Regional in Nature July - August 2010 East Bay Regional Park District Activity Guide Photo: Isa Polt-Jones
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Regional in Nature July - August 2010 East Bay Regional Park District Activity Guide www.ebparks.org Photo: Isa Polt-Jones Fascinated toddlers enjoy the Golden State Model Railroad Museum in Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. See story page 2. Go birding with a Inside: naturalist – see pages 11, 13, Kids Challenge & Trails Challenge • page 5 and 14. Kayaking Opportunities • page 5 Meteor Shower Campout • page 6 Wheat Harvest at Ardenwood Farm • page 7 Wildlife & Nature Photography • page 9 Lake Del Valle Boat Tours • page 12 Plus: Fourth of July Activities Photo: Bill Knowland Bill Photo: Contents Aquatics/Jr. Lifeguards ........ 4 Recreation Programs ...... 5-6 Ardenwood ....................... 6-8 Black Diamond ..................... 8 Botanic Garden .................8-9 Coyote Hills .....................9-10 Crab Cove ......................10-11 Sunol ......................................11 Tilden Nature Area ......11-12 Summer Other Regional Parks ..12-14 Volunteer Programs ..........14 Adventures Registration & Fees ........... 15 Close to Home Visitor Centers/ Swim Areas ..........................15 The East Bay Regional Park District partners with many small business owners and operators to offer exciting outdoor recreation activities that make living in the East Bay a truly unique experience. Summer highlights include horseback riding programs from Western Trail Riding Services at Las Trampas and Sunol, golf courses and lessons at Willow Park Golf Course near Anthony Chabot and Tilden Golf Course at Tilden, boat rentals at Lake Chabot, Lake Del Valle, and Shadow Cliffs, Mudpuppy’s Tub & Scrub dog washing and Sit & Stay Café at Point Isabel, carousel and steam train rides at Tilden, the Golden State Model Railroad Museum at Miller Knox, the new Lake Anza Beach Club café at Tilden, sailboarding at Crown Beach, and old-fashioned fun at Ardenwood with railcar rides and an organic farm. Find out more about these outdoor adventures and facilities by visiting www.ebparks.org and clicking on Activities. General Information / Free Brochure ..............1-888-EBPARKS Camping & Picnic Reservations ...... ................................1-888-EBPARKS Naturalist & Recreation Fern Cottage at Kennedy Grove Programs ..............1-888-EBPARKS TDD ...........................510-633-0460 ooking for a unique location for a corporate two decks, and a private enclosed backyard great for Web site .............www.ebparks.org event, wedding, party, or retreat? Fern Cottage picnics and parties. A large conference table, along with Lis just the place. The cottage is secluded in twelve comfortable executive chairs, is available for small Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area at the retreats or meetings. Kennedy Grove is located on San edge of El Sobrante, surrounded by a small grove of Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante. For more information EBRPD Board of Directors redwood trees. The facility accommodates 60 seated on Fern Cottage or our other indoor rental facilities, Whitney Dotson........................Ward 1 or 130 standing guests with two main rooms, a kitchen, call 510-544-3164, or Reservations at 888-327-2757. John Sutter ..................................Ward 2 Carol Severin ..............................Ward 3 Douglas Siden .............................Ward 4 Ayn Wieskamp ...........................Ward 5 Beverly Lane ...............................Ward 6 Ted Radke ....................................Ward 7 Pat O’Brien .............. General Manager Visit www.ebparks.org for map downloads, activity and event information, and much more! Photos: Eric Sahlin “Platforms for Water Dancers” Health By: Dave “Doc Quack” Riensche Matters In the bird world, the Western levels. Thanks to the dedication and support of the Regional Parks grebe’s (Aechmophorus occidetalis) determination of Adam Shawen, Foundation, private citizens, the energetic courtship ceremonies are John Mena, and other Wildlife Alameda Countywide Clean Water East Bay Regional Park District among the most visible and graceful. Volunteers, we have found the cure! Program, Alameda County Fish and AND Their spectacular “rushing” display, By taking into consideration the Wildlife Commission, Chevron, and in which both members of the pair design constraints around fl uctuating Fremont Bank Foundation, we are stand upright with head and neck water levels and grebe nesting accomplishing great things for wildlife. erect and dance across the water requirements, we have developed Visit www.ebparks.org/getinvolved/ ARE PROUD PARTNERS IN 2010 WITH THE MUTUAL GOAL in unison, is pure poetry in motion. the fi rst successful artifi cial fl oating volunteer/quack for more information OF PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS. They are the largest of our North grebe nest platforms in North on wildlife volunteer opportunities. American grebes and build fl oating America! This scientifi c breakthrough Dave “Doc Quack” Riensche, a Certifi ed Fitness is for nests in marshes and reservoirs. is enhancing grebe reproduction at Wildlife Biologist, is the Wildlife In California, they currently have Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Resource Analyst for the East Bay Everybody a conservation priority of “high Area in Fremont and may have a Regional Park District and a Biology/ concern” resulting from water level “ripple effect” on other special status Ecology Instructor at Las Positas College. Fitness is for everyone, and best drawdowns that cause major nest over-water nesting birds. of all, it includes every kind losses. The other serious dangers While technological advancement of exercise. As long as you do their populations face are oil spills, gill and adaptive management strategies it regularly, any physical activity nets, pesticides, mining runoff, habitat can help preserve wildlife, it’s destruction, and human disturbance can help you look and feel your really people like you best and make you stronger at breeding colonies. who rally around and healthier. Thus, the stage was set for an exciting our conservation opportunity to engineer a solution efforts that make Whether you’re 5 or 65, it’s to improve grebe nesting success success happen! never too early – or too late – in reservoirs with fl uctuating water Thanks to the to get started. Just keep these tips in mind: • You don’t have to sweat it – try “exercise lite.” Research shows Photo: Paul Dileanis Photo: Paul that getting at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week can make Help Keep Invasive a signifi cant difference in your health. You can get the same Mussels Out of benefi ts by working a little harder for a shorter time. Our Lakes • Find the right fi t. The key to getting regular exercise is to The East Bay Regional choose activities that you enjoy Park District is working and feel comfortable doing. cooperatively with the California • Three’s company. Aerobic Department of Fish and Game, exercise, strength training, and local water agencies, and other state and national organizations to keep invasive mussels out of our fl exibility are key components waterways. Quagga and Zebra mussels pose a serious threat of total fi tness. to our waters and fi sheries. The spread of these mussels • Mix it up. Are you already active threatens recreational boating and fi shing, aquatic ecosystems and looking for a new routine? and fi sheries, water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, Find Us Online! Or maybe you want to optimize agriculture, and the environment in general. These mussels your health and fi tness level? can rapidly spread via boat, trailer, or equipment from infected Over 3,000 Facebook users are waters. As a precaution, the Park District is conducting discovering and sharing new and Consider cross-training to help mandatory boat inspections on all boats, kayaks, and fl oat innovative parks and activities you reach your goal. tubes entering the water at Lake Del Valle, Contra Loma, as part of the East Bay Regional Quarry Lakes, and Lake Chabot. Boats must be clean and dry Park District Facebook page. If KAISER PERMANENTE IS A MAJOR to pass inspection. Find out more about the inspection, fees, you have a Facebook account, fi nd us online. SPONSOR OF THE PARK DISTRICT’S and a banding program to make future inspections easier, You can follow us on Twitter, too. Just go 2010 TRAILS CHALLENGE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GETTING IN SHAPE AND by visiting www.ebparks.org/invasivemussels to www.ebparks.org and look for the icons. HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, VISIT WWW.KP.ORG (YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF KAISER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION). Junior Lifeguards build human-chains for child’s ability to pass the swim test, a pre- Register online: www.ebparksonline.org reaching assists. test is highly recommended and can be or by phone: 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), option 2, then 3 Session 6: “X” Marks the Spot–Can arranged during registration. you imagine how diffi cult REGISTRATION AND FEES it would be to fi nd buried Registration is required: JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS treasure without a map? call 1-888-EBPARKS Now imagine trying to (1-888-327-2757) option 2, 3 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION SESSION THEMES find a missing person in Fees for Alameda and This inclusive summer program provides Session 1: Master Disaster… a crowded aquatic facility. This session Contra Costa County residents: participants, ages 9-15, with an introduc- Personal Safety 101– teaches Junior Lifeguards how to quickly • $125 for morning unit (9 a.m.-noon) tion to Water Safety/Rescue, First Aid, and Participants learn how to and effi ciently locate a missing person on • $125 for afternoon unit (1-4 p.m.) CPR in a fun and challenging environment. protect themselves and land. Participants also learn why it is impor- • $160 for full day (morning + afternoon) Each day, participants enjoy a variety of assist others in an emer- tant for a missing person to stay “found” beach and water activities designed to gency scenario. Through once they have been located. Fees for residents outside promote fi tness, self-esteem, and team- the ENAME game, participants are taught Session 7: Holy Titanic! Don’t For- Alameda and work. Focus is given to personal safety to survey the scene of an emergency. Ju- get Your Lifejacket–The Contra Costa Counties: and community service.