Regional in Nature March - April 2012 East Bay Regional Park District Activity Guide www.ebparks.org Spring is wildfl ower season in the parks. A fi eld of owl’s clover covers Round Valley Regional Preserve near Brentwood. Look Photo: Mark Crumpler Crumpler Mark Photo: inside for guided wildfl ower hikes in the Regional Parks. Inside: Junior Lifeguards • page 4 Park’n It Summer Day Camp • page 5 Pole Walking • page 6 Fire Making and Cord Making at Coyote Hills • page 11 Kayaking Big Break • page 14 Tips for Choosing a Summer Day Camp, see page 2. Contents Aquatics/Jr. Lifeguards .........4 Signifi cant Addition to Wildcat Recreation Programs ...... 5-6 Ardenwood ................. 6-7, 10 Canyon Regional Park Black Diamond ...............7, 10 BY GENERAL MANAGER ROBERT E. DOYLE Botanic Garden ..................10 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, with Like adjacent Wildcat Canyon, this passed by voters in 2008 to help Coyote Hills ...................10-11 its majestic hills, ridges, and peaks, is recently acquired land contains secure open space. We are fortunate Crab Cove ......................11-12 growing. The East Bay Regional Park a mix of oak woodlands and grassland to have these funds at this time so we District Board of Directors recently providing a natural habitat to precious can act quickly to make bargain land Sunol ..................................... 12 approved the purchase of 362 acres wildlife. At Park District staff purchases. We are also fortunate Tilden Nature Area ...........12 adjacent to Wildcat Canyon, making it recommendation, much of the to work with a number of partner the largest parcel acquired by the Park property will be held in land bank agencies with similar visions to make Other Regional Parks ...12-14 District in west Contra Costa County status until it can be made safe our Regional Park system the fi nest Volunteer Programs ..........14 in 35 years. In addition, the parcel, just for public use. in the nation. We take great pride in off San Pablo Dam Road, will one day This new purchase joins several other our role in preserving open space Registration & Fees............ 15 allow a much-requested eastern access signifi cant acquisitions in East Contra and watersheds, in maintaining our Visitor Centers/ point to this historic, 2,430-acre park Costa County and Alameda County green network of parks and trails, Swim Areas .......................... 15 located primarily in Richmond with that we have been able to acquire and offering healthy outdoor connections to Alvarado Park, Nimitz thanks, in great part, to the passage recreation opportunities to our East Way, and Tilden Regional Park. of Measure WW, a bond measure Bay residents. General Information / Free Brochure ..............1-888-EBPARKS Camping & Picnic Reservations ...... Tips for Choosing a Summer Camp ................................1-888-EBPARKS t’s hard to believe, but now is the time to start thinking about summer Naturalist & Recreation camps for the kids. The Park District is already taking reservations for its popular Programs ..............1-888-EBPARKS Park‘n It Day Camp. This fun-fi lled day camp for ages 5-12 is a perfect solution TDD ...........................510-633-0460 I to get kids active, outdoors, exploring, and discovering the world of nature and Web site .............www.ebparks.org recreation. There is also a junior camp counselor program for kids from 13-17. The Regional Parks Foundation offers Camperships for qualifi ed families. See EBRPD Board of Directors page 5 for more information about Park‘n It Day Camp, or register Whitney Dotson ........................Ward 1 today online at www.ebparks.org or by calling John Sutter ..................................Ward 2 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757, option 2). Carol Severin, President ..........Ward 3 Douglas Siden .............................Ward 4 Here are some helpful tips when choosing a camp. Ask about: Ayn Wieskamp ...........................Ward 5 1. Staff qualifi cations, ages, and training. Beverly Lane ...............................Ward 6 2. Staff-to-camper ratios, and number of kids per session. Ted Radke ....................................Ward 7 Robert E. Doyle ......General Manager 3. Whether adults ever work one-on-one with a child. This should never happen! Visit www.ebparks.org for map 4. Sign-up deadlines. If you are on a tight budget, get started early! downloads, activity and event Less expensive camps will fi ll up quickly. information, and much more! 5. Discounts, scholarships, half-day options, pro-rated fees, and cancellation policy. 6. The camp’s policy if you are dropping off or picking up your child late. Summer Jobs Health in the Parks Matters The East Bay Regional Park District East Bay offers a variety of seasonal full- To Your Peak time and part-time jobs, including Regional Park District positions as lifeguards and recreation AND leaders. These jobs are ideal for y family and I are blessed to live students and those who enjoy in an area that has enough hills working outdoors. The Park District Mand peaks to explore endlessly. I ARE PROUD PARTNERS IN 2012 WITH THE MUTUAL GOAL also offers two training programs for eventually hiked off 35 pounds, and that OF PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS. a limited number of student aides was 10 years ago. Hiking reinvigorated to work year-round at the Visitor my marriage, as my husband and I had Farmers Markets: Centers or with the Public Safety an activity we could challenge ourselves Department. For more information, with together. Ultimately we hiked Eat Healthy Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the contact the Park District’s Human Eating more fruits and vegetables contiguous United States – all 14,550 Resources Division at 2950 Peralta is part of good health. That’s why feet. I came off that mountain a different Lorrie Sullenberger is a fi tness expert, Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605. Kaiser Permanente opened farmers’ Phone 510-544-2154 or go to www. woman, full of awe for the spectacular local television personality, featured markets outside their medical ebparks.org/jobs. mountains, with gratitude for the ability writer and contributor on health to take on the challenge, but most of all and fi tness, and founder of Fit and centers and clinics. with renewed confi dence – that thing Fabulous...Outdoors! She is certifi ed Drink more water. that had eluded me for oh so long. by the American Council on Exercise Choose water over sugary drinks. and serves as a Regional Ambassador My choice for the top fi ve hikeable peaks You might be surprised how much for the Governor’s Council on Physical in the East Bay Regional Park District are sugar there is in soda or juice. Fitness. Lorrie is married to US Airways Las Trampas Peak, Mission Peak, Rose Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, Vary your veggies. Peak in Ohlone Regional Wilderness, who famously landed Flight 1549 in Get 5 servings of colorful veggies. Vollmer Peak in Tilden Regional Park, the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. A serving equals 1/2 cup of cooked and Briones Peak. They live with their two daughters vegetables, 1 cup of raw leafy vege- Lorrie Sullenberger in Danville, California. tables, or 6 ounces of vegetable juice. Focus on fruits. Choose 4 servings of fresh, frozen, or dried fruits. A serving is one medium piece of fruit, 1/2 cup fresh or frozen Annual Plant Sale fruit, or 1/4 cup of dried fruit. What’s all the excitement about Saturday April 21, seeds. All proceeds from the sale will directly benefi t Now you can pick up your 2012? Whether you’re an amateur gardener or a pro, the Garden. Bring empty boxes to carry home your prescription and your green beans you’ll fi nd plants to your liking at the festive native treasures. Cash, checks, VISA, M/C, American Express in the same trip, when you visit plant sale at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Rain accepted; lines for cash customers usually go faster. one of the many farmers’ markets or shine, staff members and volunteers will help you As you approach the intersection of Wildcat Canyon throughout the East Bay. You will choose California native shrubs, perennials, grasses, Road and Anza View Road in Tilden Regional Park, fi nd markets in Antioch, Fremont, and trees–many you won’t fi nd in a commercial volunteers will direct you to parking spots. Hayward, Martinez, Oakland, nursery. Richmond, Union City, and Walnut No entrance admission or parking fee. Come by to From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. experts will answer questions, cheer for the hardworking volunteers who support the Creek. For hours and locations, such as: “What plants would do well in clay soil?” “Any Garden. See you there! visit www.kp.org/farmersmarkets suggestions for a garden that doesn’t get much sun?” KAISER PERMANENTE IS A MAJOR SPONSOR Regional Parks Botanic Garden “Which plants attract butterfl ies?” “You got any ‘deer OF THE PARK DISTRICT’S 2012 TRAILS Annual Plant Sale proof’ plants?” “Could you help a novice get started?” CHALLENGE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT Saturday, April 21, 2012, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. GETTING IN SHAPE AND HEALTHY Volunteers who propagate plants from the Garden’s Wildcat Canyon Road and Anza View Road LIFESTYLES, VISIT WWW.KP.ORG collection have been working year-round; other (near Brazil Building) in Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, CA (YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER volunteers have been cleaning and packaging native Info: 510-544-3169 • [email protected] OF KAISER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION). Register beginning February 7. Online: www.ebparksonline.org signaled for help. Are you up for the REGISTRATION AND FEES By phone: 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), option 2 challenge? Full day participants: Optional Registration is required: certifi cation in First Aid. call 1-888-EBPARKS Session 6: Man Overboard–Junior (1-888-327-2757) option 2 JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS lifeguards will be introduced to boat Fees for Alameda and handling to their skill set, along with life Contra Costa County residents: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION SESSION THEMES jacket use, building rescue equipment • $125 for morning unit (9 a.m.-noon) This inclusive summer program provides Session 1: Junior Guard VS.