Friends of China Camp Join the Sudden Oak Death (SOD) Bio-blitz at China Camp. This annual citizen-science event, organized by researchers from U.C. Berkeley, invites community volunteers to help monitor the spread of the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of Sudden Oak Death (SOD). The disease has devastated oak-and-bay forests throughout the West, including... Read more »
Friends of China Camp, a non-profit organization, works hard to keep our park safe and beautiful—but we can’t do it without our dedicated team of volunteers! Join us for a fun and rewarding morning of giving back. This is a great time to meet fellow nature enthusiasts, get some fresh... Read more »
As a nature lover, you probably know about Earth Day, the springtime celebration focusing on environmental protection and how you can help. At California state parks, Earth Day is celebrated throughout April, with volunteer events taking place at many of the state's 280 parks, including China Camp. On Saturday, April... Read more »
Showy poppies, sapphire-blue lupines, and indigo irises—a color wheel is on display in the park right now. On this gentle hike, we’ll look for these and other wildflowers that strut their stuff in late spring and early summer, including sticky monkey flower, checkermallow, and brodeia. We’ll also be on the... Read more »
Friends of China Camp, a non-profit organization, works hard to keep our park safe and beautiful—but we can’t do it without our dedicated team of volunteers! Join us for a fun and rewarding morning of giving back. This is a great time to meet fellow nature enthusiasts, get some fresh... Read more »
The Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) is the only oyster native to the West Coast. Scientists from NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) and their collaborators have been monitoring oyster populations at China Camp State Park and areas around San Francisco Bay for many years. NERR senior research technician Anna Deck... Read more »
They swoop. They zoom. They flitter, squeak, and chur. They are the lively and chatty swallows of spring, which arrive this month. We’ll be on the lookout—with eyes and ears—for our three most common species. Tree swallows, which tend to nest in tree cavities, cruise above the meadows and marshes... Read more »
California poppies and storks bill by Harriot Manley Step into spring and discover the park’s vibrant wildflowers on a walk through our oak woodland forest. This gently rolling stroll leads us to seasonal favorites such as coast mule’s ears, blue-eyed grass, star lilies, California poppies, and Douglas irises. Along... Read more »
Look up! When skies are clear and the sun sets, you can’t miss this month’s dazzling array of natural night lights: a delicate crescent moon, brilliant Venus shining on the horizon, and mighty Jupiter glowing above. Come see these and other evening dazzlers with volunteers from Marin Stargazers. They’ll... Read more »
Friends of China Camp, a non-profit organization, works hard to keep our park safe and beautiful—but we can’t do it without our dedicated team of volunteers! Join us for a fun and rewarding morning of giving back. This is a great time to meet fellow nature enthusiasts, get some fresh... Read more »
