STAR PARTY, BLACKBERRY HIKE, HAWK TALK, CAMPFIRES WITH S’MORES AND MORE AT COUNTY PARKS THIS AUGUST

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East County News Service
 
August 1, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – August is a great time head outdoors and join in some of the many free special events in San Diego County parks across our inland region.  There’s something for everyone – including a star party, picnic with goats, fire awareness day, creek crawl, summer blackberry hike, dog hike, bird and butterfly nature walk, junior rangers program, live animal presentations, sky hunters, campfire with s’mores, wolf presentation, visits with hawks and owls, water games, and fishing.
 
Scroll down for details on these fun and family-friendly events.

Star Party

7:30 – 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10

Oakoasis County Preserve

12620 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside, 92040

Join park rangers and the San Diego Astronomy Association for an evening of stargazing, astronomy and nighttime fun. Arrive at sunset for a twilight hike to search for bats and scorpions! Adults can geek out on astronomy and everyone will enjoy optic-friendly s'mores. RSVP required; call the park at 619-561-0580. For more information, follow the event on Facebook.

Picnic with Goats

12 – 1 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 18

Los Peñasquitos Ranch House

12122 Canyonside Park Drive, San Diego, 92129

Bring your lunch for a pen-side picnic with our goats, Popcorn and Base. During the picnic, park staff will discuss 1860s ranch life, animal care and Nubian goats. At the end, there will be an opportunity to interact with the goats and tour our nearly 200-year-old ranch house. For more information, call the park at 858-484-7504 or follow the event on Facebook.

Fire Awareness Day

11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 24

Felicita County Park

742 Clarence Lane, Escondido, 92029

Join park staff for a fun, educational and hands-on experience with local firefighters. CALFIRE will be on site with an in-service engine to demonstrate all of the tools of the trade. Participants will learn how to be fire-safe and how to protect property. For more information, call the park at 760-745-4379.

 

Creek Crawl

10 – 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 4

Los Peñasquitos Canyon County Preserve

12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, 92129

Join Ranger Kory for a slow and easy walk along Los Peñasquitos Creek. During the 1-mile hike, you'll learn about canyon habitat, creek life and crawdads. You set the pace, we'll share the photo ops! For more information, call the park at 858-484-7504.

 

Summer Blackberry Hike

8 – 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17

Santa Ysabel East County Preserve

500 Farmer Road, Julian, 92036

Join park staff on a brief hike into the meadows of the east preserve in search of blackberries ready for the picking. Join in discussions about the many animals that use this food source to prepare for winter. For more information, call the park at 760-765-4098 or follow the event on Facebook.

Dog Hike Up to the Dam

8 – 10 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 25

Lake Morena County Park

2550 Lake Morena Drive, Campo, 91906

Enjoy a nice hike with your dog! Make sure to bring water, comfortable hiking shoes and snacks. Don't forget to bring your dog leash! For more information, call the park at 619-579-4101.

 

Bird and Butterfly Nature Walk

10 – 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 25

Tijuana River Valley Regional Park

2310 Hollister St., San Diego, 92154

This is a 1-hour ranger-led nature walk through the Bird and Butterfly Garden at Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. Participants will learn about the many birds and butterflies that can be seen in this serene hideaway under the Pacific Flyway – in addition to learning about the native and non-native plants that attract these winged friends. Bring your binoculars. For more information, call the park at 619-428-2946.

 

Junior Rangers

11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Saturdays, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Louis A. Stelzer County Park

11470 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside, 92040

Do you like science and nature? Meet park staff to learn about birds and plants, as well as geology and local history. Be prepared for a short hike! Wear sturdy shoes and sun protection, and bring water for the hike. Programs and times are subject to change, depending on the weather and ranger availability. Parents are very welcome! RSVP required; call 619-561-0580.

Fire Tips and Live Animal Presentation

3 – 4:30 p.m., Saturdays, Aug. 3, 17

Dos Picos County Park

17953 Dos Picos Park Road, Ramona, 92065

Join Ranger Oliver as he provides tips on fire safety followed by a live animal and touch table presentation. This activity is specially designed for park patrons of all ages. For more information, call the park at 760-789-2220.

Sky Hunters - Nancy Conney

5 – 6 p.m, Saturdays, Aug. 3, 31

William Heise County Park

4945 Heise Park Road, Julian, 92036

Join a representative of the Sky Hunters organization to learn about the behaviors of hawks, owls, falcons and eagles. Have you ever wondered what you would do if you found a sick or injured raptor or if there were any laws to protect these magnificent birds? This program is not only educational but also allows you to view these amazing birds closer than you normally would in the wild. For more information, call the park at 760-765-0650 or follow the event on Facebook.

Campfire and S'mores

7 – 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10

Lake Morena County Park

2550 Lake Morena Drive, Campo, 91906

Enjoy a summer night eating s'mores while learning all about fire safety with a ranger. Park staff will share safety tips to maximize your overnight experiences in parks. For more information, call the park at 619-579-4101 or follow the event on Facebook.

Hawks, Owls, Falcons of San Diego

10 – 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 11

El Monte County Park

15805 El Monte Road, Lakeside, 92040

Meet some of San Diego County's amazing birds of prey. Get up close and personal with live raptors and learn about their remarkable adaptations and hunting abilities. For more information, call the park at 619-443-1474 or follow the event on Facebook.

Hawk Talk

6 – 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

3218 Summit Meadow Road, Bonita, 91902

Join rangers as they present nature’s top predators of the sky: Hawks! Learn how they hunt and survive in San Diego and other wilderness areas. You’ll even get a chance to see them up close! For more information, call the park at 619-472-7572 or follow the event on Facebook.

California Wolf Center

5 – 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17

William Heise County Park

4945 Heise Park Road, Julian, 92036

Enjoy this presentation on the history of wolves in North America and a discussion on the California Wolf Center's involvement in wolf recovery in the wild, along with what they are doing to reintroduce them to their natural habitats. For more information, call the park at 760-765-0650 or follow the event on Facebook.

Beat the Heat

10 – 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 18

Louis A. Stelzer County Park

11470 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside, 92040

Enjoy sprinklers, water guns and water games while learning how to conserve water and stay cool during the hotter months. Please wear sunscreen and clothes that can get a little wet and messy. Water bottles are recommended to keep you hydrated! For more information, call the park at 619-561-0580.

 

Fishing Class

9 – 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 24

Lake Morena County Park

2550 Lake Morena Drive, Campo, 91906

Join park staff for class at the boat dock. Information varies week-by-week, depending on what works best; sometimes we talk about trout, other times it may be how to catch bass, bluegill, or catfish. Get info on baits, lures, how to rig your tackle... we'll even show true beginners how to tie knots and cast. Meet at the boat dock. For more information, call the park at 619-579-4101 or follow the event on Facebook.

 
 

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