Volcan Mountain Foundation

November 22, 2026 Wildcrafting: Douglas-Fir Acorn Cookies

Join VMF's Education Coordinator, Janice Smith, for a fun workshop making Douglas-fir acorn cookies!   

Saturday, November 14 - Join Professor Rulon Clark, Ph.D from SDSU for an engaging class that covers everything you need to know about our regional snakes. We'll focus on their unique life cycles, diverse habitats, and extraordinary survival adaptations. You will also learn how these vital predators support our local ecosystems and how to safely share the landscape with them.

Sunday, October 18: Join Janice Smith, VMF’s Outdoor Educator and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, in this sensory experience, which offers a rare opportunity to explore a protected area of the mountain not typically open to the public. We invite you to slow down during this restorative journey.

What is Forest Bathing?  

Saturday, September 19: The Volcan Mountain Foundation is partnering with I Love a Clean San Diego to clean up VMF's Copper Spur Ranch. The focus will be to remove trash in a forested area near the headwaters of the San Dieguito River. By participating in this clean-up, you will be restoring the forest to a healthy ecosystem. 

The Volcan Mountain Foundation greatly appreciates the time and energy volunteers take to restore the beautiful ecosystems of the Volcan Mountains in Julian, CA.

Date: Saturday, September 19

Sunday, September 27: We’ll begin with a guided walk around our nature center, identifying a variety of edible and non-edible berries while learning about their uses, folklore and how and when to harvest them. Then, we’ll come together to craft rustic elderberry and chokecherry crostatas, blackberry chia jam, and berry-rosehip tea – a true celebration of nature’s fall bounty!  To top it off, we’ll enjoy our handmade treats with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Come gather, create, and indulge in the magic of the fall wild harvest!

Sunday, August 30 -  Earth needs you! The Mission for Operation Thistle Take-Down is to search-and-destroy the invasive Bull Thistle growing at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center in Julian. Gear up and sign up below! Together we will restore the forest to its healthy, natural ecosystem! 

Date:  Sunday, August 30

Time:  8:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday, August 23: Learn to make your own soothing herbal salve and wild-crafted wreath from seasonal plants that we find at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center.

VMF's Outdoor Naturalist Educator, Janice Smith, will lead a walk around the nature center to identify and collect plants and other botanical items for each project. Wreaths are a beautiful and natural way to celebrate the summer season and decorate your home. 

Wednesday, July 1 -  VMF needs your help! Join us for a morning removing non-native and highly invasive bull thistle and mustard at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center. By removing this plant species, you will have the satisfaction knowing that you are restoring the forest to its healthy, natural ecosystem! 

Date:  Wednesday, July 1

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday, June 28 -  VMF needs your help! Join us for a morning removing non-native and highly invasive bull thistle and mustard at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center. By removing this plant species, you will have the satisfaction knowing that you are restoring the forest to its healthy, natural ecosystem! 

Date:  Sunday, June 28

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 pm

June 23: Join the Volcan Mountain Foundation for its quarterly bird count on Volcan Mountain in Julian. This is a great opportunity to hone your bird ID skills with experts, learn about our local mountain bird species, and contribute valuable data to VMF and the Cornell Lab of Orinthology. We'll be focusing our attention on the areas near our Watershed and Sky Island trails as well as VMF's recently acquired pond. There is a combined two miles of walking during this survey. Hiking is easy to moderate. 

Date: Turesday, June 23