I was on duty at the Visitor Center yesterday, and did most of my shift in the children’s nature room. I had a little downtime for sketching while kids were occupied with paper crafts.
mammal skulls
Tag: docent
field ecology weekend
This was my fifth Field Ecology Weekend, and my fourth as an organiser. I dare to say it was the best one ever. Fifteen different presenters educated we docents on a wide range of topics over several days. A good time was had by all.
Otospermophilus beecheyi
We had a record number of attendees at yesterday’s Junior Ranger program, and everyone learned a lot about our ubiquitous ground squirrels.
under the oaks
I spent much of the day at beautiful King Gillette Ranch, both staffing a booth for Malibu Creek State Park, and enjoying the music of the annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest. I plucked this mushroom from under the nearby valley oak and was intrigued by its strong smell, so I asked a few people to sniff and describe. We settled on soy saucy chocolate. Later I found fresh specimens of the same species; their aroma was much milder. No, we were not tempted to taste them.
junior rangers
It was a busy day at the Park today! We started off with a Junior Ranger program on plants, with a whole lot of enthusiastic kids. Then I worked in the Visitor Center for the afternoon; nearly 200 people came through in four hours, over three-quarters of them in the first two hours. I heard so many great questions, it made my inquiring heart happy.
field ecology weekend
This was my fourth Field Ecology Weekend, and my third as an organizer. The weather was capricious this time, but we gamely carried on through cold nights and a very wet morning. Attendance was great, spirits were cheerful, the learnings were valuable … and I’m exhausted (but happy).
Crotalus helleri
It was a snakey day in the Park today! Greg Nemes kicked off the Junior Ranger program with a session on snakes. We didn’t see any live specimens that hour, but he found a toad to show the kids.
A short time later, Ranger Allison was removing a rattler from the bridge over Stokes Creek, and throughout the afternoon at the VC, lots of visitors came in to report rattlesnake sightings. (Also seen that day: a bobcat and a mountain lion!)
field ecology weekend
Every year, the Malibu Creek and Topanga Canyon Docents gather for a weekend of camping, outdoor education, and camaraderie, known as Field Ecology Weekend. I’m just home from the 38th Annual FEW. Speaking as one of the organisers, it was everything we hoped it would be.
Quercus lobata
I spent all day indoors at the Park, in a first aid class. It was so nice to emerge into the late afternoon sunshine, and notice the new leaves on the valley oaks.
lion talk
Notes from a presentation by the Cougar Conservancy, part of our continuing education as docents at Malibu Creek State Park.
hashiworks 