Category: Upper Newport Bay

Share the Landmarks with Someone Special

2/5/2016

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to spot hearts out in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Give those who matter most to you the gift of quality time together outdoors this Valentine’s Day.

Wildflowers are starting to bloom; the sun is out a bit longer each night; and if you look up in the sky, you just might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of raptors courting – all sure signs Valentine’s Day is nearing in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Rather than book a reservation at a crowded, overpriced restaurant to celebrate, surprise your loved one this year with an outdoor adventure.

Whether it’s a romantic night hike, an adventurous outing, or an excursion for the whole family, show the people who matter most to you one of the most special sights in Orange County by exploring the Landmarks together this Valentine’s Day. Read more below to see which activity is right for you.

Learn Something New in Nature This Weekend

10/9/2015

Photo courtesy of lupgv on Instagram.

Activities held Saturday and Sunday will teach skills you can use forever.

If you’ve visited the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, you know that there is always something new to discover. Learn a new way to look at the land this weekend, through hikes, walks, rides and workouts that will introduce you to skills such as wildlife tracking, cactus planting, mountain biking and even Zumba.

Two very exciting Saturday activities will help visitors learn about the easiest way to “see” wildlife on the trails: animal tracking. By learning which prints are which and “whose scat is that,” you can tell what type of critter was on the trail before you. In Round Canyon, the City of Irvine presents Beginner Animal Tracking, which covers the basics of spotting and identifying animal tracks over a short, 1.5-mile walk. OC Parks is presenting Watching Wildlife in Fremont Canyon, a program that also covers tracking, and will include information about raptors flying overhead near Irvine Lake. This program includes a 4 mile hike with some hills and spectacular views. Both programs are for visitors age 12 and up, and are led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy naturalists.

Volunteers Needed to ‘Adopt’ Local Canyons

9/4/2015

Each time you hike or ride past a hill in the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and see a little brightly-colored flag, that’s a sign of native habitat on the rebound. Land managers develop and plan ongoing restoration and invasive plant removal projects, but long-term health of local wildlands depends on long-term support from community volunteers. If you have a favorite trail or view, consider pitching in and “adopting” that canyon. OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach all have opportunities to help restore habitat in the natural places you love.

To further the goal of long-term habitat health, organizations such as Irvine Ranch Conservancy organize monthly volunteer stewardship opportunities to allow members of the community to give their time in the same location over time. This rewarding habit allows volunteers to see the fruits of their efforts every time the revisit the canyon they love. The difficulty level of each activity varies, but all tools and training are provided. There are a few of these monthly activities coming up this week, and you can click here to see all of the volunteer stewardship opportunities that happen monthly.

Experience Upper Newport Bay by Kayak

3/6/2015

Guided kayak tours of Upper Newport Bay are a great way to experience one of the largest estuaries in Southern California.

Gliding through the waters of Upper Newport Bay provides an up-close and tactile way to experience the beauty and serenity of this natural estuary. Volunteer docents lead groups through the bay, discussing the ecological, geological and geographical history of this important estuary while you paddle along the shallow shores taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this preserved natural aquatic setting.

Spend Mother's Day with Mother Nature

5/2/2014

Treat your mom to time outdoors with these fun, free activities.

Spending Mother’s Day exploring the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks will not only shake up the brunch-and-flowers routine, but will create family memories that Mom will never forget. There are many different opportunities abound for spending time with your Mom – and Mother Nature – on Sunday, May 11.

Two programs are available for the active mom looking for a great workout on Mother’s Day. For a rewarding and relaxing activity, try Yiking. This popular program starts off with a strenuous hike and ends with a relaxing yoga session in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. Another activity to get the heart pumping and the feet moving is Zumba. This aerobic workout is also offered on Sunday in Limestone Canyon, and is open to participants 12 and older.

Fun, Free Outdoor Spring Break Activities

3/28/2014

Spend time outdoors with your kids while they enjoy spring break.

Right about now, you’re checking out your kids’ school calendar and wondering how to transform their week of vacation into fun for the whole family. On behalf of the OC Parks and the City of Irvine, Irvine Ranch Conservancy will be hosting several family-friendly programs in April that are perfect for a spring break outing.

Most programs require pre-registration and an adult to accompany the kids, so use the links provided to find out more about these opportunities.

Upper Newport Bay Programs Get Kids in Touch with Nature

2/1/2013

Programs at the OC Parks Muth Interpretive Center help kids learn through crafts, hands-on activities and fun.

Using words to explain how a toad flicks out its tongue to snatch up food might not entice kids to learn about nature. But give them a blowout noisemaker and ask them to use it to snatch up foam “insects,” and that’s a lesson they can get into. Finding relatable ways to teach kids about the natural world is key to the weekly programs at OC Parks’ Muth Interpretive Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve.

The programs are the perfect way for kids (and their parents) to learn about the biological and ecological significance of the seaside portion of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. From storytelling to crafts to fun activities and hands-on experience, OC Parks Resource Specialist Sue Stoffel uses a variety of techniques to pique kids’ interest in the ecology of the Back Bay. Since 2006, Stoffel has led weekly programs that highlight the flora and fauna in the preserve in a way that kids can learn from.