Friends of China Camp

Junior Ranger Program: Creeks!
2019-03-16 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Junior Ranger Program

For this Junior Ranger Program we’ll learn about the plants and animals that depend on Back Ranch creek which flows through China Camp’s campground. We’ll follow the creek that is full of winter rain as it rushes toward the Bay. We will explore the life that lives in and around the creek and talk about why it is important to protect our watershed!

Best for ages 6-10
Date: March 16th, 2019
Time: 10am-1pm
Location: Back Ranch Meadows Group Camp Parking Lot. (Directions will be provided in email response)

Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766
Include your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.
Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

CANCELLED Junior Ranger Program: Creeks!
2019-03-10 10:00 - 13:00
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO MARCH 16th due to weather conditions.

Junior Ranger Program

For this Junior Ranger Program we’ll learn about the plants and animals that depend on Back Ranch creek which flows through China Camp’s campground. We’ll follow the creek that is full of winter rain as it rushes toward the Bay. We will explore the life that lives in and around the creek and talk about why it is important to protect our watershed!

Best for ages 6-10
Date: March 10th, 2019
Time: 10am-1pm
Location: Back Ranch Meadows Group Camp Parking Lot. (Directions will be provided in email response)

Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766
Include your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.
Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Introduction to Birding Hike
2019-03-09 08:00 - 10:00
Introduction To Birding

Beginning to Advanced Students Welcome!
If you’ve always loved birds but need help getting started, join our beginning bird class with naturalist Jerry Coe! In our class you will receive instruction on how to effectively use binoculars and bird identification guides to identify common birds in the field. We will explore birds of the oak woodland habitat: raptors, gulls, woodpeckers, warblers, wrens and waders.
Jerry Coe is a naturalist with over eight years of intensive training in ornithological field identification. He spent 15 years as a volunteer in Great Basin, Nevada doing Point Count Surveys using bird activities to assess the health of habitats and has led guided expeditions all over the world.

Date: March 9th, 8am-10am
Event Location: Turtleback Trailhead
Length: 1.5 miles

What to Bring: Please wear layers, good walking shoes. Bring water, and snacks and binoculars. Optional items include: Daypack, scope, guide books, camera.

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.

Hiking Program
2019-03-03 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Naturalist Hikes at China Camp
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See stunning wildflowers.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Hikes range from easy to advanced and range from 1.5 to 6 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

‘

3/3 Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm: Moderate, 3 miles, 400 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
3/24 Knight Drive – 12:30pm Intermediate, 2-3 miles, 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

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! Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Naturalist Hike: Glenwood
2019-03-03 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Naturalist Hikes at China Camp
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 4 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

3/3 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. intersection in Glenwood neighborhood. 12:30pm Advanced. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

Naturalist Book Club
2019-02-24 19:00 - 20:00
NATURALIST BOOK CLUB
February 24th, 2019- 7pm
China Camp Village Museum

Join Friends of China Camp for February’s book selection:
Life Everlasting (The Animal Way of Death) by Bernd Heinrich

How does the animal world deal with death? And what ecological and spiritual lessons can we learn from examining this? Bernd Heinrich has long been fascinated by these questions, and when a good friend with a terminal illness asked if he might have his “green burial” at Heinrich’s hunting camp in Maine, it inspired the acclaimed biologist and author to investigate. Life Everlasting is the fruit of those investigations, illuminating what happens to animals great and small after death.

From beetles to bald eagles, ravens to wolves, Heinrich reveals the fascinating and mostly hidden post-death world that occurs around us con
stantly, while examining the ancient and important role we too play as scavengers, connecting death to life. (Exerp by Amazon.com)

When: Sunday, February 24th, 2019
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.

FOOTRACE: Sasquatch Racing
2019-02-24 06:30 - 12:30
There will be a 5k/10k/ Half Marathon footrace beginning at Miwok Meadows on Sunday February 24th from 6am- 12:30pm. Expect increased foot traffic on trails. For more information go to the Sasquatch Racing website.

Village Talk: History of San Francisco Bay Area Development
2019-02-23 15:30 - 16:30
February’s Village Talk:
A History of Development:
The San Francisco Bay Reber Plan

In Commemoration of Engineer Week

The San Francisco Bay area dramatically changed after the US took ownership of California in 1848. The Gold Rush and other international events lead to a dramatic rise in population density in the Bay Area. The precipitous increases lead to resource scarcity- which provoked the development of the San Francisco Bay Project (aka the John Reber Plan). Mr. John Reber came up with the perfect solution to California’s water issues which gave birth to the largest civil works project in the history of the country at that time -with enormous public support and national acclaim. Why did congress want to involve the US Army Corps of Engineers? The SF Bay Project seemed like such a good idea at the time. What could possibly go wrong? Join Linda Holm, a Park Ranger with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bay Model, as she guides us in a journey back in time to see how major developments have changed the SF Bay that we know today.

Date: Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Location: China Camp Village Museum

FOCC Members — Free Admission
General Public — $5 Admission
Hot beverages and snacks will be provided. Please dress warmly!

Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766
Include your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.
Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Naturalist Hike: Knight Drive
2019-02-23 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Naturalist Hikes at China Camp
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 4 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

2/10 Turtleback Trail– 9am: Family Friendly hike. Easy 1 mile. Lead by naturalist Susan Edwards
2/17 Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm: Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

2/23 Knight Drive Trailhead (At the end of Knight Drive in San Rafael) – 12:30pm Intermediate. 2-3 miles. 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
3/3 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. intersection in Glenwood neighborhood. 12:30pm Advanced. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

Naturalist Hike: Back Ranch Meadows
2019-02-17 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Naturalist Hikes at China Camp
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 4 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

2/10 Turtleback Trail– 9am: Family Friendly hike. Easy 1 mile. Lead by naturalist Susan Edwards
2/17 Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm: Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

2/23 Knight Drive – 12:30pm Intermediate. 2-3 miles. 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
3/3 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection. 12:30pm Advanced. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

Junior Ranger Program!
2019-02-17 10:00 - 12:00
JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM
Beaks and Wings, Feathers and Feet!

Join naturalist Susan Edwards as we use all our senses and observational skills to get to know the birds that visit China Camp in the early Spring.

This will be a fun science program with games, art and a chance to earn a Jr. Ranger badge.

Best for ages 6-10

Date: February 17th, 2019
Time: 10am-Noon
Location: China Camp Village Parking lot.

Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766
Include your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.
Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Park Champions Work Day
2019-02-16 09:00 - 15:00
As many of you know, the trail rehab event for last month was rained out. So we are trying again. The soft soil is perfect for tread restoration and we’re hoping it will stay that way for another couple of weeks.
We’ll be digging up a section of Shoreline Trail, rebuilding it to state standards, compacting the tread, replacing split rail fencing and wattling the edge. Included in the festivities will be moving gravel and filling in some ruts on the access fire trail.
Lunch is provided. Limited free camping is available to registered volunteers. Ages 16 and up are welcome. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
To register, please go 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. Be sure to include your email address…just in case rain causes us to cancel and we need to contact you.
The work will be moderately strenuous. 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 Maintenance photo gallery.

Easy Turtleback Trail Hike!
2019-02-10 09:00 - 11:00
TURTLEBACK TRAIL WALK

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.
When: February 10th, 2019
Where: Turtleback Trailhead, China Camp State Park
Time: 9am-11am
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.

CANCELLED:Mushroom Walk
2019-02-03 12:30 - 14:30
THIS HIKE HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO STORMY WEATHER
Mushroom Hike with Rivkah Khanin

Prepare to put on your “mushroom goggles” and look at the forest in a new way. This walk lead by mushroom enthusiast Rivkah Kahnin will be an introductory mushroom foray. We will explore the various ecological roles these organisms play and ways we can interact with them. We will develop tools for identification and learn some basic terminology. All comfort-levels and questions welcome!

Rivkah Kahnin is a member of the Mycological society of San Francisco and was featured in this KQED Bay Area Bites article.

Date: Sunday, February 3rd, 2019
Time: 12:30pm- 2:30pm
Location: BackRanch Meadows Campground entrance. It is on the North Entrance of the park. We will meet at the guard kiosk by San Pedro Rd.

Difficulty: This will be a moderate 2-3 mile hike.
What to Bring: Comfortable hiking clothes snacks, water and good walking shoes.

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.

Migratory Bird Walk
2019-02-02 08:00 - 10:00
Migratory Bird Walk

Bring your binoculars on this stimulating hike as we explore the lives of the migratory birds at China Camp. As the weather begins to get warmer and the days longer, we will see the first appearances of migrating species as they make their journey north from their wintering sites in the south. This is also the time when hawks and owls begin to make their nests. We will also talk about how you can welcome them back by creating a bird-friendly habitat in your backyard garden. 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.

Date: Saturday Feb 2nd, 8am-10am
Meeting Location: Shoreline Trailhead across from Turtleback Trailhead. Here is a link to a google map.
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.

Natural History Book Club
2019-01-27 19:00 - 20:30
Join Friends of China Camp for January’s book selection:
THE INVENTION OF NATURE
By Andrea Wulf
January 27th, 2018- 7pm

Named Best Book of the Year by The New York Times and many more.
Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was the most famous scientist of his age, a visionary German naturalist and polymath whose discoveries forever changed the way we understand the natural world. Among his most revolutionary ideas was a radical conception of nature as a complex and interconnected global force that does not exist for the use of humankind alone. In North America, Humboldt’s name still graces towns, counties, parks, bays, lakes, mountains, and a river. And yet the man has been all but forgotten.

In this illuminating biography, Andrea Wulf brings Humboldt’s extraordinary life back into focus: his prediction of human-induced climate change; his daring expeditions to the highest peaks of South America and to the anthrax-infected steppes of Siberia; his relationships with iconic figures, including Simón Bolívar and Thomas Jefferson; and the lasting influence of his writings on Darwin, Wordsworth, Goethe, Muir, Thoreau, and many others. Brilliantly researched and stunningly written, The Invention of Nature reveals the myriad ways in which Humboldt’s ideas form the foundation of modern environmentalism—and reminds us why they are as prescient and vital as ever. (Exerp by Amazon.com)
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 Hike: Knight Drive
2019-01-27 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Naturalist Hikes at China Camp
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 4 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

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! Hea
vy rain will cancel the hike- cancellations posted on FOCC website.

1/6 Turtleback Trail– 9am: Family Friendly hike. Easy 1 mile. Lead by naturalist Susan Edwards
1/13 Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm: Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
1/20 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection. 12:30pm Advanced. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
1/27 Knight Drive – 12:30pm Intermediate. 2-3 miles. 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

CANCELLED: King Tide Talk
2019-01-26 16:30 - 17:30
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Please check our calendar for future events.

Saturday, January 26th, 2018
Location: China Camp Village Museum
Time: 4:30pm -5:30pm

Come to China Camp State Park to learn what extreme high tides, commonly called King 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. 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!

FOCC Members — Free Admission
General Public — $5 Admission
Hot beverages and snacks will be provided. Please dress warmly!

Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766
Include your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.
Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Urban Coyote Footrace- 5K/10k/ Half Marathon
2019-01-26 06:30 - 15:30
Urban Coyote will hold a footrace in China Camp beginning at Miwok Meadows. Expect increased trail use and vehicle traffic in the park.

For more information please go the the following site:

http://www.urbancoyoteracing.com/china-camp-challenge.html

Waitlist Only: King Tide Hike!
2019-01-21 11:00 - 13:00
THis event is Full- Waitlist only

Flooded with Science and Seawater:
A guided nature walk at China Camp State Park
during a King Tide
Date: Sunday, December 23rd
Start time: 11:30 am
End time: 1:30 pm
AND
Date: Monday, January 21st
Start time: 11:00 am
End time: 1:00 pm
Celebrate winter with a beautiful short hike and lots of science at China Camp State Park! Join
scientist and educator Sarah Ferner from San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve for a walk near the edge of China Camp’s tidal salt marsh during one of the highest high
tides of the year – a King Tide. Nature should put on a quietly beautiful show as the rising tide
slowly floods the marsh. We will learn about the marsh, scientific research occurring there, and
what king tides can teach us about sea level rise. Bring your camera to participate in California
King Tide Initiative’s citizen science photo monitoring. Registration required.
Cost: Free.
What to be prepared for: Please dress appropriately for weather, including walking on trails
that will likely be wet or muddy and standing still in windy conditions. This event is primarily
for adults.
What to bring: Camera, binoculars
Meeting place: Turtleback Hill Nature Trail within China Camp State Park. Please enter the
Park from the East (Peacock Gap/Downtown San Rafael). If N. San Pedro Rd is flooded, the
meeting location will be moved east of the flooding. Please do not drive through flooded areas!
Weather plan: Very heavy rain may cancel
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 Hike: Glenwood
2019-01-20 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Naturalist Hikes at China Camp
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 4 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

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! Heavy rain will cancel the hike- cancellations posted on FOCC website.

1/6 Turtleback Trail– 9am: Family Friendly hike. Easy 1 mile. Lead by naturalist Susan Edwards
1/13 Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm: Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
1/20 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection in Glenwood neighborhood. 12:30pm Advanced. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
1/27 Knight Drive – 12:30pm Intermediate. 2-3 miles. 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

Village Talk: Coyotes!
2019-01-19 17:30 - 18:30
January’s Village Talk:
Urban Coyotes:
How to Keep
Pets Safe,
Coyotes Wild,
and
Rodents Nervous.

Come learn from Keli Hendricks, Project Coyote’s Ranching with Wildlife Coordinator, about the fascinating world of Canis latrans – their intelligence, resourcefulness, complex social structures, and how they have managed to thrive despite being one the most persecuted animals on the Continent. Whether you love them, hate them, or just want to learn more about them, this entertaining and informative talk will shed light on the mysteries
surrounding America’s Song Dog, including common questions like; Are coyotes dangerous? Are my outdoor cats safe? Are coyotes becoming overpopulated? What’s all the yapping about?
Project Coyote is a national nonprofit made up of scientists, educators,
ranchers and community leaders that promotes coexistence between people and
wildlife through education, science and advocacy.

FOCC Members — Free Admission
General Public — $5 Admission

Keli Hendricks is a former professional horse trainer who now serves as the
Ranching With Wildlife Coordinator for Project Coyote.
Keli lives on the Bar C R Ranch in Petaluma with her husband Dean, who
has managed the cow/calf operation on the ranch for over 20 years.
She also volunteers for Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, where she works
in the hospital and fosters orphaned wildlife.

Hot beverages and snacks will be provided. Please dress warmly!
Space is limited and reservations are required.
Reserve at: chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766
Include your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.
Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

Naturalist Walk: Back Ranch Meadows
2019-01-13 12:30 - 14:30
GUIDED HIKING PROGRAM
Naturalist Hikes at China Camp
Learn about the abundant wildlife in the area.
See amazing views of the park.
Get Outside and exercise by the glittering bay.

Join our naturalists for guided Sunday morning hikes at China Camp.
Most hikes range from easy to moderate, ranging from 1.5 to 4 miles. Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.
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! Heavy rain will cancel the hike- cancellations posted on FOCC website.

1/6 Turtleback Trail– 9am: Family Friendly hike. Easy 1 mile. Lead by naturalist Susan Edwards
1/13 Back Ranch Meadows– 12:30pm: Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
1/20 Beechwood Ct. & Heartwood Ct. Intersection. 12:30pm Advanced. 6 miles. 1000 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.
1/27 Knight Drive – 12:30pm Intermediate. 2-3 miles. 600 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

Park Champion Work Morning - new plan
2019-01-12 09:00 - 13:00
Because of the weather, we won’t be using heavy equipment to rebuild trails, but we still have a lot to do: groom trails, clear culverts, document trail signage, locate social trails and identify areas that need work such as repair of split rail. We may also be clearing fallen trees after recent wind gusts. We’ll divide into teams and tackle our trails from different directions in order to get maximum coverage. Many of the trails haven’t been groomed in over three years and need some TLC. Lunch is included.
Volunteers must be 16 or older; if under 18 must be with a parent or guardian. Lunch and friendly coworkers provided. Sign up at CalParks, so we can plan for food and equipment; you’ll get details a couple of days before the event.

New Years Day Hike!
2019-01-01 09:30 - 11:30
New Years Day Hike!

Ring in the New Year with the beauty and splendor of China Camp!

Join Friends of China Camp for an easy- yet invigorating- hike among beautiful woodlands and scenic vistas. Breathe fresh air, observe the verdant greenery of new winter growth, and celebrate the year ahead! Snacks and hot beverages will be provided at the end of the hike.

When: Jan 1st, 2019
Time: 9:30am
Meeting Location: China Camp Village Parking Lot (upper lot)
Difficulty: Easy, 2 miles
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.

WAITLIST ONLY: King Tide Hike!
2018-12-23 11:30 - 13:30
THe EVENT REGISTRATION IS FULL- WAITLIST ONLY

Flooded with Science and Seawater:
A guided nature walk at China Camp State Park
during a King Tide
Date: Sunday, December 23rd
Start time: 11:30 am
End time: 1:30 pm
AND
Date: Monday, January 21st
Start time: 11:00 am
End time: 1:00 pm
Celebrate winter with a beautiful short hike and lots of science at China Camp State Park! Join
scientist and educator Sarah Ferner from San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve for a walk near the edge of China Camp’s tidal salt marsh during one of the highest high
tides of the year – a King Tide. Nature should put on a quietly beautiful show as the rising tide
slowly floods the marsh. We will learn about the marsh, scientific research occurring there, and
what king tides can teach us about sea level rise. Bring your camera to participate in California
King Tide Initiative’s citizen science photo monitoring. Registration required.
Cost: Free.
What to be prepared for: Please dress appropriately for weather, including walking on trails
that will likely be wet or muddy and standing still in windy conditions. This event is primarily
for adults.
What to bring: Camera, binoculars
Meeting place: Turtleback Hill Nature Trail within China Camp State Park. Please enter the
Park from the East (Peacock Gap/Downtown San Rafael). If N. San Pedro Rd is flooded, the
meeting location will be moved east of the flooding. Please do not drive through flooded areas!
Weather plan: Very heavy rain may cancel
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.

Sunday Naturalist Hike
2018-12-16 12:30 - 15:00
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 a Sunday morning hike at China Camp.
Please bring appropriate hiking gear, warm clothing water, snacks, sunscreen and a hat.

12/16 Back ranch meadows- 12:30pm Advanced. 4.5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain. Lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch.

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!

CANCELLED: Village Talk: King Tides!
2018-12-15 16:30 - 17:30
THIS TALK HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN.
(The Village museum is not waterproof and we have sensitive electrical equipment!)

Monthly Village Talk
National Estuarine Research Reserve Presents: King Tides
Saturday, December 15th, 2018
Location: China Camp Village Museum
Time: 4:30pm -5:30pm

Come to China Camp State Park to learn what extreme high tides, commonly called King 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!

FOCC Members — Free Admission
General Public — $5 Admission
Hot beverages and snacks will be provided. Please dress warmly!

Space is limited and reservations are required.
To reserve, send email to:
chinacamp.programs@gmail.com or call (415) 456-0766
Include your name and the number of seats you need.
We will reply to confirm your reservation.
Cancellation announcements will be posted on the FOCC website homepage.

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.

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!
