Page 58 - Sonoma County Gazette 12-18.indd

Sonoma County Regional Parks FREE, $7 Parking (FREE with Park Pass), 707-565-2041, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Nov 28 ~ Winging It Wednesdays - Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail - Enjoy leisurely bird walks for all levels of experience on the last Wednesday of every month 8:30a - 10: 30 a. Bring your own binoculars or borrow ours. Carpooling is encouraged. Parking $7 or free for Regional Parks members. Free parking is available at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail. INFO: 707-565-2041.
Dec 1 & 15- Garden Stewards - Get your hands dirty! Bring your family to build a healthy community together at our volunteer workdays. The first Saturdays focus on land stewardship, and the third Saturdays focus on biodynamic gardening. 10a – 2p, Maddux Ranch Regional Park, 4655 Lavell Rd., Santa Rosa. INFO: Community Soil Foundation, communitysoil.org.
Dec 1 ~ Nuestros Parques - Spanish-language nature hikes. A bilingual naturalist leads these free, 2-4 mile family walks on the first Saturday of each month.10a - 1p, Sonoma Valley Regional Park, 13630 Highway 12, Glen Ellen. INFO: Irma Cuevas at irma.cuevas@sonoma-county.org or b(707) 565-7888.
Dec 4 ~ Senior Saubters - Leisurely walks with friendly, older adults. Explore plant and animal life, swap stories, and take a gentle 2-mile stroll. All abilities are welcome! Bring a potluck to share after the walk. Free. Parking $7 or free for Regional Parks members. Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Rd., Sebastopol INFO: Shelly Spriggs at shelly.spriggs@sonoma-county.org, 707-539-2865.
Dec 8 & Jan 5 ~ Tidepol Talks - Hands-on creature fun exploring the animals found in our local tide pools. Meet us at the amphitheater the second Saturday of each month in December, January, and February. 11 a - 12 p, Doran Regional Park, 201 Doran Beach Rd., Bodega Bay Free. Parking is $7 or free for Regional Parks members. INFO: Kristina Stanton by email at kristina.stanton@ sonoma-county.org 707- 539-2865.
Dec 9 - Coastal Crabbing - Introductory clinic includes information on different types of crabs found along our coast, crabbing basics, and time to go crabbing. No need for a fishing license on this public pier. Fishing equipment is included. $15 per person and registration is required. Spud Point Marina, 1818 Westshore Rd. Bodega Bay INFO: Ellie Muelrath by phone at (707) 539-2865 or by email at Elspeth.Muelrath@sonoma-county.org.
Jan 5 ~ Nuestros Parques - Spanish-language nature hikes. A bilingual naturalist leads these free, 2-4 mile family walks on the first Saturday of each month.10a - 1p, Coastal Prairie Trail - Bodega Bay Community Center, 2255 CA-1, Bodega Bay. INFO: Irma Cuevas at irma.cuevas@sonoma-county.org, 707-565-7888.
Dec 1 ~ The Bird Rescue Center ~ Open House - Come on by and meet a few of our resident Raptor Ambassadors the first Saturday of every month (except holidays Free 10-1p, The Bird Rescue Center, 3430 Chanate Road, our physical location is on County Farm Drive., Santa Rosa, 707-523-2473, birdrescuecenter.org
Dec 1 ~ Saturday Morning Fitness Hikes at Jack London State Historic Park. Start the weekend off with a fun, self-empowering fitness hike with like minded hikers. Free, from 10am, Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, 707-938-5216, jacklondonpark.com
Dec 8 ~ Free Redwoods Hikes at Jack London State Historic Park - We invite you to spend your Second Saturdays outdoors with us. Free, 10am - Noon, Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, 707-938-5216, jacklondonpark.com
Dec 8 ~ Second Saturday Fort Ross and Redwoods Interpretive Talk - Half-hour interpretive talk about multicultural Fort Ross. Please print your parking pass in advance and display it on your dashboard as you enter the park. Get your pass at “Save the Redwoods” webpage. FREE with Second Sat. Pass, Fort Ross State Historic Park, 19005 Coast Highway One, Rotchev House, Fort Compound, Jenner, 707-847- 3437, fortross.org/events.htm
Dec 1 ~ Bill & Dave Hikes at Jack London State Historic Park Sonoma Ridge, new East Slope trail - a very strenuous hike of 12m with an elevation gain of 2000ft. Free, $10 parking, 9:45 AMJack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, 707-833-6288, billanddavehikes.com/
Dec 4 ~ Living with Lions - co-existence with an iconic American carnivore. Wildlife Ecologist, Dr. Quinton Martins with an update on the research results of Living with Lions. Suggested Donation $5, 6:30p - 8:30p, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Rd, Meeting Hall, Occidental, oaec.org/events/ performances/
Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 ~ Wednesday Walkers - Occidental All walkers welcome. Hikes average 4-5 miles w/some shorter options. Free, , 707-322-5854, sierrasisters.net, sierrasisters@ymail.com
Dec 15 ~ Sonoma State Historic Park Nature Hike on the Lower Monitini Preserve Trail at Sonoma Historic Park Family-friendly activities take place throughout the historic buildings in downtown Sonoma. Free, 12p - 1:30p, Sonoma
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
National Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. Started by Frank Chapman in 1900, it provides critical data on population trendsl. By participating in a CBC you make an important contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use the data collected to assess the health of bird populations, which helps to guide conservation action. Two counts are just for kids: Petaluma CBC4K and Sonoma CBC4K- kids taught by experienced adults to use binoculars and spotting scopes, identify species, and understand how vital it is to preserve birds and their habitat.
Dec 16 ~ Santa Rosa CBC run by Redwood Region Ornithological Society - The compilation dinner will be held at Adel’s Cafe, on Mendocino Ave, Sunday evening at 5:00 o’clock. For participation details, INFO: Bill Doyle, shortbill@comcast.net
Dec 28 ~ Sonoma Valley CBC - Volunteers follow specified routes within a 15-mile- diameter circle, in search of the more than 400 bird species known to winter in East County. INFO: Gene Dunn 707-981-7301, enhunn323@comcast.net
Dec 30 ~ Western Sonoma County Christmas Bird Count - Join a team for the 52nd annual bird census; dinner afterward at Seb. Comm. Center. Free, 8a - 4p, INFO: 707- 542-8946, Peter Leveque, madroneaudubon.org/birds-christmas-bird-count
Jan. 2: Petaluma CBC4K (For Kids), a half-day of birding designed for kids ages 6-14. This event is co-sponsored by the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance and the City of Petaluma Parks and Recreation. INFO: Al Hesla, 707-486-9030 a.hesla@comcast.net
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Pepperwood Preserve 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Rd, Dwight Center, Santa Rosa, 707-591-9310, pepperwoodpreserve.org
Dec 1 ~ Holiday Wreath Making - learn how to create a beautiful holiday wreath using local natural materials. Instructor Heather Jennings will provide a demonstration and individual guidance to help you create a stunning wreath to take home using a palette of materials gathered at Pepperwood. 10a - 12p. and 1p- 3p at Dwight Center $25 per participant ($20 for members), Ages 7 and up
Dec 8 - Volunteer Work Day - We need your help with critical post-fire restoration work at Pepperwood! Spend some time outside, meet fellow nature-lovers, and make a lasting difference in the health of our habitats. 9a - 2p. Please bring sturdy boots, a hat, and a water bottle. Pepperwood will provide tools, work gloves and a delicious lunch! RSVP required Sloane Shinn, sshinn@pepperwoodpreserve.org.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park 2605 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, 707-833-5712, $8 parking
Dec 1 ~ Healthy Parks / Healthy People – First Saturday Hike ~ We’ll take the Meadow Hillside Loop–a 3-mile hike, with 250 ft elevation gain. Bring a water bottle, hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. FREE; 10-12p
Dec 22 ~ ParkRx – Forest Therapy ~ Learn techniques to maximize the health benefits and stress reducing qualities of this walking practice. ro promote bal- ance and restored vitality through a quality of presence and heightened sen- sory awareness. 4th Saturday of each month 9:30a-12:30p
NATURE cont’d on page 59