Volcan Mountain Foundation

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

Join us for a vibrant afternoon celebrating the sacred art of the tamale! Gather with us to hand-craft traditional indigenous tamales from different regions of Mexico, culminating in a spectacular, sit-down "Fab Feast" dinner. As we cook, you'll discover the deep spiritual heritage and cosmic history behind these native foods—a culinary tradition so sacred and unique that UNESCO declared traditional Mexican gastronomy an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."

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

Sunday, June 14 -  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 14

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday, June 28:  Join us for a relaxing and restorative day immersed in the beauty of nature in spring. We will gather beneath towering trees beside our peaceful pond for a unique wildcrafted wellness experience that blends herbal self-care, nature connection, creativity, and play.

We’ll begin with tea and a gentle arrival before wandering to the pond for quiet reflection and time to experience the sights, sounds, warmth, and renewal of spring. Afterward, we’ll gather seasonal plants such as horsetail, mugwort, plantain, and cattail and learn about their uses.