Volcan Mountain Foundation

This Sunday, May 17th is the Volcan Mountain Foundation's annual Sustaining Friends Spring Exploration on Volcan Mountain! All Sustaining Friends members are encouraged to join in on this special discovery day with lunch on the mountain, and invite a friend or couple. If you're not already a Sustaining Friend of Volcan Mountain, it's not too late, you can become a member today (see below) and join the outing this Sunday!

This year we'll be exploring one of the ponds, and the ridgeline, of the County's Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve (VMWP) as part our Watershed Year. Touring the ridgeline and the VMWP illustrate, in landscape-scale, the focal point of three of the Volcan Mountain Range's four watersheds that radiate out, sending vital water both east and west.

The views from the intersection of three watersheds are pretty amazing too!

After gathering at VMF’s Volcan Mountain Nature Center, we’ll caravan up to VMF’s upper Sky Island Trail property where we’ll (finally!) officially dedicate the crowd-funded composting toilet with a donor plaque commissioned by MaryBeth Burnham and created by artist Dan Evers.

The auto caravan exploration continues along the south ridgeline of the VMWP to Ferguson Flat and beyond. A walking tour guided by, VMF volunteer and County Park Attendant, Bill Augustus will take us the rest of the way to one of the preserve’s pond sites, after which we’ll return back to Ferguson Flat for al fresco lunch with a view! Those that don’t wish to walk can relax and enjoy the views west from Coast to Crest and east to the Salton Sea.

There will be an optional hike on Sky Island Trail after lunch up to the recently-completed Sky Island Pipe Scope that was designed by James Hubbell, with construction led by artisan blacksmith Bill Porter and VMF’s Education Coordinator Kathleen Beck. The views from, and through, the scope further illustrate the connectivity of the Volcan Mountain Range and it’s watersheds!

Due to the gated-entry, it’s very important to RSVP for this annual Spring Exploration and plan to arrive no later than 9:30am, as the group caravan will be departing at that time.

Location: Meet at VMF’s Volcan Mountain Nature Center; 22850 Volcan Road, Julian CA 92036
Date: Sunday, May 17th, 2015
Time: 9:00am-2:30pm with optional Sky Island Trail hike finishing at 3:30pm

9:00am-9:30am Meet at VMF’s Volcan Mountain Nature Center for coffee, juice, pastries & fruit
9:30am-10:30am Depart Nature Center for introductions and composting toilet dedication at VMF’s upper Sky Island property
10:30am-12:30pm Caravan out along ridgeline of County’s Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve & hike to pond
12:30pm-2:00pm Al Fresco Lunch With a View at Ferguson Flat
2:00pm-2:30pm Caravan back down to main gate and depart
or
2:00pm-3:30pm Optional Sky Island Trail hike to Porter/Hubbell view scope, followed by caravan back down to main gate

Please RSVP to the VMF office via email (info@volcanmt.org) or phone (760-765-2300) no later than Thursday, May 14th.

Help us grow this important visioning and support group! If you know a friend or couple that may also be interested in becoming a member of the Sustaining Friends of Volcan Mountain, we encourage you to invite them to join you on this annual outing for exploration and discovery of the Volcan Mountain Range. Please be sure and mention your guest(s) when you RSVP.

ABOUT SUSTAINING FRIENDS OF VOLCAN MOUNTAIN
The Sustaining Friends of Volcan Mountain is a group of ardent supporters and champions of the mission of the Volcan Mountain Foundation.  The Sustaining Friends meet annually in October to help shape the future goals and activities of the Volcan Mountain Foundation.  VMF Board Members share the current projects and future plans of the foundation, and then solicit ideas and suggestions from the Friends.   These are very helpful when the Board updates the VMF strategic plan at their November retreat. 

Sustaining Friends members participate for a three-year term and are asked to make an annual gift to VMF of $500.00 per person ($1,000 per couple).   The Friends group provides a very significant and stable source of funds that help sustain VMF’s preservation, conservation and education activities and projects.    If necessary, members can resign from the group at any time.