Volcan Mountain Foundation

Come out to the backcountry on April 21 from 11am-4pm to celebrate Earth Day by planting lilacs, taking a hike through the grasslands, learning about the California wolf, and enjoying the 1st Annual Santa Ysabel Earth Day with free children's activities, live music, and more! There are a variety of ways to be involved in this year's Earth Day Celebration.

The Volcan Mountain Foundation along with a number of other environmental, wildlife, river, land and heritage conservancy organizations have united to bring Earth Day back to its roots! Join us and the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, San Dieguito River Park, San Diego County Parks and Recreation, Save Our Heritage Organisation, Wildlife Research Institute, San Diego River Park Foundation, Anza Borrego Foundation, Fish & Wildlife, Julian Historical Society, and the California Wolf Center as we present a fun, free, family day of activities, including hands-on crafts, a full size replica eagles nest for kids to climb in and get their photo taken, a lilac planting, and the all important hikes. Getting back to nature is the message!

There are a couple of morning options to kick-off your Earth Day Celebration!  The rangers with San  Diego County Parks & Recreation hope to have lots of volunteers on hand for Volcan Trail Rehab at the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve starting at 9:30am.  Or another morning activity is a free guided family hike at the Ramona Grasslands. The hike is scheduled for 9am-11am; participants will meet at the Ramona Grasslands Trailhead. The hike is easy and flat, and will be done at a leisurely pace, so that the whole family, including those with little ones in strollers, can enjoy a hike on Earth Day. Participants are welcome to turn around at any point on the 3.5-4 mile loop. Families will see rolling grasslands, live oak, and maybe even some hawks! There will be a light breakfast and refreshments prior to the hike and the Backcountry Earth Day Celebration after the hike. To register for the hike, email:  sdrvc@sdrvc.org, with "Earth Day Hike" in the subject line. The hike is limited to 40, register now! 

There will be a special presentation by the California Wolf Center on the repopulation of wolves in the Golden State from 1pm-2:30pm. The Center is a one-of-a-kind organization that specializes in wolf recovery in California. Kevin Schmelzlen, the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the California Wolf Center, will discuss the natural history, ecology, biology and behaviors of wolves. Will the wolves howl at the moon after we celebrate Earth Day with the California Wolf Center? Let's find out!

Another activity for the day is a free guided family hike at the Ramona Grasslands. The hike is scheduled for 9am-11am; participants will meet at the Ramona Grasslands Trailhead. The hike is easy and flat, and will be done at a leisurely pace, so that the whole family, including those with little ones in strollers, can enjoy a hike on Earth Day. Participants are welcome to turn around at any point on the 3.5-4 mile loop. Families will see rolling grasslands, live oak, and maybe even some hawks! There will be a light breakfast and refreshments prior to the hike and the Backcountry Earth Day Celebration after the hike. To register for the hike, emailsdrvc@sdrvc.org,with "Earth Day Hike" in the subject line. The hike is limited to 40, register now!

In addition to the Backcountry Earth Day activities and informational booths, the Santa Ysabel Store is stocked with heirloom and artisanal goodies that were carefully selected to satiate the farm to table set.
Come celebrate this special day with us at the historic Santa Ysabel Store & Backcountry Visitor Center where the Highways 78 & 79 meet.
 
Program
9am-11am Ramona Grasslands Hike
11am-4pm Crafts & other fun, free family activities
1-2:30pm California Wolf Center Presentation
2:30pm Lilac Planting and invasive weed cleanup. Sponsored by Walter Andersen Nursery