Volcan Mountain Foundation

Saturday, September 17: 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 large and small trash items in a forested area near the headwaters of the San Dieguito River. Larger trash includes tires and metal fences.

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

September 24: There are many ways manzanita berries can be used for food. In this workshop we will use the ripe red berries to make two different kind of manzanita crackers. We will also make a delicious herb ricotta cheese from scratch as well as manzanita bark tea.

August 13: Join bat biologist Don Endicott as he discusses the lives of bats. Guest presenter Don Endicott will teach you about the life cycle, habitats, and unique features of bats as well as the methods he uses to conduct his research.  After the presentation we'll go on a short walk to view bats during sunset. 

Don Endicott is also a volunteer naturalist for the San Diego Natural History Museum, California State Parks, Mission Trails Regional Park, Cabrillo National Monument, Project Wildlife, and other local and regional organizations.

July 24, 2022 Join Janice Smith, VMF's Education Coordinator, in this fun (and messy) hands-on workshop. You will learn how local red clay is processed, explore how the Kumeyaay made beautiful pottery, and practice creating your own decorative item. We will also discuss the geology of how the red dirt was created.  

Saturday, May 21 -  Join Eric Jones for a stewardship day on Volcan Mountain. We'll be clearing the 1.7-mile Cedar Loop Trail that begins at Volcan's ridgeline. We'll be trimming trail side branches and removing downed trees using power equipment, including chainsaws. If trail clearing is not for you, not to worry. You'll have an opportunity to remove invasive plants instead.

Join Executive Director Eric Jones for VMF's Adopt-A-Road Clean-Up Day on Farmer Road. VMF is looking for a few volunteers who aren't afraid to roll-up their sleeves and pick-up trash along the road. 

Date:  Sunday, May 1

Time:  9:00 am - 1:00 pm

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

Meeting Location: Gather at the Farmer Road parking area at County of San Diego’s Santa Ysabel East Preserve.  

Directions:

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: Saturday, May 7

Thursday, April 21: Join the Volcan Mountain Foundation for a citizen science 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. We'll be focusing our attention on the areas near our Watershed and Sky Island trails. There is a combined two miles of walking during this survey. Hiking is easy to moderate. 

Date: Thursday, April 21

Time: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm

Join Executive Director Eric Jones for VMF's Adopt-A-Road Clean-Up Day on Farmer Road. VMF is looking for a few volunteers who aren't afraid to roll-up their sleeves and pick-up trash along the road. 

Date:  Saturday, April 23

Time:  9:00 am - 1:00 pm

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

Meeting Location: Gather at the Farmer Road parking area at County of San Diego’s Santa Ysabel East Preserve.  

Directions:

Join botanist and President of the California Native Plant Society in San Diego Justin Daniel as he discusses the diverse plants on Volcan Mountain. Together we'll explore VMF's trails and examine the unique plant adaptations and habitats on the mountain. From wild fires and hot dry summers, to snowy winters, plants have evolved fascinating strategies to thrive in these environments. Not only have they adapted to these conditions, they are tightly intertwined with the fauna around them, supporting a diverse array of animals.