden amongst the trees, grasses, and marshland at China Camp Village. We will search for examples of beautiful art in nature, like the patterns in spider webs or whorls in tree bark. Then... Read more »
Join us as we walk through Back Ranch Meadows and learn how pre-colonial Coast Miwok people harvested food throughout China Camp. Surrounded by the diverse and lush habitats in their homeland here, Miwok people enjoyed an abundance of animal protein. They harvested local fish and shellfish, and used net traps... Read more »
BUZZ: THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF BEES BY THOR HANSEN Join our monthly book club as we discuss this vitally important book from the award-winning author of The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers. In his book, Thor Hansen imparts a natural and cultural history of the insect lineage that includes... Read more »
For this month's online Village Talk, we will discuss one of our most critically important insects: bees. Join naturalist Harold Hirsch as he discusses the biology, evolutionary history, and ecological function of wild native bees of the San Francisco Bay Area. For millions of years, bees have followed a close... Read more »
Attention birdbrains! Allow us to introduce two year-round natives in our park that we hope to see during our August birding hike: the brown creeper and the white-breasted nuthatch. Both hop vertically along tree trunks in search of tasty insect morsels hidden among the bark. Creepers are tiny with curved... Read more »
Join us this month for an informative walk through Back Ranch Meadows as we learn how pre-colonial Coast Miwok people used controlled burns to benefit their community. Wildfires started by lightning are a natural part of our region’s oak woodland forest ecology. But Miwok people intentionally set periodic, slow-burning fires... Read more »
What tiny mouse can drink salt water? How does an egret keep from sinking into the mud? Why do madrone trees shed their red bark? Discover the secrets of the marsh and forests of China Camp State Park during this engaging family-friendly hike. Moms and dads with nature-loving kids will... Read more »
AUGUST'S BOOK SELECTION: CALIFORNIA EXPOSURES- ENVISIONING MYTH AND HISTORY BY RICHARD WHITE Join this month’s naturalist book club as we discuss Richard White’s award-winning book, California Exposures. White teams up with his son, photographer Jesse Amble White, to produce this vivid narrative of human history as it has been etched... Read more »
There will be a footrace beginning at Miwok Meadows from 8am to 1pm on September 4th. Expect increased foot traffic on all trails during that time. For more information about the trails that will be impacted, check out the Inside Trail Racing event website.
This event has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict. However, you can still pitch in for our next event on October 2nd. Join other volunteers on our first Park Champions event of the year, sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) in partnership with Friends of China Camp.... Read more »
