July
2016
   

It's really, officially summer, with the high temps to prove it! During our recent heat waves, we can't blame you for wanting to stay inside in the air-conditioning...but don't let the heat keep you off the trails!   


Just remember these tips to beat the hot weather:
  • Try a shorter/less strenuous hike or bike ride (maybe the Piedras Pintadas Trail instead of Raptor Ridge)
  • Get out early, before 10:00 or 11:00 
  • Wear lightweight, sweat-wicking clothes, sunglasses with UV protection, and a hat (and sunscreen!)
  • Bring water and salty snacks to stay hydrated and replace electrolytes
  • Take breaks, especially in shady spots
  • Explore with a friend and watch each other for signs of exhaustion or heat stroke
  • Keep a close eye on your furry friends! Dogs don't tolerate the heat as well as we do, so take extra precaution when your pup joins you for summer hikes
Show us your summer adventures in the River Park -- tag your Instagram photos #SDRVC and #SDRP and we might re-post them! 


Thank you for your continued support of the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy and the San Dieguito River Park! Don't forget to renew your Conservancy membership and invite your friends, too!


JULY

EVENTS IN THE RIVER PARK 


 

Sundays, July
3, 10, 17, 24, 31
10:30 am - 3:30 pm
North San Diego Certified Farmers Market - Rain or Shine!
Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead:

Saturday, July 2
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Whole Life Festival
San Diego County Fair:
Visit the San Dieguito River Park Rangers and other eco-minded organizations and vendors at our booths!

Monday, July 4
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fireworks and Star Gazing from Volcan Summit
7 miles, strenuous
Hosted by San Diego County Parks

Saturday, July 9
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Ranger-Led Walk at the San Dieguito Lagoon
1.7 miles, easy
Hosted by San Dieguito River Park Ranger Bryan Ward

Saturday, July 9
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
"Take a Hike" VIP Release Party
Meet at Nickel Beer Company:
Hosted by Volcan Mountain Foundation
$30/person, limit 40 participants

Sunday, July 10
7:30 am - 12:00 pm
San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count
Hosted by San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count Leader Jayne Lesley

Saturday, July 16
8:30 am - 10:30 am
San Dieguito Lagoon Bird Walk
Hosted by Buena Vista Audubon Society Member John Haddock

Saturday, July 16
9:00 am
Rattlesnake Safety Class
Meet at Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center:
Co-hosted by Southwestern Field Herping Associates and SDRVC

Sunday, July 17
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Yoga at the Birdwing
Co-hosted by SDRVC and Yoga Instructor Susan McCrea
Free for SDRVC members, $10 donation for non-members

Saturday, July 23
8:30 am
Exec Trek at Volcan Mountain
5 miles, strenuous
Hosted by SDRVC Executive Director Trish Boaz
Free for SDRVC members, $15 donation for non-members


All events are free unless otherwise noted.

 

For hikes, all mileages are approximate.

 

Please visit our website for more details and full events calendar.  

 

Join the Conservancy's Meetup group to learn more about upcoming hikes and events in the River Park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

  

Your membership helps us to fulfill our mission to protect  the San Dieguito Watershed for generations to come.

 

SUPPORT NATURE:

 

SUPPORT THE SAN DIEGUITO RIVER VALLEY CONSERVANCY 

 

 SUPPORT THE RIVER PARK JPA

 

For more information, please visit these websites:

 

www.sdrp.org 

 

www.sdrvc.org 

 

www.fsdrv.org 

 

 www.sdparks.org







Latest News & Updates
Watershed Explorers Program Fundraising through Parks -4- Kids
The Conservancy has started a fundraising campaign for the Watershed Explorers Program through Parks -4- Kids. Visit our project page on the Parks -4- Kids website to learn more about the program and donate!

Conservancy Receives Grants from REI & Patagonia
The Conservancy is thrilled to announce that we've received grants from REI and Patagonia!

The $10,000 REI grant is for the repair and improvement of segments of the Bernardo Summit Trail in the San Dieguito River Park.  

 
The Bernardo Mountain Summit Trail provides a panoramic view of Lake Hodges to the west and San Pasqual Valley and local mountains to the east. 

Volunteers from the Conservancy, River Park, REI and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association will participate in a volunteer work event to be scheduled in the fall of 2016.
 
The $1,000 award from Patagonia will support the Conservancy's Citizen Science Monitoring Program, at the recommendation of Adventure 16. This program continues to gain momentum, and we're excited to keep it growing. 
Enrollment Open for 2016 Exploring Our Sense of Place Program
The Conservancy officially opened enrollment for its 2016 Exploring Our Sense of Place Program. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants in order to maximize the experience for participants. This popular program sells out every year, so if you've been looking forward to this life-changing experience, don't delay!


Participants will experience the San Dieguito River Valley and watershed in all seasons, following its path from Volcan Mountain in Julian to North Beach in Del Mar, encountering plants, animal and human inhabitants and will connect to the River Valley with their heart and minds. The eight excursions are held monthly from September through May, including a welcome reception at the Del Mar Powerhouse and seven outings with experts in a variety of topics: 
  • Mammals and Tracking
  • Native Americans
  • Birds of Bernardo Bay
  • Geology, Chaparral and Water Resources
  • Piedras Pintadas Botany 
  • Wetland Restoration Project at the San Dieguito Lagoon.  

Recognizing the importance of connecting people with nature, time is set aside at each event for special "reflection time." 

 

A Graduation Luncheon is served at the San Dieguito Lagoon at the end of the program. More than 200 Explorers have graduated from the program, many of whom continue to participate in ESP Alumni hikes and educational experiences. 

Go to ExploringOurSenseOfPlace.org for further details and to enroll!

Remember: Renew Your Conservancy Membership!
Have you renewed your Conservancy membership for 2016? Don't forget to join or renew today to continue to get these benefits:
  • Subscription to Currents, our print newsletter which is published three times annually
  • Subscription to this monthly e-newsletter, Riverscape
  • "Adventure Bucks" discounts at Adventure 16 stores
  • Access to members-only events
  • Priority registration and free/discounted rates for Conservancy events, including Yoga at the Birdwing, Exec Treks, Furry Friends Hikes, and more

 

Memberships also make great gifts for the nature-lovers in your life!


Girl Scouts Service Project at Lagoon
by Samantha Prestrelski and Annabelle Mitchell, Girl Scout Troop 1668

Non-native species are quickly growing in the San Dieguito River Park, taking away space from which native plants can grow. We are two scouts from Girl Scout Troop 1668 in Carmel Valley who plan to spend this summer and fall helping the San Dieguito River Park on its habitat restoration project. Our focus is propagating native plants in the San Dieguito River Park: we will collect seeds from native plants and get cuttings from trees and grow the plants in the nursery located in the San Dieguito Lagoon, and supply the surplus to other areas within the River Park.  


Read the rest of their article here.

Citizen Science News
Our partners, the San Diego Tracking Team (SDTT), have been getting some great press lately! Maybe you read the article about them in the San Diego Reader on February 24th or saw their Channel 8 news feature last month. Now, they are recruiting volunteers to learn more about the animals that live in the River Park. The SDTT is offering a FREE Wildlife Survey Volunteer Training on July 9th to train people to help with wildlife surveys in open space preserves, including the River Park! 


This opportunity is ideal for folks that are interested in learning a new skill, enjoy the outdoors, can hike under sometimes challenging conditions, and enjoy piecing together clues. These trainings fill up fast, but Conservancy members and River Park volunteers will be given priority registration. To register, please email [email protected] or call 760-715-4102. More information is available at www.sdtt.org

 
If you are a birder or an aspiring birder, we want you! The Conservancy and Palomar Audubon are hosting a bird survey at Bernardo Mountain on July 20th as part of our on-going Citizen Science Monitoring Program. This walking survey will start at 8:00 am from the Lake Hodges Boat Launch area and follow the Coast to Crest Trail approximately one mile before returning along the Lake View Trail. Surveys typically finish between 11:00 - 11:30 am. All you need is sturdy walking shoes and a pair of binoculars. To register or get more information, email Conservation Manager Jess Norton at [email protected].   

Save the Date - 30th Anniversary River Valley Fest

Coming Up in July
Whole Life Festival
July 2nd
Come join the rangers of the San Dieguito River Park at the Whole Life Festival at the San Diego County Fair on July 2nd from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm! 

This festival teaches people how they can help the environment and explore the eco-friendly marketplace, with products and services for mind, body, and soul. There will be over 40 booths, guest speakers, a children's garden, and Garden Bar and Wine Nook Exhibit.
When: Saturday, July 2nd at 10:00 am 
Where: San Diego County Fair (map)

Free Rattlesnake Safety Class
July 16th
Please join the Conservancy and Southwestern Field Herping Associates for a free, fun, family-friendly class.


Snake researcher Steve Bledsoe will teach you about our local snake species found in the San Dieguito River Park. Come learn what to do if you see a snake and how you and your pets can stay safe in the outdoors!

Space is limited and registration is required. Please RSVP by July 14th.

When: Saturday, July 16th at 9:00 am 
Where: Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center: 1658 Coast Blvd., Del Mar (map)

Exec Trek: Volcan Mountain
July 23rd
Join Executive Director Trish Boaz for a hike to the summit of Volcan Mountain in Julian, the headwaters of the San Dieguito River. This hike is rated "strenuous."


When: Saturday, July 23rd at 8:30 am 
Where: Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve Parking Area (map)
Free for members, $15 donation for non-members

What Happened in June
Volunteer Appreciation Party
The Conservancy and River Park's annual Volunteer Appreciation Party was held last month at Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead. Over 120 volunteers attended and celebrated their accomplishments throughout the past year. 


County Supervisor Dave Roberts presented Steve Scarano, Jack Bochsler, Fernando Villacorte, Alexa Clusen, Tom Golich, Bill Michalsky, and Steve Bledsoe with a County Proclamation and Appreciation Award for their outstanding service. We are so thankful for all of our volunteers' dedication and support. 

RB Alive
For 28 years, North San Diego County Business Chamber has held the RB Alive! Street Fair in Rancho Bernardo, and for the past few years, San Dieguito River Park has attended in order to promote our trail system and Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead. 

This year, the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society was kind enough to share their booth so an SDRP Ranger was able to set up information about the River Park and Sikes Adobe. The Ranger was there to answer the public's questions about the progress being made on the Coast to Crest Trail, the work being done in and around Sikes Adobe, and docent and volunteer opportunities.

The Conservancy set up a booth as well and spoke to many attendees about exploring the River Park and Coast to Crest Trail.

 
The RB Historical Society had recently completed their latest project: a replica 19th-Century Mud Wagon, something that would have been common to the rough trails that crisscrossed San Diego County during that time. Mud Wagons were cheaper and lighter and thus, more versatile than the more well-known Concord wagons and would have been a common sight on the road that ran past the Sikes Farm and Mule Hill.  

Being present at events such as RB Alive allows the park to promote our historic site in context to other projects and endeavors being put on by other entities in North San Diego County and in the San Dieguito River Watershed.

Solana Beach Boys and Girls Club Explore the Watershed
The Solana Beach Boys and Girls Club participated in Watershed Explorers Program in mid-June. They spent the first day exploring Volcan Mountain and Lake Sutherland, the next day at Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead with a presentation about Kumeyaay culture, and the final day at the San Dieguito Lagoon. 


On the Lagoon hike the children shared their amazing experiences of the three-day journey. One participant explained how she was scared of the dirt and bugs on the Volcan Mountain hike, but now she wasn't and even was seen holding a beetle! 

Thanks to the City of Solana Beach for the community grant that made this trip possible!