Friends of China Camp

ADVISORY: FOOTRACE
2022-09-25 08:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
There will be a footrace beginning at Miwok Meadows on Sunday, September 25 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.

Naturalist Book Club
2022-09-25 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for this month’s book club as we discuss Keith Heyer Meldahl’s book, Rough-Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky Mountains.

Excerpt from ucpress.edu:
“”Unfold a map of North America,” Keith Heyer Meldahl writes, “and the first thing to grab your eye is the bold shift between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.” In this absorbing book, Meldahl takes readers on a 1000-mile-long field trip back through more than 100 million years of deep time to explore America’s most spectacular and scientifically intriguing landscapes. He places us on the outcrops, rock hammer in hand, to examine the evidence for how these rough-hewn lands came to be. We see California and its gold assembled from pieces of old ocean floor and the relentless movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates. We witness the birth of the Rockies. And we investigate the violent earthquakes that continue to shape the region today. Into the West’s geologic story, Meldahl also weaves its human history. As we follow the adventures of John C. Frémont, Mark Twain, the Donner party, and other historic characters, we learn how geologic forces have shaped human experience in the past and how they direct the fate of the West today.”

Date: Sunday, September 25
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Venue: Google Meet meeting (details emailed once space is reserved).

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.

CANCELED:Village Talk- Bay Area Fire Ecology
2022-09-25 19:00 - 20:00
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS.
Credit: fire.ca.gov
Why are wildfires getting larger and more intense? How does fire fit into biodiversity management? What is the difference between a crown fire and a cool fire? Join wildfire mitigation specialist Brendan Clifford as he leads a talk that addresses these questions and gives a broad overview of wildfire ecology, and the history of human landscape fire management in the Bay Area.

Brendan currently works as a wildfire mitigation specialist for the San Rafael Fire Department and also volunteers as an educational docent for Friends of China Camp.

Date: Sunday, Sept 25
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Venue: China Camp Village Museum

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: fire.ca.gov

Naturalist Book Club
2022-10-01 00:00
Join us for this month’s book club as we discuss Rob Dunn’s new book, The Natural History of the Future. Dunn is a biologist, writer, and university professor in ecology.
Excerpt from goodreads.com:
“A leading ecologist argues that if humankind is to survive on a fragile planet, we must understand and obey its iron laws
Our species has amassed unprecedented knowledge of nature, which we have tried to use to seize control of life and bend the planet to our will. In  A Natural History of the Future, biologist Rob Dunn argues that such efforts are futile. We may see ourselves as life’s overlords, but we are instead at its mercy. In the evolution of antibiotic resistance, the power of natural selection to create biodiversity, and even the surprising life of the London Underground, Dunn finds laws of life that no human activity can annul. When we create artificial islands of crops, dump toxic waste, or build communities, we provide new materials for old laws to shape. Life’s future flourishing is not in question. Ours is.
As ambitious as Edward Wilson’s Sociobiology and as timely as Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction, A Natural History of the Future sets a new standard for understanding the diversity and destiny of life itself.”

Date: Sunday, October 30
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Venue: Zoom Meeting

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

SOLD OUT: Friends of China Camp's 10th Anniversary Dinner
2022-10-06 17:00 - 20:00 | China Camp Village, 100 China Camp Village Rd, San Rafael, CA, CA, 94901, United States
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. WAITLIST ONLY.
2022 marks ten years that Friends of China Camp has been operating China Camp State Park. Join us as we celebrate a decade of stewardship, friendship, and partnership with the community, park funders, and the California Department of Parks & Recreation.

PROGRAM LINEUP
JARED HUFFMAN
UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN (CA 2ND DISTRICT)
As a California State Assemblymember, it was Jared Huffman’s vision and legislation in 2012 that authorized “qualified nonprofits”, such as Friends of China Camp, to operate state park units.

ARMANDO QUINTERO
DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
Having been appointed to the top position in the California Department of Parks and Recreation in 2020, Armando Quintero has voiced his support for the important role of park partners.

CAROL ACQUAVIVA
LIBRARIAN & ARCHIVIST, ANNE T. KENT CALIFORNIA ROOM, MARIN COUNTY FREE LIBRARY
With a bounty of resources available at the Anne T. Kent California Room in the Marin County Free Library, Carol can speak to the crucial role of local activists and leaders who, time and again, have saved this precious resource on the San Pedro Peninsula.

PROGRAM:
5:00 p.m. Reception
6:00 p.m. Dinner buffet
6:45 p.m. Program
Ticket price: $125 per person

Purchase tickets here.

Special reminder: Dress is nice casual attire. Evenings at the village can be chilly, so be sure to bring warm layers. Comfortable shoes are recommended as the event will be held outdoors and there are uneven surfaces.

Friends of China Camp is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and 55% of the ticket price is tax deductible.

Junior Ranger Program
2022-10-08 10:00 - 12:00
October is a spooky time – neighbors adorn their houses with scary decorations, like giant spiderwebs, fake spiders, and bats, to the delight of eager trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. At China Camp, we don’t have spooky decorations, but rather, our park is home to real-life spiders and bats! Check out this month’s Junior Ranger Program as we explore our park’s resident creatures– like the “Marge Simpson” orb spider (Argiope aurantia, pictured to the left), and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). We will discover their unique “super powers” which support ecological balance in our environment. Using our scientific tools you will discover the importance of local habitat to these fascinating creatures.

This program will be guided by naturalists/educators Suzanne Mirviss and Paula O’Connell, and is best suited for ages 7 through 9. Children must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.

Date: Sunday, October 8
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Location: China Camp Village Beach
Ages: ages 7 to 9

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.
Cancellations notified via email.

ADVISORY: FOOTRACE
2022-10-09 08:00 - 14:00
There will be a footrace beginning at Miwok Meadows on Sunday, October 9 from 8am-2pm. Please expect increased foot traffic on Shoreline Trail during that time.
Go to the Tamalpa Runners website for more details.

Autumn Birding Hike
2022-10-15 08:00 - 10:00
The bay area has some special guests that have arrived early in their winter migration: golden-crowned sparrows and white-crowned sparrows. Normally arriving during the third week of October, these large sparrows travel from their breeding sites in northern US and Canada. The golden-crowned sparrow has a cap with a lemon-yellow stripe surrounded by black stripes, and the white-crowned sparrow has a black and white-striped cap.
October is a great time to see these large sparrows before they lose their bright plumage later in the winter. The best place to spot these seed-eating birds is roosting in dense thickets in Miwok Meadows.
For this month’s birding hike Jerry Coe will show you how to identify these and other common birds in the field and how to use essential tools like binoculars and bird guides. You will also learn how to identify birds by observing flight patterns, noting body shapes and sizes, hearing songs, and watching behaviors.
Jerry Coe is a naturalist with over eight years of intensive training in ornithological field identification. He spent 15 years as a volunteer in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, using bird activities to assess the health of habitats. Jerry has also guided outdoor expeditions all over the world.

Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Turtle Back Trailhead
Walking difficulty: Easy; 1½ miles

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Golden-crowned sparrow by George Pagos | Macaulay Library

ADVISORY: San Pedro Road Closure- Marin Triathlon
2022-10-29 08:00 - 13:00
Please be advised that San Pedro Road will be closed from Peacock Drive to the Back Ranch Meadows entrance gate on Saturday, October 29th and Sunday, October 30th, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., due to the Marin Triathlon and 1/2 Marathon. Park facilities along San Pedro Road will be inaccessible to the public until 1p.m. on both days.
You can find more information about the Marin 1/2 Marathon and Triathlon here, which will begin at McNear’s Beach County Park.
Back Ranch Meadows Campground entrance will remain open and campers and visitors can enter and leave from the north entrance of San Pedro Road.
Expect increased traffic on San Pedro Road, and substantially increased foot traffic on Shoreline Trail on Sunday, October 30th.

ADVISORY: San Pedro Road & Shoreline Trail Closure-Marin 1/2 Marathon
2022-10-30 08:00 - 13:00

CANCELLED: Full Moon Hike
2022-11-08 16:15 - 19:00
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO RAIN. CHECK OUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING EVENTS. Your heart will fill with wonder as we gaze into the sky during November’s full moon hike. On this moderate, 4.5-mile round-trip hike, we will ascend to one of the best vista points in the park to view the cream-colored moon as it rises over the sparkling bay. This month’s moon is named “Beaver Moon”. Though there are no beavers in the bay area, around this time of year beavers in other parts of the United States retire to their dens, with food stores ready for the long winter ahead.
As an exciting addition, eager sky-gazers *on their own time* have the option to view a total lunar eclipse that will occur the early morning before the hike on November 8, from 12:02 a.m. to 5 a.m..
Date: Tuesday, November 8
Time: 4:15 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Meeting location details emailed upon reservation.
Difficulty: Moderate, 4.5 miles round trip
What to bring: Warm clothing, water, flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes for hiking.
Note: Hike begins at 4:15 p.m. sharp, so don’t be late or you’ll miss the fun!

REGISTER HERE

Free for FOCC members; $5 for non-members.
Space is limited; reservations required.
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Sheila Coll

Autumn Birding Hike
2022-11-12 08:00 - 10:00
This month’s birding hike will be a hoot. Pun intended. We will discuss the owl species that live at China Camp, and their remarkable binocular eyesight and asymmetric ears. Both of these special adaptations contribute to an owl’s ability to rapidly triangulate the location of prey in low light and absolute darkness. Though we are unlikely to see any of these nocturnal creatures on our morning walk through Miwok Meadows, by the end of the hike participants will be given helpful tips to increase the likelihood of viewing and identifying these fascinating nocturnal birds on their own time.
We will review the four keys to identifying birds in the field learn about tools such as checklists, atlases, binoculars, and telescopes. Participants will also learn how to identify birds by observing flight patterns, noting body shapes and sizes, hearing songs, and watching behaviors.

Date: Saturday, November 12
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Turtle Back Trailhead
Walking difficulty: Easy; 1½ miles

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Great horned owl by Gustavo Vargas | Macaulay Library

Junior Ranger Program
2022-11-12 10:00 - 12:00
Hoo’s coming to dinner? Lets do some detective work to find out about the owl species at China Camp and what… or who… are their favorite foods. During this month’s program, Junior Rangers will have the opportunity to explore what these nocturnal creatures eat by dissecting *sterilized* owl pellets. Owls dont have any teeth, so when they eat a creature, they swallow it whole: fur, bones, everything. Because of this, undigested fur and bones get spit back out into little pellets, known as “owl pellets”. Join the fun as we use our scientific exploration tools to ID the remains to see what was in the owl’s dinner.

Date: Sunday, November 12
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Location: China Camp Village Beach
Ages: ages 7 to 9

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.
Cancellations notified via email.

Photo:Barn owl by Ian Davies | Macaulay Library

Village Talk: NorCal Bats
2022-11-18 17:00 - 18:00
We are pleased to welcome special guest appearances of live California native bats during November’s Village Talk. Corky Quirk from NorCal Bats will reveal the hidden lives and features of these specialized nocturnal creatures. You will discover the diversity of native bat species in your local neighborhood, and learn how these delicate aerial beings communicate and navigate under the cover of darkness. You will also learn fascinating details about their physiology, diet and life cycle. All ages are welcome to this fascinating presentation.

Corky Quirk is the founder and manager of NorCal Bats, a Sacramento based organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of bats throughout Northern California. She has a degree in natural resources from Humboldt State University and she currently resides in Yolo County.

Date: Friday, November 18
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: China Camp Village Museum
What to bring: Warm clothing.

REGISTER HERE

Free for FOCC members; $5 for non-members.
Space is limited; reservations required.
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Bat by Corky Quirk

Thanksgiving Leftovers Hike
2022-11-25 10:00 - 12:00
What could be a better activity to do the day after one of the biggest meals of the year, than to stretch our legs and get some exercise in the crisp autumn air. Join us for our day-after-Thanksgiving Day family hike, where we will look for ripening seeds, burrows, and new glistening spider webs – all signs of the preparations made by local flora and fauna for the wet winter season ahead. The hike will be around two miles based on group preference and weather.

Date: Friday, November 25
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Location: Meeting location details emailed upon reservation.
Difficulty: Moderate, 2 miles round trip
What to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing and shoes and a filled water bottle.
Note: Heavy rain or winds will cancel this event. You will be notified of cancellation via email.

REGISTER HERE

Free for FOCC members; $5 for non-members.
Space is limited; reservations required.
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Sheila Coll

POSTPONED: Naturalist Book Club
2022-11-26 08:00 - 17:00
December’s naturalist book club has been postponed to January 29th, 2023 due to the holiday. Happy Holidays!
See calendar for January’s program.

Naturalist Book Club
2022-11-27 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for this month’s book club as we discuss Tsim Schneiders book, The Archaeology of Refuge and Recourse. Schneider is a professor of archaeology at University of California, Santa Cruz and a tribal member of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Excerpt from uapress.arizona.edu:
“The Archaeology of Refuge and Recourse explores the dual practices of refuge and recourse among Indigenous peoples of California. From the eighteenth to the twentieth century, Indigenous Coast Miwok communities in California persisted throughout multiple waves of colonial intrusion. But to what ends?
Applying theories of place and landscape, social memory, and mobility to the analysis of six archaeological sites, Tsim D. Schneider argues for a new direction in the archaeology of colonialism. This book offers insight about the critical and ongoing relationships Indigenous people maintained to their homelands despite colonization and systematic destruction of their cultural sites…”

Date: Sunday, November 27
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Venue: Zoom Meeting

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

ADVISORY: FOOTRACE
2022-12-03 08:00 - 14:00
There will be a footrace beginning at Miwok Meadows on Saturday, December 3rd from 8am-2pm. Please expect increased foot traffic on Shoreline Trail, Bayview Trail, and Oak Ridge Trail during that time.
Go to the Inside Trail Racing website for more details.

Full Moon Hike
2022-12-07 15:20 - 18:00
We are excited to witness the rise of our last full moon of 2022. This full moon was dubbed the Long Night Moon by the medieval Anglo-Saxons describing the shortened winter days and long nights. December’s full moon has a high trajectory in the sky, which means that it will be above the horizon for longer than most full moons.
We will ascend to China Camp’s optimal vista point for this special event. Dress for the crisp cool late fall evening, wear sturdy hiking shoes (the trails may be muddy), and pack flashlights loaded with fresh batteries. Strong winds or rain will cancel.

Date: Wednesday, December 7
Time: 3:20 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: Meeting location details emailed upon reservation.
Difficulty: Moderate, 4.5 miles round trip.
What to bring: Warm clothing, water, flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes for hiking.
Note: Hike begins at 3:20 p.m. sharp, so don’t be late or you’ll miss the fun!

REGISTER HERE

Free for FOCC members; $5 for non-members.
Space is limited; reservations required.
Cancellations notified via email.
This event is not wheelchair accessible.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Sheila Coll

December Birding Hike
2022-12-17 08:00 - 10:00
As fall transitions into winter, we will venture out into the Miwok Meadows forest, where we will carefully watch for flickers of color and movement emerging from the early morning mist. Though most warblers have continued their journey further south to Mexico and South America, the vibrant Townsend’s warbler winters in Marin. These insect-loving gems have vibrant lemon yellow and black striped plumage that shines among the treetops, and we hope to see them on our outing this month.

On our journey, naturalist Jerry Coe will review the four keys to identifying birds in the field, and we will learn about tools such as checklists, guide books, binoculars, and telescopes. Participants will also learn how to identify birds by observing flight patterns, noting body shapes and sizes, hearing songs, and watching behaviors.

Date: Saturday, December 17
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Turtle Back Trailhead
Walking difficulty: Easy; 1½ miles

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Townsend’s warbler by Matt Brady | Macaulay Library

New Years Day Sunrise Hike
2023-01-01 06:15 - 09:00
Sunrise by Sheila Coll
At China Camp, we are big fans of the indescribable beauty of sunrises over the San Pablo Bay. That is why we have an ongoing tradition to welcome and honor the first golden light of the year with our New Year’s day sunrise hike. During this 4-mile round trip hike lead by naturalist Harold Hirsch, we will ascend to China Camp’s premier vista point to ring in the New Year with light and good wishes.
Bring a short message or poem to share if you wish for the new year. Dress for the brisk early morning temperatures, wear sturdy shoes (the trails may be muddy), and pack your trusty flashlights loaded with fresh batteries. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Strong winds or rain will cancel. We depart at 6:15 a.m. sharp.

Date: Sunday, January 1, 2022
Time: 6:15 a.m. – 8:30 a. m.
Location: Details emailed to you when you register.
Difficulty: Moderate 4 miles round trip.

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.
Photo credit: Sheila Coll

CANCELED: Full Moon Hike
2023-01-06 15:50 - 18:30
EVENT CANCELED DUE TO PREDICTED STORMY AND OVERCAST WEATHER. CHECK CALENDAR FOR FUTURE EVENTS.
We are howlin’ with joy to welcome the first full moon of 2023. January’s “wolf moon” was named for the howling wolves often heard echoing across snowy landscapes in the dead of winter. This full moon will be slightly smaller since it occurs close to the lunar apogee, meaning it is almost at the farthest point away from the earth as it makes its way around an elliptical orbit. On our hike to view this moon, we will ascend to China Camp’s best vista point for this special event. Dress for the crisp cool late fall nights, wear sturdy hiking shoes (expect the possibility of muddy trails), and pack flashlights loaded with fresh batteries. Strong winds or rain will cancel.
Date: Friday, January 6
Time: 3:50 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting location details emailed upon reservation.
Difficulty: Moderate, 4.5 miles round trip.
What to bring: Warm clothing, water, flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes for hiking.
Note: Hike begins at 3:50 p.m. sharp, so don’t be late or you’ll miss the fun!

REGISTER HERE

Free for FOCC members; $5 for non-members.
Space is limited; reservations required.
Cancellations notified via email.
This event is not wheelchair accessible.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Sheila Coll

CANCELLED: Winter Birding Hike
2023-01-14 08:00 - 10:00
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO FORECASTED STORMY WEATHER CONDITIONS. STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE EVENTS.
To be, or not to be, that is the question. What it takes to be a lesser scaup, or to be a greater scaup, now that’s a great question. Winter is an excellent time to spot these two scaups, which are both found along China Camp’s shoreline—but telling them apart can get a bit tricky. However, with a trusty pair of binoculars and knowing these tips about habitat, calls, behaviors and shape from Audobon.org, one can confidently check each correctly identified species off your bird list.
The following is a short list of identifying characteristics. Both birds have a black head and chest, dark brown rumps, and a black and white crosshatch pattern on their back. In general, greater scaups have round-shaped heads, shorter necks, and white wings visible in flight. Lesser scaups have egg-shaped heads that are (sometimes) iridescent purple, longer necks, and a crosshatch pattern on both their back and wings.
On this month’s hike we will look for these and other birds along China Camp’s marshes and shoreline. We will review the four keys to identifying birds in the field, and learn about tools such as checklists, atlases, binoculars, and telescopes. Participants will also learn how to identify birds by observing flight patterns, noting body shapes and sizes, hearing songs, and watching behaviors.

Date: Saturday, January 14
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Turtle Back Trailhead
Walking difficulty: Easy; 1½ miles

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Lesser scaup by Brian Kushner | Audubon.org

Junior Ranger Program
2023-01-21 10:00 - 12:00
After the long dry summer, the winter rains have awakened China Camp’s landscape: long-dormant seeds are sprouting, slick orange-bellied newts are emerging from deep earthen burrows, and beetles feast upon wet rotting wood and new mushrooms. During January’s program, Junior Rangers will look for these and other creatures under logs and rocks and learn about the role that rain plays in the life cycle of amphibians and insects in our park.
Dress in layers for the weather. Bring a filled water bottle and snacks.

Date: Saturday, January 21
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Location: Back Ranch Meadows Group campsite #1
Ages: ages 7 to 9

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.
Cancellations notified via email.

Photo: Rough-skinned newt by Gary Nafis | Californiaherps.com

King Tide Photography Hike
2023-01-21 10:30 - 12:00
It’s said, “time and tide wait for no man,” but if you plan ahead you can certainly join us for our January King Tide Photography hike. As the bay rises, peak tide will occur around 11:30 a.m., but we will arrive earlier to walk the Turtleback trail loop (0.7 mile) where we should have clear marsh views. King tides are also an excellent time to see shorebirds and birds of prey foraging on marsh critters as they move inland to escape the rising tide. Participants can submit their tide photos to The California King Tides Project to add to their growing collection. A naturalist will offer a short talk on tides, king tides and sea level rise. Click here to see a time-lapse video of a King Tide at China Camp. This event is suitable for adults and older children.

Date: Saturday, January 21
Time: 10:30 a.m – Noon
Location: Turtle Back Trailhead

Dress appropriately for the weather, assume trails will be muddy, and bring your tripods, charged camera of choice or smart phones. Bring snacks and water if desired.
REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Wheelchair accessible.
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo credit: King tide by Sheila Coll

King Tide Hike with the National Estuarine Research Reserve
2023-01-22 12:00 - 13:30
Join Dr. Mike Vasey, former director of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, for a walk near the edge of China Camp’s tidal salt marsh during a “king tide,” what we call the most extreme and highest tides of the year. We will learn what king tides can teach us about sea level rise, how climate change will impact our regions wetlands and the marsh species that reside there. Click here to see a time-lapse video of a King Tide at China Camp. This event is suitable for adults.
Date: Sunday, January 22
Time: Noon
Location: Back Ranch Meadows Group Campsite Parking Lot

Dress in layers for changeable weather. Bring snacks and water.

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Wheelchair accessible.
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo credit: King tide by Sheila Coll

Naturalist Book Club
2023-01-29 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for the first virtual book club gathering of 2023 as we discuss Richard O. Prum’s Pulitzer Prize finalist book, The Evolution of Beauty. Prum, a professor of ornithology at Yale, offers vivid examples of tropical avian plumage and mating displays as evidence of Darwin’s oft-overlooked theory of sexual selection as a driving force of evolution. Give yourself some time to read this 560 page book before joining our program.

From pulitzer.org:

“A major reimagining of how evolutionary forces work, revealing how mating preferences–what Darwin termed “the taste for the beautiful”–create the extraordinary range of ornament in the animal world. In the great halls of science, dogma holds that Darwin’s theory of natural selection explains every branch on the tree of life: which species thrive, which wither away to extinction, and what features each evolves. But can adaptation by natural selection really account for everything we see in nature?

Yale University ornithologist Richard Prum–reviving Darwin’s own views–thinks not…To explain this, he dusts off Darwin’s long-neglected theory of sexual selection in which the act of choosing a mate for purely aesthetic reasons–for the mere pleasure of it–is an independent engine of evolutionary change.

The Evolution of Beauty presents a unique scientific vision for how nature’s splendor contributes to a more complete understanding of evolution and of ourselves.”

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Venue: Details will be mailed to registrants.

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Beginning Birding Hike
2023-02-11 08:00 - 10:00
Our premier avian acrobats are coming to town in February, and we are so excited to welcome them back from their tropical wintering grounds in Central America. Tree swallows offer a colorful aerial show with their iridescent azure backs glimmering in the sky as they dive and swoop, catching flying insects. These social, tree-dwelling birds and their cousins, violet-green swallows, make their spring nests in tree cavities in forests and nesting boxes in suburban backyards.
During this month’s excursion, we will look for these and other birds. We will review the four keys to identifying birds in the field, and learn about tools such as checklists, field guides, binoculars, and telescopes. Participants will also learn how to identify birds by observing flight patterns, noting body shapes and sizes, hearing songs, and watching behaviors.

Date: Saturday, February 11
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Location: Turtle Back Trailhead
Walking difficulty: Easy; 1½ miles

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Tree swallow by Lorri Howski/Macaulay Library

Children’s Darwin Day Junior Ranger Program
2023-02-11 10:00 - 12:00
Who doesn’t love a great birthday celebration? Junior Rangers are invited to join us for Darwin Day, a celebration of the birthday of Charles Darwin, born February 12, 1809.

Who was Charles Darwin you ask? Just under 200 years ago Mr. Darwin tried to answer one of the world’s most puzzling questions: Where did all people, animals, and plants come from?

During this event Junior Rangers will learn about Charles’ exciting adventures: sailing around the world, exploring rocks and volcanoes, surviving earthquakes, and seeking out remote islands with mysterious creatures. You will also explore REAL fossils and eat birthday cake of course!

Dress in layers for the weather. Bring a filled water bottle and snacks.

Date: Saturday, February 11
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Location: Meet at the Group Campsite
Ages: ages 7 to 9

REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.
Cancellations notified via email.

Photo: Charles Darwin by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1868 | International Museum of Photgraphy

Darwin Day Online
2023-02-12 19:00 - 20:00
Celebrate the legacy of the theory of evolution

Join us on February 12 to celebrate International Darwin Day, the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birthday, which took place on this date in 1809. We will host an hour-long virtual presentation about Charles Darwin and his major contributions to the natural sciences. The presentation will review his theories on natural selection and evolution and discuss how his work gained credibility within the scientific community. We will also cover recent evolutionary research that continues to expand upon the foundation of Darwin’s theories.
This event builds upon the discussions that have been presented in prior years.
Date: Sunday, February 12
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Venue: Virtual meeting details will be emailed to registrants.
REGISTER HERE

Space is limited; reservations required.
Free (donations appreciated).

Cancellations notified via email.
Questions? Email programs@friendsofchinacamp.org or call (415) 456-0766.

Photo: Darwin’s finches by John Gould, 1845 | Wikipedia.org
