Volcan Mountain Foundation

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San Diego County, California

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Nature Education Series: Night Hike and Photography, Saturday, 23, 2023

Saturday, September 23: Have you ever wondered what your favorite hiking trails and other outdoor spaces look like at night and which secretive nocturnal animals are moving around in those areas? Join Ethan Staats, Marine Biology graduate student at UC San Diego and frequent night-hiker around Southern California, for a 1 1/2-mile, moderate night hike on VMF's Sky Island Trail. Ethan is VMF's 2023 recipient of the Marjorie and Joeseph Rubenson Endowment for art and Science at Volcan Mountain award.

Volunteer Clean-Up Day - Saturday, September 23, 2023

Saturday, September 23  The Volcan Mountain Foundation is partnering with I Love a Clean San Diego to clean up VMF's newly acquired Copper Spur Ranch. The focus will be to remove trash and debris in a forested area near the headwaters of the San Dieguito River. Specifically, volunteers will remove small debris left from the demolition of an old cabin.

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

VMF's Adopt-A-Road Clean-Up - Saturday, October 28, 2023

Saturday, October 28: As offical stewards of Farmer Road (between Volcan and Wynola Roads), the Volcan Mountain Foundation invites to you participate in its Adopt-A-Road Clean-Up Day.  VMF is looking for a few volunteers who aren't afraid to roll-up their sleeves and pick-up trash along this quite and gentle portion of Farmer Road. 

Date:  Saturday, October 28

Time:  9:00 am - 11:00 am

What to Bring and Wear:  Snacks and/or lunch and water. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Volunteer Stewardship Day: Bull Thistle Removal - Saturday, September 16, 2023

Saturday, September 16 -  Join botanist and conservationist Larry Hendrickson and VMF's Suzie Meyer for a morning removing non-native bull thistle at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center and mustard along Volcan Road! We will also do some light trail maintenance on VMF's Sky Island Trail.

By removing this invasive plant species, you will have the satisfaction knowing that your are restoring the forest to its healthy natural ecosystem! 

Date:  September, 16

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Volunteer Stewardship Day: Medusahead Grass Removal, Saturday, July 8, 2023

Saturday, July 8 -  Join botanist and conservationist Larry Hendrickson and VMF's Suzie Meyer for a stewardship morning on Volcan Mountain's ridgeline. We'll focus on removing invasive Medusahead grass. Removing this fast-growing species is critical in creating healthy ecosystems and preventing it from spreading.  

This is a great opportunity to also experience an area that is part of the county's Volcan Mountain Preserve but not open to the public. 

Date:  Saturday, July 8

Time:  8:00 am - 11:00 am

Volunteer Stewardship Day: Bull Thistle Removal - Thursday, July 6, 2023

Thursday, July 6 -  Join botanist and conservationist Larry Hendrickson and VMF's Suzie Meyer for a morning removing non-native bull thistle at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center! 

By removing this invasive plant species, you will have the satisfaction knowing that your are restoring the forest to its healthy natural ecosystem! 

Date:  Thursday, July 6

Time:  8:00 am - 11:00 am

Nature Education Series: Biofluorescence Life on Volcan Mountain, Saturday, August 12, 2023

Join Ethan Staats for a very special evening on Volcan Mountain. As an evolutionary and community ecologist specializing in biofluorescence, Ethan will discuss what biofluorescence is, which life forms fluoresce on Volcan Mountain, and how this adaptation might help those species.  

Afterward, Ethan will guide us on a short walk in the forest where we will look for biofluorescence life! 

Ethan is a marine biology PhD student at UCSD/Scripps Institute of Oceanography and VMF's 2023 recipient of the Rubenson Endowment award.

Bird Count - Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Tursday, May23: Join the Volcan Mountain Foundation for a bird survey 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: Tuesday, May 23

Guided Wildflower Tour and Luncheon on Volcan - Sunday, May 21, 2023

Treat yourself to a native plant and wildflower walk with naturalists Larry Hendrickson and Sally Snipes. You'll explore the spring bloom at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center.

Our day will begin with a gentle .5-mile walk along VMF's Watershed Trail where we will learn about riparian plants. Then we'll drive to VMF's Sky Island Trailhead where we will stroll through a field in search of wildflowers.

Afterward, we will enjoy an al fresco lunch courtesy of Carol Pike

Date: Sunday, May 21

Volunteer Stewardship Day: Invasive Plant Removal - Sunday, April 30, 2023

Sunday, April 30 -  Join botanist Larry Hendrickson and Engagement Coordinator Suzie Meyer for a morning removing invasive plants from VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center! We'll be focusing on mustard along Volcan Road and bull thistle growing in the forest. Being vigilant in removing invasive plants helps prevent their spread and maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Date:  Sunday, April 30

Time:  8:30 am - 12:00 pm

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