Volcan Mountain Foundation

Saturday, June 14 - Join us for a look into the little known yet truly fascinating world of plant reproduction.  From mosses to ferns to pine trees, we’ll learn some of the complex ways these plants create the next generation.  A more in-depth look at the extremely diverse group of flowering plants will reveal some remarkable and  unbelievable ways some species use mimicry, trickery, and seduction just to attract pollinators and get their pollen transported to other flowers.  You’ll never look at plants the same again!

Sunday, April 20: Join Janice Smith, VMF’s Education Coordinator and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, on a guided Forest Bathing walk at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center. This is a new program of bi-monthly Forest Bathing walks offered through VMF.

What is Forest Bathing?  

Join VMF for a stewardship day on Volcan Mountain. As a wildfire prevention measure, we will be creating piles of wood collected from the forest and burning them throughout the day. No experience necessary.

Date: Monday, March 3

Time:  8:30 am - 4:00 pm (Volunteers are free to leave at anytime).

Bring: Work gloves (VMF has its own supply as well), water, snacks, lunch. Camp chair optional. If you have a rake, bring that too.

Wear: Sturdy shoes and dress warmly and in layers.

Saturday, April 26: 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 items 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, April 26

Sunday, May 25: Join VMF's Outdoor Naturalist Janice Smith as we start our day relaxing quietly in a sensory meditation, allowing us to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the beauty of nature. Inspired by the freshness of the season, we’ll take a short walk to forage the ingredients we will use to make botanical bath salts, a raw sugar scrub, and a handmade spring soap infused with essential oils of your choice. You will be able to take home your handcrafted creations.

Saturday, May 24: Join VMF's Outdoor Naturalist Janice Smith as we start our day relaxing quietly in a sensory meditation, allowing us to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the beauty of nature. Inspired by the freshness of the season, we’ll take a short walk to forage the ingredients we will use to make botanical bath salts, a raw sugar scrub, and a handmade spring soap infused with essential oils of your choice. You will be able to take home your handcrafted creations.

Sunday, February 23: Join Janice Smith, VMF’s Education Coordinator and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, on a guided Forest Bathing walk at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center. This is a new program of bi-monthly Forest Bathing walks offered through VMF.

What is Forest Bathing?  

Sunday, March 23: Join VMF's outdoor naturalist educator, Janice Smith, as we identify, collect, and cook wild edible plants at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center.  

We will start with a short walk to identify and harvest some of the easy to find edible plants growing around the nature center. Then we will roll up our sleeves and work in teams creating a delicious meal together from our harvest. 

Saturday, March 22:  Step into the magic of spring! In this workshop VMF's outdoor naturalist educator, Janice Smith, will guide you on a short walk to identify and harvest edible wild plants growing around the nature center. Then we will work in teams to make a delicious green feast. These lush plants may include miner’s lettuce, chickweed, cleavers, plantain, stinging nettle, mustard, stork’s bill, conifer needles and more!

February 2 Wildcrafting: Conifer Tea and Forest Scone Party

Join us for a celebration of Volcan Mountain forest in winter, featuring the unique flavors of conifer trees paired with delicious toasted pine nut and conifer scones! This enchanting experience blends foraging and culinary creativity into a day of nature-inspired connection and learning. Perfect for nature lovers, foragers, and tea enthusiasts of all experience levels.