Eco-Friendly Events Calendar

Join us for a fun weekday hike where seniors lead the way in great company and fresh air!Seniors Leading Seniors: Weekday HikeJoin us for a fun and friendly in-person hiking adventure designed especially for seniors! It's a perfect chance to stay active, meet new friends, and enjoy the great outdoors together. Hike designed for active participants. 4-5 miles with approximately 1,000 elevation gain on beautiful trails. Meet at the picnic area by 9:00 AM sharp! Lace up your shoes, bring water, layers, and sun protection and come explore nature with fellow seniors leading the way! Hike hosted by the Friends of Huddart & Wunderlich Parks and guided by volunteer naturalist Dennis Ruby.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Greg Azevedo and Emma Finter for a leisurely-paced hike at a limited-access area. You’ll travel in a single loop, traversing grassland meadows, mixed evergreen forest, and chaparral. It includes one uphill section with a 500-foot elevation gain. You’ll discuss local history, learn about the pond environment and flora of the area, and enjoy views of Santa Clara Valley while exploring habitats that few humans have recently visited. Bring a snack for a short break. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 18 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close January 30 at 2:00 p.m.Where to Meet:Meet at the VTA Park & Ride lot at Camden Avenue @ Highway 85. Docents will lead a carpool to the access area and have a group permit and parking passes for participants. Please arrive on time; the group will depart promptly. All participants must stay for the duration of the activity (no early departures in a closed area). Please note: there are no restrooms in VTA lot, nor the Preserve, so please plan accordingly. Thank you. 

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Let your little one immerse themselves in all the natural world has to offer with Docent Naturalists Jennifer Anthony and Jessica Kolla. You and your child will have fun on this leisurely-paced hike along the Lower Meadow Trail toward Deer Hollow Farm with stops to explore using your senses along the way. The trail is stroller-friendly so please bring one along if your child will find it challenging to walk the entire two miles. This hike is most appropriate for ages 0-6 and their parents or guardians, but older children are welcome. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 20 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 2 at 2:00 p.m. Register both adult and child.Where to Meet:Meet near the restroom at the bottom of the hill in the preserve parking lot farthest to the right. From I-280, take Foothill Boulevard south and turn right almost immediately onto Cristo Rey Drive. Continue about 1 mile, veer right around the traffic circle, and turn left into the park. After entering the preserve, turn right and drive approximately 0.3 miles to Lot 6. 

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Let your little one immerse themselves in all the natural world has to offer with Docent Naturalists Jennifer Anthony, Jessica Kolla, and Nina Bell. You and your child will have fun on this leisurely-paced hike along the Lower Meadow Trail toward Deer Hollow Farm with stops to explore using your senses along the way. The trail is stroller-friendly so please bring one along if your child will find it challenging to walk the entire two miles. This hike is most appropriate for ages 0-6 and their parents or guardians, but older children are welcome. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 20 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 2 at 2:00 p.m. Register both adult and child. Where to Meet:Meet near the restroom at the bottom of the hill in the preserve parking lot farthest to the right. From I-280, take Foothill Boulevard south and turn right almost immediately onto Cristo Rey Drive. Continue about 1 mile, veer right around the traffic circle, and turn left into the park. After entering the preserve, turn right and drive approximately 0.3 miles to Lot 6. 

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Enjoy a leisurely-paced hike with Docent Naturalists Bobbie Riedel, Nick Yatsko, and Ann Reisenauer to explore the cultural and natural history of the Hawthorns Area, a limited-access location separate from the rest of Windy Hill Preserve. You’ll meander through grasslands, pass an olive orchard, wander along a stream, and see structures built in the late 1880s. You will hear how people used this unique property through the decades, discover its different ecosystems, and appreciate sweeping views of the mountains and the bay. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 23 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 5 at 2:00 p.m.Where to Meet:Directions will be sent after registration closes.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Roger Wigenstam, Steve Crawford, Peter Maxwell, and An Scharlaken for an exhilarating and aerobic mountain bike ride through towering redwoods and a rugged landscape. This adventure is designed for experienced mountain bikers looking to explore some great trails in the open space while learning about the history and ecology of the area. You’ll ride the Oljon, Blue Blossom, and other trails beneath the canopy. Participants must be experienced and able to ride narrow and at times rough single-track trails with an elevation gain of 1,600+ feet. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 24 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 6 at 2:00 p.m.Where to Meet:Meet at the El Corte de Madera Parking Area located on the west side of Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard), about one mile south of the Caltrans Skeggs Point parking area and 2.7 miles north of the intersection of Highway 35 and Highway 84.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Roger Wigenstam, Steve Crawford, Peter Maxwell, and An Scharlaken for an exhilarating and aerobic mountain bike ride through towering redwoods and a rugged landscape. This adventure is designed for experienced mountain bikers looking to explore some great trails in the open space while learning about the history and ecology of the area. You’ll ride the Oljon, Blue Blossom, and other trails beneath the canopy. Participants must be experienced and able to ride narrow and at times rough single-track trails with an elevation gain of 1,600+ feet. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 24 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 6 at 2:00 p.m.Where to Meet:Meet at the El Corte de Madera Parking Area located on the west side of Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard), about one mile south of the Caltrans Skeggs Point parking area and 2.7 miles north of the intersection of Highway 35 and Highway 84.

Help us craft thank you cards for our donors!This season of love, we want to send handwritten thank you cards to the donors who support our environmental education programs! Come by the EcoCenter on February 7th anytime between 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM to help us make enough cards for all our amazing donors. You can drop in to make one card, or stay to make several!We’ll provide the cards, art materials, and sample appreciation messages. You just bring your creativity and card-making enthusiasm! We hope to see you at the EcoCenter.Questions? Contact Via de Jesus at viadj@environmentalvolunteers.org or (650) 493-8000 x ext 1.About the EcoCenterLocated in the heart of the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, the EcoCenter is a regional hub for nature and science exploration for all ages. A historic landmark with its distinctive Nautical Moderne architecture, the EcoCenter was originally constructed in the 1940s as a base for the Sea Scouts. Today, it serves as a thriving public nature center and community education resource as the headquarters of the Environmental Volunteers. Visitors will find plenty to explore: from hands-on activities and interactive displays, to green building features and rotating art exhibits, there is always something new to discover at the EcoCenter.About Environmental VolunteersEnvironmental Volunteers has inspired people of all ages for over 50 years to learn about the wonders of the natural world. We train volunteers to bring immersive science and nature-based experiences programs to over 20,000 students each year. Through field trips and programs in the classroom, in the community, and at the EcoCenter, we grow students’ environmental awareness, connect kids and adults to the outdoors, and instill a desire to protect Earth’s beauty and natural resources.

Help us craft thank you cards for our donors!This season of love, we want to send handwritten thank you cards to the donors who support our environmental education programs! Come by the EcoCenter on February 7th anytime between 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM to help us make enough cards for all our amazing donors. You can drop in to make one card, or stay to make several!We’ll provide the cards, art materials, and sample appreciation messages. You just bring your creativity and card-making enthusiasm! We hope to see you at the EcoCenter.Questions? Contact Via de Jesus at viadj@environmentalvolunteers.org or (650) 493-8000 x ext 1.About the EcoCenterLocated in the heart of the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, the EcoCenter is a regional hub for nature and science exploration for all ages. A historic landmark with its distinctive Nautical Moderne architecture, the EcoCenter was originally constructed in the 1940s as a base for the Sea Scouts. Today, it serves as a thriving public nature center and community education resource as the headquarters of the Environmental Volunteers. Visitors will find plenty to explore: from hands-on activities and interactive displays, to green building features and rotating art exhibits, there is always something new to discover at the EcoCenter.About Environmental VolunteersEnvironmental Volunteers has inspired people of all ages for over 50 years to learn about the wonders of the natural world. We train volunteers to bring immersive science and nature-based experiences programs to over 20,000 students each year. Through field trips and programs in the classroom, in the community, and at the EcoCenter, we grow students’ environmental awareness, connect kids and adults to the outdoors, and instill a desire to protect Earth’s beauty and natural resources.

Join the EV for a fun exploration of local open space, led by our environmental educators. Intended for all ages 6 and up.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Chris MacIntosh, Lyle Rice, Catherine Xun, and Mari Aldridge for a non-technical fungus appreciation day. You'll train your eyes to find a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes growing underfoot (and sometimes overhead). On this leisurely- to moderately-paced hike on the strenuous North Ridge and Whittemore Gulch trails, you'll learn to notice the sometimes-camouflaged but always fascinating fungi that flourish in winter in the different habitats. The rain (or lack of) will determine what you see. Bring boots for mud, your lunch, and your stamina and sense of curiosity. Despite frequent stops, there are some very steep sections of trail. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 25 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 6 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:Meet at the North Ridge Parking Area on Skyline Boulevard.  This entrance is next to the now closed Kings Mountain Country Store.  The parking lot is 4.5 miles south of Highway 92, and 8.1 miles north of Highway 84.

Get ready to celebrate Valentine's Day in the weirdest and most fun way possible!It's Valentines Day and, not coincidentally, many animals act on their "spring feelings" around the same time. Docent Naturalists Annette Herz, An Scharlaken, Jan Hintermeister, and Melissa Hero will explore the different adaptations nature deploys for procreation as you hike beneath the redwood canopy. Some strategies will likely be familiar to you while others will be very, very different! With some luck you’ll have the opportunity to observe some of the species, too. Bring a snack to enjoy and be prepared for wintery redwood temperatures. (Note: Please evaluate if this guided activity is appropriate for your child due to the content being about mating and procreation.) Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after January 31 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 13 at 2:00 p.m.Where to Meet:From the North: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in Half Moon Bay, travel on Highway 1 south approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Verde Road. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road. From the South: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 84 and Highway 1 intersection in San Gregorio, travel on Highway 1 north approximately 6.4 miles. Turn right on the third Verde Road intersection. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road.

Join us for a series of fun, engaging art workshops to empower children and families to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic.

Join us for a fun weekday hike with great company and fresh air!Hike with the Friends: Weekday HikeJoin us for a fun and friendly in-person hiking adventure! It's a perfect chance to stay active, meet new friends, and enjoy the great outdoors together. Hike designed for active participants. 4-5 miles with approximately700 elevation gain on beautiful trails. Meet at the MEADOW parking area at 9:00 AM sharp! Participants DO NOT pay parking fee at entry. Lace up your shoes, bring water, layers, and sun protection and come explore nature with fellow seniors leading the way! Hike hosted by the Friends of Huddart & Wunderlich Parks and guided by volunteer naturalist Dennis Ruby.

Join us for a fun weekday hike with great company and fresh air!Hike with the Friends: Weekday HikeJoin us for a fun and friendly in-person hiking adventure! It's a perfect chance to stay active, meet new friends, and enjoy the great outdoors together. Hike designed for active participants. 4-5 miles with approximately700 elevation gain on beautiful trails. Meet at the MEADOW parking area at 9:00 AM sharp! Participants DO NOT pay parking fee at entry. Lace up your shoes, bring water, layers, and sun protection and come explore nature with fellow seniors leading the way! Hike hosted by the Friends of Huddart & Wunderlich Parks and guided by volunteer naturalist Dennis Ruby.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join a leisurely-paced hike on the coastside with Docent Naturalists Frances Reneau and Bobbie Riedel on a quest to learn about grasses. California's Mediterranean, summer-dry climate spells doom for the annual, non-native species. By fall, they have long since dropped their seeds and turned to gold. In contrast, native perennial bunchgrasses with their deep roots survive the rainless months and stay green among the golden blades. How many can you find in this special access location that is closed to the public? Note: The trail is rutted in places and there is at least one steeper section. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after February 7 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 20 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:Directions will be sent after confirmation. 

Join expert EV docents for an exploration of the science and nature of the Palo Alto Baylands.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Explore the secret, fascinating, and often overlooked world of fungi with Docent Naturalists Jianfei Hu, Catherine Xun, and Kim Borick on a moderately-paced hike along the Peters Creek and Long Ridge trails. You’ll learn how fungi are both nature's recyclers and networkers, connecting dozens of other species underground. Come out to the wintertime forest for a chance to discover the amazing diversity of the fungi kingdom! (Note: This is a learning-focused walk, not a foraging expedition. The intent is to observe, appreciate, and understand these organisms in their natural habitat. No collecting of any kind is permitted on Midpen or other protected lands.) Bring a snack or lunch. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after February 8 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 20 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:Meet at Peters Creek Roadside Parking, on the west side of Skyline Boulevard, 3.6 miles north of Highway 9 or 3.3 miles south of Page Mill Road.  If you are coming from the north on Skyline Blvd., the pullout is just past Portola Heights Road on the right.  From the south, the pullout is near the Palo Alto city limits sign on the right. There is additional parking across Skyline Blvd. at the Grizzly Flat trailhead (Santa Clara County Park).

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Greg Azevedo, Emma Finter, and Nancy Weintraub for an engaging extension of the popular guided activity, “Wonders of Cherry Springs.” This leisurely-paced hike at a limited-access area will travel in a figure 8, traversing grassland meadows, mixed evergreen forest, and chaparral. It includes two uphill sections, one with a 500-foot elevation gain. You’ll discuss local history, learn about the pond environment and flora of the area, and enjoy views of Santa Clara Valley while exploring habitats that few humans have recently visited. Bring a snack or lunch for a short break. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after February 8 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 20 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:Meet at the VTA Park & Ride lot at Camden Avenue @ Highway 85. Docents will lead a carpool to the access area and have a group permit and parking passes for participants. Please arrive on time; the group will depart promptly. All participants must stay for the duration of the activity (no early departures in a closed area). Please note: there are no restrooms in VTA lot, nor the Preserve, so please plan accordingly. Thank you. 

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Greg Azevedo, Emma Finter, Nancy Weintraub, and Naureen Moon for an engaging extension of the popular guided activity, “Wonders of Cherry Springs.” This leisurely-paced hike at a limited-access area will travel in a figure 8, traversing grassland meadows, mixed evergreen forest, and chaparral. It includes two uphill sections, one with a 500-foot elevation gain. You’ll discuss local history, learn about the pond environment and flora of the area, and enjoy views of Santa Clara Valley while exploring habitats that few humans have recently visited. Bring a snack or lunch for a short break. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after February 8 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close February 20 at 2:00 p.m.Where to Meet:Meet at the VTA Park & Ride lot at Camden Avenue @ Highway 85. Docents will lead a carpool to the access area and have a group permit and parking passes for participants. Please arrive on time; the group will depart promptly. All participants must stay for the duration of the activity (no early departures in a closed area). Please note: there are no restrooms in VTA lot, nor the Preserve, so please plan accordingly. Thank you. 

Join the EV each month on the last Saturday from 10-11:30am for a hands-on exploration of nature and science. For children ages 7-9.