Fall 2012 Current - American River Conservancy

THE
CURRENT
Informational Newsletter for Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
American River Conservancy
An Inside Look at the ARC
By Michael Dotson
Over five years ago, I came to the American
River Conservancy as an environmental educator. Having minimal exposure to the non-profit sector, I learned
quickly that this little organization has a lot going on
behind the scenes. Over the past several months, I have
been a part of a number of volunteer training
workshops where I share my knowledge of ARC’s
operations. These volunteers are vital to our organization because they serve on the frontline, acting as
ambassadors for our organization. The more knowledgeable they are about ARC, the better prepared they
are to speak about the good work we are doing. This
article is intended to serve as an informal FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions) for the general ARC
populace.
With this knowledge, we hope you can spread
the message of ARC to your inner circles and help develop continued support for the organization well into
the future.
Does the Conservancy (ARC) do more than just preserve land and build trails?
Absolutely! The Conservancy has a fairly large
staff in comparison to other regional land trusts our
size. One reason: from the beginning, ARC has put an
emphasis on promoting a sustainable organization by
offering youth and adult education programs that
complement our conservation and stewardship
programs. Our education department alone employs
three educators just to keep up with the year-round
demand of school programs and summer camps. On
average, we have nearly 5,000 youth and 500 adults
come through our education programs each year.
In addition to our education programs,
the Conservancy employs one full-time staff and a fulltime AmeriCorps Member to implement the land
stewardship program. This part of ARC monitors
conservation easements and ARC-owned lands, raises
funds for projects, and schedules all the volunteer
opportunities you see throughout the year. Nearly 400
volunteers take part in habitat restoration,
trail-building and maintenance and river clean-up
projects each year. The Conservation and Stewardship
Project Manager also works with our Executive
Director to implement our land conservation program,
which to date has preserved over 12,400 acres of open
space recreational land and endangered species habitat.
Of that, nearly 3,500 acres are managed and monitored
by ARC Staff and volunteers.
All of these programs are supported by
additional staff: a full-time development director and
several part-time staff that includes an office manager,
Nature Center docents, public programs/office coordinator, and a bookkeeper. ARC also employs seasonal
staff members who manage the Chili Bar River put-in.
(Not many people realize that ARC was integral in
protecting public access to the South Fork back in the
mid- 1990s. Under a purchase agreement, the ARC
manages Chili Bar
IN THIS ISSUE
put-in and uses that
Feature Article & Land Update
1-3
revenue to support Camp Funnies
4
5
staff and programs, Education Update
Hunger Pangs-article
5
which directly bene- Programs & Calendar
7-9
fits the local commu- Volunteer Opportunities
10
Rio
de
los
Americanos
10
nity).
Continued on
page 3...
Text of picture
Fall Planting tips
Volunteer Profile
Eddies-Volunteer Thank You
Visit the Nature Center
Summer Supporters
Become a Supporter
11
12
13
14
15
16
page 2 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
Land Conservation Update
Salmon Falls Trails
In April, 2012 ARC completed the purchase of the 757-acre
Salmon Falls Ranch fronting the South Fork American River and
Folsom Lake. The ranch has a diverse array of year-round streams,
oak and hardwood forests, chaparral and grassland that provide
exceptional habitat for songbirds, birds of prey, amphibians,
reptiles, native fishes, deer, bear, and other mammals. The purchase was made possible with $3.5 million in competitive, State
grant funding and private donations provided by the Royal Bank
of
Canada, Divide Horseman’s Association, El Dorado Equestrian Trails Foundation, F.A.T.R.A.C. (Folsom-Auburn Trail Riders’
Action Coalition) and over 500 individual supporters of
ARC.
With the purchase complete, ARC has focused its attention
on the planning, permitting, and building of a key parking lot and
staging area for a .75 mile connector trail east of Salmon Falls Road
and a 2-3 mile loop trail west of Salmon Falls Road through
beautiful oak savannah and spectacular views of Folsom Lake,
Sacramento, and the Central Valley. This project will require
permitting and environmental review by El Dorado County and
coordination with the BLM. When completed, the project would
provide equestrians with full access to trails between Salmon Falls
and Highway 49. From the same parking lot a short trail would
lead west to an already constructed underpass that would provide
equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers with passage to trails on
the west side of Salmon Falls Road. The total budget for this project is $200,000. ARC has $40,000 in trail development funds on
hand and recently received a $15,000 trail development grant from
REI. Fundraising for the project will continue with donations
gladly accepted from all parties interested in furthering multipleuse trails in this part of western El Dorado County.
Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm
ARC continues to stabilize and restore the historic buildings on this 272-acre historic farm, build interpretive kiosks and
trails, provide tours, and prepare for the initial organic farming of
10 acres west of Cold Springs Road. In June, ARC worked with
CalFire to complete a prescribed burn over 86 acres in order to
control yellow starthistle without herbicides. The historic 1856
barn (first rebuilt in 1899) received crucial stabilization work in
July and the restoration of a farm manager’s residence was also
started. An irrigation
system for 10 acres of an organic produce farm is also being completed. Expanded educational tours for school groups that explore this first Japanese colony site are planned for 2013.
Please get involved in the many extraordinary projects coordinated by ARC. Sign up for a hike. Donate
and volunteer on a work crew. Help us sustain the health and fascinating diversity of our foothill community.
page 3 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
...continued from page 1
Where does ARC get funds to support its operations?
Historically, a majority of ARC’s revenue has come from the public and private sectors in the form of grants
and donations for land conservation efforts. Proposition 50 and, most recently, Proposition 84, have provided land
trusts and conservancies with bond funding in the form of competitive statewide grant programs. Many private
foundations and philanthropic organizations also administer grant funds which are often needed to provide a funding match for state programs. The local community also helps provide funding for a local match. For example,
when the ARC receives a $2 million grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board or Natural Resources Agency to
protect important habitat or recreational land, we use 100% of those funds to purchase land from willing sellers for
fair market value. Following a successful project, we may receive a donation from a generous partner-landowner,
which in turn goes to support staff time, programs, and overhead expenses. As we’ve seen public funding dwindle
over the last few years, additional revenue sources have become integral in supporting ARC’s programs. Our stewardship program is successful in one respect because of all the hours put in by our beloved volunteers. We wouldn’t
accomplish half of what we do without all that “free” labor. In addition, staff still must carry out the program and
thus funding is sought after in the form of grants and private donations. The Conservancy has been successful in
securing grant funds from foundations like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS), local sources such as the El Dorado Community Foundation and corporate foundations like Patagonia, REI, and Teichert.
Our education programs are supported through grants and private donations like the rest of our programs.
Support from the Outdoor Industry Association and companies like The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Royal
Robbins, and REI have helped the education department grow and expand its reach into the regional and national
community. Local foundations and businesses have offered support through small grants that go towards reducing
the cost of programs for low and middle income schools and children. In addition, schools support the Conservancy
through program fees whenever they sign up for a class. (The education department offers close to 20 different
classes, all tailored to specific grade levels and content standards). Families support our affordable summer camp
programs through registration fees. (We have 10 weeks of Summer Camp programming each year!)
What does ARC do with the land once it has been preserved?
The Conservancy can preserve land in many ways, but the most common methods are through fee title
acquisition and conservation easements. As in the case of parcels like Cronan Ranch and Magnolia Ranch, the Conservancy worked with willing sellers to purchase the land outright. As the Conservancy is not equipped to serve as a
land manager of thousands of acres, a majority of the fee title acquisitions are transferred over to public agencies like
the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Fish and Game, or California State Parks. For many of the acquisitions, it is the intent of the ARC and the agencies to open up the land for the public’s benefit to be used for recreational purposes. For limited access acquisitions, ARC’s intent is to preserve endangered species habitat that is managed differently because of the sensitivity of the ecosystem. The Pine Hill Preserve is a good example of this type of
management practice. The Pine Hill Preserve is managed through a consortium of agencies, all of which work to protect the eight rare plants (five of which are listed by the Federal Endangered Species Act). Three of these plants are
endemic to the Preserve, meaning they are subspecies found nowhere else in the world but right here in our
“backyard.”
In addition to fee title acquisitions, the Conservancy can also protect land through conservation easements.
Conservation easements allow landowners to protect the natural resources and conservation values of their property
while still retaining ownership of the land. The easement, a legally binding document, runs with the land even as it
is passed from one owner to another. For example, ARC can purchase a conservation easement from a rancher,
prohibiting future subdivision and development, while the rancher continues to live on the property and graze his/
her livestock. Every easement is different and it is up to individual landowners working with the American River
Conservancy to decide which rights they would like to retain and/or protect. Continued on page 4...
Once an organization loses its spirit of pioneering and rests on its early
work, its progress stops. -Thomas J. Watson
page 4 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
… Continued from page 3.
The Conservancy has used conservation easements to protect 3,743 acres of working landscapes, river access, and
wildlife habitat in the American River and Cosumnes River watersheds.
So it seems all the land that ARC purchases and preserves goes to public agencies?
Not entirely. With the changing culture of land conservation, the Conservancy is finding itself as the landowner on a number of recent purchases. With government austerity measures, it can be difficult transferring land
over to public agencies that are seeing their budgets cut and staff reduced. The recently acquired Wakamatsu Tea
and Silk Colony Farm is, in one case, a prime example of ARC embarking on a new endeavor and land conservation model. The Conservancy has maintained ownership of the site and has chosen to steward it using a more entrepreneurial model. While simultaneously embarking on a long-term habitat restoration and enhancement project,
ARC has also leased ten acres to two farmers in order to bring a working sustainable agricultural operation to the
property. These farmers plan to establish a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program and a roadside farm
stand, where passers-by can purchase seasonal produce. Portions of the site will be transformed over time with
funding from outside sources to establish a cultural center and demonstration farm that will interpret the many
residents of the site – from the Nissenan to the Gold Rush era to the Graner Vineyard to Japanese settlement and on
through the Veerkamp ranch and dairy. This new project has the potential to be an economic engine for our local
community, bringing in additional tourists to visit the historical structures and creating jobs through the growth of
a sustainable farm operation that could see expansion over the next decade.
Hopefully my answers to these FAQs give some insight how ARC does what it does. We would not be as
successful as we have been over the past 23 years if not for the donations, volunteer hours, and devotion of our
loyal supporters. The landscape of land conservation is changing. The Conservancy is beginning a paradigm shift;
we are beginning to look at new models that will sustain the organization well into the future so we can keep this
going for another 23 years. As you look through this edition of the Current, really look at what ARC is doing for
the larger community. For some, we are seen as a land conservation organization. Others view us as an educational
entity that fosters the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. For many, we are an avenue to get involved and
make a difference in the landscape via stewardship projects. ARC is all of these things, and we are most effective
when all of these things come together in one unifying mission – to preserve rivers and land for life. That means all
life – both of the humankind and of the “wild” kind.
Camp Funnies
While looking for critters in the pond, a counselor asks a question.
Counselor: Do you know what kind of frogs live in the pond? Pause.
Bull frogs.
Camper: How come there are no “girl” frogs?”
While bird-watching with binoculars and a small group of campers, a
biplane flies overhead.
4-year-old camper: “Ooo, look at that hawk.”
Campers at 6-8 year-old camp: I’m a stomp-a-saurus!
At the bird feather station, a few counselors show the campers a variety of feathers and how they are made from
keratin. A 5-year-old camper picks up the feather and starts to feel it; in a seductive voice he exclaims, “Oh yeah, baby.”
A 10-year-old camper starts to panic when a bee comes near her. In an effort to reassure her, another 10-year-old
camper tells her: “Don’t worry she doesn’t have your identification. She won’t find you again.”
On the overnight campout, a 9-year-old asks Molly what time they are going to bed.
Molly: At bed-o-clock.
9-year old camper: Oh, that’s past my bedtime.
page 5 The Current
Education Update
Nature + Science + ARC’s Education Programs =
Magic
Teachers and parents! Bring the magic of science
and nature into your students’ classroom. We are taking
reservations for 2012-2013 school programs and field
trips. With nearly 20 programs to choose from for
preschool through high school, select your favorite
outdoor field trip or program at your school. Single and
multi-day programs are hands-on, exciting, and meet
science content standards. Visit www.arconservancy.org/
education for descriptions and science standards
covered. Contact Molly ([email protected]) to
sign up – some scholarships available.
Don’t forget to sign up for these popular
programs – we do fill up! 2011-2012 school was quite a
busy one. We had over 3200 students from 31 different
schools participate in our education programs. Over
1000 students joined us at one our special environmental
education events or booths. This does not include the
countless visitors who stopped by the American River
Nature Center.
Summer Camp in the Air
Nature’s in the Air, this year’s Nature Camp, was
wildly successful with nearly 130 campers singing,
hiking, and exploring upwards! Look for camp funnies
on page 4 and a detailed thanks to our extraordinary
teen and adult volunteers in the camp color insert.
Participants for Epic Sierra, ARC’s teen travel
program, came from far and wide – one drove from San
Luis Obispo and another flew in from France. While EE
staff helped lead Epic trips, we also brought on several
seasonal staff. Taylor McClanahan took a break from
working at a Southern California hospital and returned
for another year of Epic fun. Rachel Karp brought her
experience and expertise from leading trips for UC San
Diego’s Outback Adventures.
.
We also had extra Epic help from local Union
Mine High School teachers Rich Kientz and Molly
Smith. Rich shared his passion for Lake Tahoe and
standup paddleboarding with the first 14-day Rocks,
Rivers, and Ranges trip. Molly Smith lent her historical
expertise on the second 14-day trip with an in-depth interpretation of Bodie State Historical Park.
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
Homeschool Tuesdays
Time: 10:15am-12pm – please note the earlier time!
Recommended Ages: 6-10
Price for the 8 Program Series (September-May):
$120 for ARC members/$140 for non-members
Location: Nature Center, unless otherwise noted
Each session occurs the third Tuesday of each month – starting
September 18th. This year we are excited to share some of our
popular school field trips with our homeschool students. All
programs include a 1-hour Nature Center program and a unique
45-minute hike. All programs include hands-on activities,
games, and science content standards. We accept vouchers from
Am. River Charter, South Sutter, Twin Ridges, and Vision
Charter School. If you prefer, you may pay for each program
($16 for ARC members/$20 for non-members).
Have to Have a Habitat
Tuesday, September 18th
Water, Food, Shelter, Space, Air: What do these five things
have in common? A skit by the students reveals critical
needs of all living things, including humans! Work
together in small groups to create mini-habitats and then
play an outdoor game to reinforce the concepts learned.
On our hike, we will also investigate aquatic and land
habitats. Please arrive at 10am if you would like to visit the
Nature Center before our program begins.
Maidu Trails
Tuesday, October 16th
Students will hike to an authentic grinding rock site as we
discover California Indian plant uses and their relationship with this land. Learn how to identify different oaks
and consider how humans and other organisms
depend (ed) on oak trees for food and shelter. Lastly, we
will examine tools the Native Americans used and prepare
acorns as human food!
Amazing Adaptations
Tuesday, November 20th
How do beaks, feathers, and furs help animals survive?
Students become the teachers during a “professor walk” to
various hands-on learning stations (with furs, skulls, and
beaks) and enjoy an interactive game.
Email [email protected] or call to sign up – (530) 621-1224.
Upcoming sessions: Winter Wonders, Incredible Insects, Water’s
Incredible Journey, Plant Detectives, and Web of Life Scavenger Hunt.
page 6 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
Hunger Pangs?
By Cathy Ciofalo
Are you hungry? Got a race coming up? Want free food? The food used by Native
Americans for everyday meals also provided special meals for growing children and ailing
adults.
Look around for an oak tree and
you will find acorns in the fall. This small fruit contains a powerhouse of
nutrition. Rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fats, acorns also contain
the valuable minerals calcium, phosphorus and potassium, and the vitamin niacin. How rich? Depending on species, acorns can range in fat
content from 1.1 percent to 31.3 percent, protein from 2.3 percent to 8.6
percent, and carbohydrates from 32.7 percent to 89.7 percent. Soup, biscuits, cakes, breakfast cereal, the acorn was an
all-occasion
food.
The story goes that acorns were given to growing boys to make
them strong. “With boys that are wrestling and running, you give them
acorns to build up their strength,” said Beverly Ortiz in her book “After
the First Full Moon in April.” She also mentioned that acorns are well
tolerated when stomach troubles strike. Bake an acorn biscuit, put it in
your pocket, and savor the nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
There are many resources on the web to find way to collect and
process acorns. After collecting and preparing, you are ready to cook.
You can find mouthwatering recipes at http://honest-food.net such
as acorn cakes baked with honey and flavored with ginger, acorn pasta,
acorn grits, and acorn tortillas. All this free for the harvesting.
PROGRAM & HIKE LEADERS
THANK YOU!
As usual, we had a great line-up of
summer hikes and events. Many thanks to all
of our amazing Wakamatsu docents, hike
leaders, and volunteers who gave their time
to teach a class, workshop, or lecture
including John Robert Cornell, Donna Orth,
Marcia Paulson, Kay Osborn, Sheila Toner,
David Rosen, Susan Keale, and the Gold
Trail Grange in Coloma for hosting movie
nights. Thanks, Alice Butler!
If you have an idea for a hike or
program or would like to lead or teach one,
please contact [email protected] or
call 530-621-1224.
Tahlia and her family
decided to collect and
make donations to ARC
in lieu of accepting
birthday presents.
Volunteer Tracy Celio,
while looking for fairies, led the partygoers
on a nature hike at Dave
Moore Nature Area.
We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom
generates action. -Frank Tibolt
page 7 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
PROGRAM CALENDAR
September 2012
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
October 2012
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
7
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
November 2012
Thursday
Friday
Sunday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
Columbus Day
Labor Day
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
28
29
30
31
Veterans Day
18
Thanksgiving
Day
Halloween
25
30
Tuesday the 4th
Saturday the 8th
Thursday the 13th
Saturday the 15th
Saturday the 15th
Tuesday the 18th
Saturday the 22nd
Saturday the 22nd
Sunday the 23rd
Friday the 28th
Saturday the 29th
Tuesday the 2nd
Wednesday the 3rd
Friday the 5th
Saturday the 6th
Saturday the 13th
from Cuba
Saturday the 13th
Sunday the 14th
Tuesday the 16th
Saturday the 20th
Sunday the 21st
Friday the 26th
Saturday the 27th
Saturday the 3rd
Sunday the 4th
Tuesday the 6th
Saturday the 10th
Friday the 16th
Saturday the 17th
Tuesday the 20th
Thursday the 6th
26
27
28
29
30
SEPTEMBER 2012
5-8pm
Angling Evenings at Wakamatsu
10am-12pm
Bike Ride along the American River Trail
6-8pm
Australian Rain Forest-Photo Tour
10:30am-12pm
KDD-Live Silkworm Presentation & Picnic
all day
Great Sierra River Clean-up
10:15am-12pm
Home School Tuesday
11am-1pm
Introduction to Therapeutic Essential Oils
9-11am
Wakamatsu Historical Tours
1-4pm
Foothill Native Plant Walk
6-8pm
Native American Flute Class & Jam Session
9am-2pm
Walk with Trees, River, and Stones
OCTOBER 2012
5-8pm
Angling Evenings at Wakamatsu
7-9pm
The Spirit of Bhutan
6-8pm
The Russian Influence-200th Ft. Ross Anniv.
4:30-7:30pm
Japanese Drumming Workshop
11am-12 & 1-2pm
“Two Baby Herons”-Folklore
9-11am
10am-1pm
10:15am-12pm
9am-4pm
9-11am
1:30-5pm
10am-3:30pm
Union Mine H.S. teacher
Rich Kienitz paddles
with an Epic 2012
participant
Wakamatsu Historical Tours
Edible Acorns
Home School Tuesday
Bullion Mine Hike
Wakamatsu Historical Tours
How to use Poles
How to use Poles
NOVEMBER 2012
10am-3pm
Soapstone Carving Class
8am-12pm
Bird Walk at Brown’s Ravine
TBD
Angling Evenings at Wakamatsu
9am-4pm
Pine Needle Basket-Making Class
8-10 am
Dog Hike at Cronan Ranch
9-11am
Wakamatsu Historical Tours
10:15am-12pm
Home School Tuesday
DECEMBER 2012
5-8pm
Winter Dinner
Non-profit Member of
The American River Conservancy is a member
of Earth Share of California, providing charitable giving opportunities in the workplace. For
The secret of getting ahead is getting started. -Sally Berger
more information on how you can get involved
with one or more of these programs, contact the
Conservancy.
page 8 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
PROGRAMS PLUS
KDD-LIVE SILKWORM PRESENTATION & PICNIC
Saturday, September 15th 10:30am – 12:00 pm
ARC volunteer Nora Winkler will bring her
freshly hatched batch of silkworm larvae to ARC’s
property rich in Japanese history. Here she will share
her love of this amazing insect, its long history, legend, and metamorphosis. Come observe the larvae consume mulberry leaves while Nora spins
her own cocoon of stories. Short walk to picnic area to follow. Parent
supervision essential. Please call for reservations and meeting location
(Gold Hill/Placerville area). Cost: Members/FREE, Non-members/$5.
WAKAMATSU HISTORICAL TOURS-FEATURING WINE TASTING 2-DAYS IN OCTOBER (COMPLIMENTS OF DAVID GIRARD WINERY)
September 22nd, October 13th and 21st, and November 17th, 9 – 11am
Join trained docents for a historical tour of property recently
acquired by ARC. This ranch is an interesting mosaic of springs, streams,
wetlands, blue and live oak forest, sweeping vistas and prime agricultural
soil. Ranch ponds and the small lake are a draw for wildlife, particularly
migratory waterfowl during the winter and early spring. Along with its
beauty, learn about the rich history of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm,
the 1st Japanese Colony site established America in 1869. This tour includes
the Graner house, dairy, barn, property and gravesite. Mature children 12+
welcome (21+ only for October wine tours). October is Okei San month at David
Girard Vineyards (DGV). In honor of the first known Japanese colonist buried on
American Soil, DGV Winemaker has created a premium Okei San wine. A portion
of the profits for Okei San is donated to ARC for the Wakamatsu project. DGV is
offering a special complimentary wine tasting of Okei San following the October 13
& 21 tours. Please call for meeting location (Gold Hill area) and to sign up.
Cost: $5/Children 12+ years old, $10/Adults (18+).
FOOTHILL NATIVE PLANT WALK (RIPARIAN TO WOODLAND)
Sunday, September 23rd 2 - 4 pm
This walk will start at Lotus Valley Natives, a small native plant
nursery. The nursery will serve as an outdoor classroom where we can
examine and compare plant adaptations to foothill habitats and the
California climate. From there we will walk down to the river and then up
through oak woodland into the forest to see and identify native plants in
their natural settings. Led by biologist Jinnah Benn and botanist Mahala
Guggino, who both grew up in the Lotus Valley. Some elevation change,
short walk, beginner level. Age 8+ welcome. Contact ARC to sign up and
for meeting location (Lotus area). Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/
non-members.
WALK WITH TREES, RIVER, AND STONES
Saturday, September 29th 9 am – 2 pm
The intention of the walk is to experience a fluid intimacy with
nature. We won't emphasize naming or "getting there." Instead we'll try out
simple and interesting methods to focus attention and widen awareness on
the trail. These practices often lead to grace-filled moments of aliveness and
joy beyond our ordinary boundaries. Perhaps some of us will touch the
mystery and presence in nature's beings and forces…(see website for full
description). Contact ARC to sign up and for meeting location (Placerville
area). Suggested Donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.
BULLION MINE HIKE
Saturday, October 20th 9am – 4 pm
The hike takes us across the old Ralston/Tillotson mule trail near
Foresthill. We will view bed-rock mortars of an early Maidu village…(see
website for full description). The total distance will be about 5 miles, or 8
miles including Sunny South. Please call for reservations and meeting
location (Coloma area). Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/nonmembers.
BIRD WALK AT BROWN’S RAVINE
Sunday November 4th 8 am – 12 pm
Woodpeckers and songbirds are active in
this area during the fall, and raptors are also a good
possibility. The nearby lake attracts grebes and other
diving birds. Shorebirds can sometimes be found
around the marina. Leading this walk are: Tim
Jackson, who maintains a website on local birds, and
Angela Jackson, who’s a writer/photographer. This is a
3- mile hike, unpaved with little elevation change.
8-year-olds + welcome. Contact ARC to sign up and for meeting location (El
Dorado Hills area). Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.
DOG HIKE AT CRONAN RANCH
Friday, November 16th 8 – 10 am
Join volunteer and local resident Gail Cline for a casual walk at
ARC’s “claim-to-fame,” Cronan Ranch. For well-socialized dogs only bring leashes. We will discuss canine control, effects on wildlife, and
practice some basic training. This will be an easy walk on gentle hills.
Approximately 3-4 miles. All ages welcome. Please call for meeting location
(Pilot Hill area) and to sign up. Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/nonmembers.
AUSTRALIAN RAIN-FOREST—PHOTOGRAPHICAL TOUR
Thursday, September 13th 6—8pm
Australian tropical rainforests – natural history, science and
conservation. Trevor Whiffin has travelled in and studied rainforests in
South America, Mexico and Central America, Papua New Guinea, and
more particularly Australia. In this talk he will introduce you to the
tropical rainforests of Australia, which cover just a small fraction of the
land area of this, the most arid of the inhabited continents, but which have
a scientific and conservation importance equal to or exceeding that of any
rainforest in the world. He will illustrate the unique flora and fauna, and
discuss the reasons for the importance these rainforests. Please call for
reservations and meeting location (Coloma area). Suggested donation: $5/
members, $10/non-members.
All events require sign-ups
Please contact [email protected] or
530-621-1224
See our website for full descriptions at
www.arconservancy.org/activities
page 9 The Current
INTRODUCTION TO THERAPEUTIC ESSENTIAL OILS
Saturday, September 22nd 1 1am – 1 pm
Learn how therapeutic grade essential oils may help improve
your overall health and well-being and how to create your own home first
-aid kit. During the last century, antibiotics and prescriptions dominated
over natural remedies...(see website for full description.) Responsible
teens and older are welcome. Contact ARC to sign up and for meeting
location (Lotus area). Cost: $12/members, $15/non-members.
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
PINE NEEDLE BASKET CLASS
Saturday, November 10th 9 am – 4 pm
Come learn the technique of coiling and how to start a basket
out of pine needles in this one day workshop led by basket maker
and ARC member, Nettie Fox. This class is appropriate for all levels,
beginning through advanced …(see website for full description.) Contact
ARC to sign up and for meeting location (Coloma area). Cost: $40/
members, $50/non-members.
THE RUSSIAN INFLUENCE – 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF FT. ROSS
Friday, October 5th 6-8pm
After her great Donner Pass presentation, I had to ask volunteer
and historian, Sheila Toner back again for more history…200 years ago the
Russians arrived in California to establish a colony in Sonoma County.
Learn about their settlements at Ft Ross, and Bodega Bay. They only
stayed about 30 years, but left a little discussed but lasting imprint and
impact on California…(see website for full description). Contact ARC to
sign up and for meeting location (Coloma area). Cost: $5/members or $10/
non-members.
JAPANESE DRUMMING WORKSHOP
Saturday, October 6th 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Come and learn the powerful art of Taiko (Japanese
drumming)! Taiko is a comprehensive art form that includes elements of
music, dance, martial arts, theater, and team sports. No experience or
musical ability is necessary. We will cover everything from the history of
the art form to learning an entire song!…(see website for full description).
Ages 9+ welcome. Contact ARC to sign up and for meeting location
(Coloma area). Cost: $35/Members, $10/adults, $45/non-members.
EDIBLE ACORNS
Sunday, October 14th 10 am – 1 pm
In this workshop, expect to learn about our local oaks, their
importance to people and wildlife, and their long history of use by people
around the world and locally. We will prepare acorns, grinding and
leaching, and cook and taste them. Yum…(see website for full
description). Space is limited. Please call for reservations and meeting
location (Coloma area). Cost: $10/members, $15/non-members.
HOW TO USE POLES FOR BALANCE, MOBILITY, AND BASIC WALKING
Friday, October 26th 1:30-5pm
Learn skills to help improve balance, endurance, posture, confidence, walking gait, agility, function and strength. Feel Taller! Easy-tolearn techniques & gentle exercises help people with mobility challenges
navigate everyday obstacles and strengthen muscles that support your
joints…(see website for full description). Contact ARC to sign up and for
meeting location (Coloma area). Cost: $40/members, $50/non-members.
HOW TO USE POLES FOR HIKING AND OUTDOOR EXERCISE
Saturday, October 27th 10 am – 3:30 pm
Power with poles! Using your whole body while hiking or
walking feels good, is terrific exercise, and can maintain (and even restore)
spine function. ...(see website for full description) Contact ARC to sign up
and for meeting location (Coloma area). Cost: $50/members, $60/nonmembers.
SOAPSTONE CARVING CLASS
Saturday, November 3rd 10 am – 3 pm
Back by popular demand! Join ARC volunteer, James Marquez,
and reveal your hidden talents while learning this ancient craft of
soapstone carving. He will discuss some of the history and culture of this
art before passing along his knowledge of technique and style. No previous experience or abilities required. Everyone takes home their beautifully
created sculpture. Twelve-year-olds + welcome. Please call for meeting
location (Coloma area) and to sign up. Space is limited. Cost: $15/
members, $20/non-members.
ANGLING EVENINGS AT THE WAKAMATSU COLONY FARM
First Tuesday of each month (September through November) Evening
times TBD
ARC is partnering with the El Dorado Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a monthly fishing night at the Wakamatsu Colony Farm in Gold
Hill. Try your hand at casting techniques, catch a few bass and enjoy the
serenity of the 8-acre lake at the historic farm. Participants MUST have a
valid CA fishing license to fish. Adults (18 and older) only please. Rain or
shine. Please call to sign up, time, and meeting location (Gold Hill/
Placerville area). Cost: $10/members, $15/non-members.
BIKE RIDE ALONG THE AMERICAN RIVER TRAIL
Saturday, September 8th 10am-12pm (come earlier
if renting bikes)
Either rent a bike or bring your own…
Enjoy the beautiful trails along the American
River bike trail in Folsom. Tony Cervantes, an
ARC volunteer and biker, will be leading this
ride and talking about the river, its rich history,
and its importance to the community. Stay and enjoy lunch along the river
too. ARC is partnering with Bicycles Plus for this ride. Rental cost is $8/hr.
or $25/day. Ask for an ARC discount. Cost: $10/members, $15/nonmembers (on top of rental fee).
NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE CLASS AND GROUP JAM
Friday, September 28th 6 – 8 pm
Come enjoy the music of Greg Keifer and Mike Ely of the Loping
Wolf Flute Clan. They will teach you how to play the flute, read simple
music, and experiment with several instruments. They will also discuss
the Native American history of the flute. If you own a Native American
flute, drum, or rain stick, bring them along and jam with the clan. Contact
ARC to sign up and for meeting location (Coloma area). Suggested donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.
THE SPIRIT OF BHUTAN-LAND OF MYSTERY AND MAGIC
Wednesday, October 3rd 7-9pm
Philip Liberman, his wife Sarah (Hilali) Ramsay, and his son
Joshua Liberman spent 17 glorious days traveling through Magical
Bhutan, a land shrouded in mystery and legend…(see website for full
description). Call for reservations and meeting location (Coloma area).
Suggested Donation: $5/members, $10/non-members.
“TWO BABY HERONS” - FOLKLORE FROM CUBA
(TWO SHOWING TIMES AND POTLUCK)
Saturday, October 13th 11 am – 12 pm and 2 – 3 pm (Lunch 12:30-1:30pm)
This story, which has been adapted for US audiences, is told in a
unique combination of art and drama. Shadows on screens, sound effects,
and storytelling are combined to make this folklore story come to life.
Participants will learn all eight bird sounds, and the name of each species
correctly. ...(see website for full description.) Contact ARC to sign up and
for meeting location (Coloma area). Cost: $5/children, $10/adults, or $30/
family.
page 10 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Contact Judith for the following events,
at (530) 621-1224 or [email protected]
The Nature Center has two volunteer openings, one
for Thursdays and one for Saturdays, both from 11am
to 3pm. We need help with gardening, cleaning and
organizing, greeting visitors, and general office help.
Carpenter needed to make recycle bins.
Help needed for the...
Another great opportunity to be a good steward of
local waterways. Volunteer with ARC and the local
Resource Conservation Districts to pick up trash and
debris from seven local spots in the American River
and Cosumnes River watersheds. Please contact
Manny De Aquino ([email protected]) or
Laura Hayes ([email protected]) to register.
Vacaville High School COR (Conservation and Outdoor Recreation)
Club came by Dave Moore Nature Area for a Scotch broom
pull. Check out what they did!
Rio de los Americanos (American River)
by Elizabeth Rocke (volunteer)
I have a fascination for rivers and streams.
The American River Conservancy encouraged me in
my quest. Whether working on a trail, or the night
walk in Dave Moore Park down to the American, or a
stream cleanup in Placerville, or a walk by a stream or
hiking with a llama, it was worth it.
As you all know, rivers, and their smaller
brothers stream and creeks, give life and strength to
the land. Such a river is the American. Its watershed
drains a large part of the central Sierra Nevada, and
thus provides water for plants, wild animals and yes,
for humans. That is why a conservancy exists: to
preserve the land in something like a natural state so
that it can be enjoyed and fulfill its function.
I'll start with my experience high up with the
streams and then with the American River near
Coloma. The American is fed by myriad smaller
streams. They bear names like French, Otter, and
maybe most evocative of all: Knickerbocker Creek.
Were the men who named this creek homesick?
These streams gurgle and chuckle, and fall among the
rocks that are the backbone and bare ribs of the land.
For now as then, these heights take an
adventuresome spirit and endurance. Now as then,
they render gold. I think I can still hear the grunts
and cries of those men who crossed the plains and
labored along the banks of these streams to wrest the
golden flakes, and if they were very lucky, nuggets.
In the valley where James Marshall discovered
shiny metal, the American is a river. Not yet as full as
it will become, but still substantial enough. Along
with the ubiquitous oaks, pines cluster close to the
shore, and rocks break the smooth flow of the water
into gurgles and chuckles and roars.
One should not, they say, give human voices
to an inanimate object and yet this is what I hear.
Since I have an historic frame of mind, it is also irresistible to imagine the town of Coloma, and the gold
miners that thronged its banks, each one staking out
an area in which to work. That is why I support the
American River Conservancy. Our children and our
children's children need to have the same experience
as I have had.
From small beginnings come great things. -Proverb
page 11 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
Fall Planting Tips
by Amy Hoffman
One way that ARC helps take care of land is by the planting native plants to improve habitat. In
the foothills, the best planting time is the fall around late September and into October. Ideally,
you plant when the soil is warm, but the weather is not too hot, and there is some soil moisture
already (or soon to come) from the first rain. Planting then allows the roots to grow throughout
the fall and winter, so the plant is better established before the summer heat and drought hits. Also, the (typically)
dependable rainfall in fall means that you don’t have to water the new plant as much, and the cooler weather helps
lessen the pest and disease problems. Yet another benefit of planting in the fall is that many nurseries have their
best sales! Some excellent choices of native plants sold by nurseries for home landscaping are: oaks, redbud, toyon,
Manzanita, wild lilac (ceanothus), dwarf coyote brush, deergrass, California fuschia (hummingbird flower), and
wild grape. Fall is also a good time to plant seeds of wildflowers like California poppies and lupines.
Now that you know why to plant in fall, some tips to help you succeed are:
1) Take a good look at your site, and select native plants that are well suited to your conditions. Walk at Cronan
Ranch or the State Park, and note what plants are native there and are growing under conditions similar to your
home landscape. Choosing plants that are native to your local landscape’s community helps ensure the best success
rate in your plantings, and also provides additional habitat for native wildlife. Depending upon the adaptability of
the plant, you can grow native plants that are from other communities, but you will generally have to work harder
to provide the growing conditions (additional water, shade, soil amendments, etc.) that the plant needs to live.
2) Buy plants and seeds from local nurseries as much as possible. Nurseries that grow stock propagated from
locally sourced plants and seeds are generally producing plants that are more likely to thrive because they are
already acclimated to the area. Stay away from plants that show a lot of lush top growth (may be over-fertilized),
are root-bound in the pots, or smell foul at the drainage hole (root rot).
3) Take time and care when planting. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the size of the rootball. Make sure the
rootball is moist before removing the plant from the container. Loosen the edges of any rootball that has formed a
tight mat and spread the roots out, and set the plant into the hole. Fill in around the plant with the same soil you
removed to make the hole, and gently tamp down, then water. The crown of the plant (where the stem meets the
root) should be less than one inch above the original ground level.
4) Check often and water throughout the first year. Even though native plants survive in nature on the seasonal
rainfall, all natives newly planted into the landscape need water to establish in the first year after planting.
Especially if there are long periods between rains, or if the temperature drops so that the soil freezes, the plants may
need supplemental watering. After the first year, it really depends upon the plant as to whether you can stop
watering. Plants that are outside of their natural range, or that naturally grow in moister or cooler conditions than
your home landscape, may need ongoing watering.
5) Mulch two to four inches deep, but keep the mulch several inches away from the crown area of plants. Mulch
reduces water evaporation from soil, suppresses weeds, and helps to moderate soil temperature. If you use an
organic mulch like leaf litter, wood chips, or bark, the mulch will gradually add nutrients and improve the soil
structure as they decompose.
For more information, refer to “California Native Plant for the Garden”, by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart
O’Brien, or “Native Treasures,” by M. Nevin Smith.
page 12 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
VOLUNTEER PROFILE - Andy Moffitt
By Elena DeLacy
I recently worked with 16 year-old Andy Moffitt, who
completed an Eagle Scout Service Project to benefit the American River
Conservancy’s Wakamatsu Colony Farm. Andy is a junior attending
El Dorado High School, and has been involved with Boy Scout Troop
117 in Shingle Springs for several years. Andy and I first met in 2011
when he first began the process of selecting and planning the project.
After discussing several different project ideas, he decided to construct
trail signage and two benches for the Wakamatsu Colony Farm site.
Andy was very eager to work at the Wakamatsu property, as he had
attended Gold Trail School and learned about the unique history of the
Japanese Colony site, just a short walk from the school. Andy chose
this project specifically because of a desire to help preserve and exhibit
the property’s historical significance. I was quite impressed with the quality of work and dedication that Andy
showed during his Eagle Scout Service Project. Andy has done a wonderful job of carrying on where his older
brother Sam left off. In 2010 Sam constructed a weed-cleaning station and bench on the South Fork American River
Trail, in partnership with the BLM and American River Conservancy.
Not only was this an opportunity for him to demonstrate leadership of others, Andy also performed a
service to the benefit of his community. Andy and the twelve volunteers he recruited put in a total of 200 hours to
make his project a reality. Thank you, Andy!
Secrets of the American River Conservancy
By Molly Hucklebridge
For kicks, take the quiz below and see how well you know ARC.
1.
Which of the following lands were acquired by ARC?
A. Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park in Pilot Hill (682
acres)
B. Mt. Murphy and Van Noord properties – adding 286
acres to Marshall Gold Discovery Park
C. Pinehill Ecological Preserve and Kanaka Valley in
Cameron Park (1,957 acres)
D. Buck’s Bar Rock Climbing Area on the Cosumnes River
E. All of the Above
2. To date, ARC has protected approximately ______ acres of
land.
A. 300
B. 1,300
C. 13,000
D. 130,000
3. ARC staff raises funds to protect lands and river corridors in
which watershed (s)?
A. American River Watershed
B. Cosumnes River Watershed
C. Sacramento Watershed
D. American River and Cosumnes River Watersheds
E. American, Cosumnes, and Sacramento River Watersheds
4. What is a watershed?
A. A shed to store water
B. A fancy name for a river and the land next to it
C. An area of land where all the water (creeks, rain, snow,
groundwater) drains to the same place
D. Water runoff
5. Which of the following volunteer opportunities are available
at ARC?
A. Building trails on local lands
B. Helping garden at the Nature Center
C. Guiding visitors at the Nature Center (Docent)
D. Leading hikes or assisting Environmental Education staff
with school programs
E. Helping with special events: TrailFest, Nature Bowl, or
the Wakamatsu Tea & Silk Colony Festival
F. All of the Above
6. The American River Conservancy offers ____ different pre-K,
Elementary, Middle and High School programs (at your
school or off site) and ___ weeks of summer Nature Camp
programs.
A. 5, 5
B. 5, 10
C. 10, 10
D. 20, 10
E. 20, 5
page 13 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
EDDIES… VOLUNTEERING IN SUMMER 2012
Many thanks to our Summer quarter volunteers, logging in nearly two thousand hours! Our final numbers will be announced
at the Winter Dinner, our annual event to honor ARC volunteers. The Wakamatsu Festival could not have happened without
the many hours put into stewardship prepping the property, building kiosks and signs, cleaning, setting up and tearing down,
not to speak of the volunteers who worked the event. TrailFest, as well, had over 500 hours logged by community members
completing behind-the-scene organizing. Nature Camp will also add a major portion of the quarter hours, thanks to all the
great Counselors and volunteer adult supervisors (see insert). Thank you to the Nature Center volunteers for their loyalty in
committing to a regular schedule. They have watered and weeded the grounds and cleaned inside, helped with data entry,
mass mailings, general repairs, and greeting visitors. Thank you to the Public Program Leaders for their workshops,
lectures, and hikes. River cleanups continue through September, thanks to the river community for helping our rivers. All staff
wants to express their appreciation to volunteers in all capacities for helping ARC to accomplish its goals.
Adlar, Ytzik
Ahola Family
Allen, Ed
Allen, Joanne
Allyn.Carl
Almerez, Roberta
AmeriCorps, SNAP
Andersen, Ashton
Anderson, Blake
Anderson, Terry
Andert, Julie
Bailey, Carol
Barmeyer, Toby
Beatriz, Dorothy
Beaulaurier, Diane
Beed, Morgan
Bennett, Helen
Bennett, Sarah
Booth, James
Borelli, Patty
Boyes, Becca & Bob
Boyes, Lynnee
Bramlette, Jason
Brooks-Freer, Heather
Brown, Dawn
Butler, Alice
Callos, Eleni
Campbell, Marcia
Cantin, Candis
Carlson, Greg
Carr, Rod
Carroll, Keely
Carter, Eric
Carver, Dave
Carver, Terrie
Casazza, Kyla
Castro, Julie
Celio, Tracy (Beverly)
Center, Bill
Center, Robin
Cervantes, Tony
Charley, Sarah
Chutka, Tristan
Ciofalo, Catherine
Clegg, Laura
Clement, Alison
Coco MD, Dale
Coen, Andrew
Coletti, Gina
Collins, Clint
Coolidge, Trevor
Cornell, John-Robert
Cope, Kasey
Covington, Susan
Coyle, Mari
Curtis-Morgan, Kendall
Cushman, Faith
Dale, John & Karen
Dalton, Robert
Davidson, Erin
De Aquino, Mary & Martha
DeLacy, Elena
Dickinson, Brandon
DiLullo, Ken
Donahue, Shannon
Dotson, Michael
Dowell, Jed
Dowell, Josiah
Edelhofer, Satomi
Edwards, Beverly
Edwards, Laurie
Eells, Derek
Egland, Summer
Ehrgott, Alan
Epp, Hiliary
Evans, Loyd & Pam
Facino, Madalin
Fedler, Mike
Fentress, Mike
Ferreira, Diane
Finney-Stephens, Gillian
Fogg, Alissa
Fox, Nettie
Frame, Colin
Galdal, Patti
Garber, Devin
Geggatt, Joanne
Gershon, Keith
Giles, John & Mary Lou
Gossett, Judith
Granados, Marcelo
Griley, Paul
Guglieri, Wendy
Haines, Mark
Haisht, Chris
Hanses, Myrna
Hao, Bunsang
Hayes, Eric
Hayes, Laura
Henderson, Jeremy
Heizelman, Bobbi & Zach
Henry, Alice
Hindmarsh, Trevor
Hoffman, Amy
Holmes, Bill
Housand, Bobbie
Hucklebridge, Molly
Huemer, Katie
Humphreys, Jacquelin
Humphreys, Ken
Humphreys, Penny
Infurna-Bean, Dawn
Itogawa, Gene
Jackson, Gavin
Jacobs, Cory
Jones, Evan
Jorgensen, Alice
Keale, Susan
Kelly, Stuart
Klammt, Fred
Krause, Mark
Kushwaha, Gita
Leahy, Jenna
Lee, Jeff
Leffler, Trish
Linker, Elana
Lobach, Melissa
Lubetkin, Lester
Mackler, Robert
Madden, Tim
Mae, Doni
Magneson, Eric
Masterson, Colin
Matto, Kathie
Maurer, Noel
McVicar, Rachael
McVicar, Shannon
McVicar, Moira
Mengelkoch, Joan
Michelson, Daniel
Mills, Robert
Mizuhara, Teri
Moffitt, Andy, Shari, &
Tom
Monzo, Pat
Moore, Kris
Morgan, Jacqueline
Muhlbradt, Patrice
Mulligan, Katy
Neal, Michaela
Neill, Sam
Noccetti, Darel
Orth, Donna
Osborn, Kay
Owen, Marty
Petersen, Tom
Phillips, Keri
Picele, Tim
Proctor, Rachel
Pugliese, Christie
Rand, Jim
Rayser, Kellie
Rayser, Rich
Rebman-Cablao, Maria
Reid, Bruce
Reynolds, Isaac
Ricci, Max
Ritzman, Noelle
Ritzman, Paige
Rosen, David
Rubin, Spencer
Sanford, Linda
Scheitzer, Hilde
Sederquist , Betty
Sellers, Dylan & Natalie
Semenson, Matt
Shakespeare, Heather
Sherman, Fid
Sikora, John
Smith, William
Southworth, Peter
Stanley, Julie
Stedeford, Wendy
Stein, Elijah
Stovars, Tony
Stow, Pat
Stroud, Amy
Stroud, Jamie
Swagart, Paul
Sydetzer, Gretchen
Tanimoto, Herb
Teixeira, Richard
Thomas, David
Tigue, Lauren
Toner, Sheila
Tong, Mika
Tull, Deb
Turner, Tom
Ueda, Yoko
Vail, Scott
Vail, Vicky
Van Camp, Jane
Van Dyck, Jon
Van Gilder, Kristen
VanderPol, John
Wagenknecht, Griffin
Warner, Denise
Webber, Dharma
Weise, Todd
Williams, Greg
Wilson, Gail
Winkler, Nora K.
Winsett, Harmony
Winsett, Nick
Zuschlag, Karen
ARC Wish List
Rechargeable Batteries (AAA and AA)
Battery Charger
Digital Audio Recorder
Wood Mulch
Snack Bars
12-15 Passenger Van
Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Dot Matrix Paper
Carport Cover
Work Gloves—assorted sizes
Heating unit for Nature Center building
page 14 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
Visit the Nature Center!
By Judith Gossett
The American River Nature Center is located in the historic Kane
House in the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma. When
ARC moved into the Kane House in 1989, volunteers spent the first few
years making improvements to make the house habitable. Once that was
done, it has been a continuous volunteer and fund-raising effort to create
permanent and rotating exhibits that you see in the Nature Center today.
My name is Judith, and I have been the Nature Center Docent going
on three years now. I truly love my job. I would love to see you come and
visit. Working at the Nature Center feels like having “Open House,”
because on any given day you don’t know how many people will come, or
where they will be coming from, or what interests they may have. But there
is always something for everyone.
George, CA Tiger Salamander
Some of the exhibits include:
Animal mounts: bobcat, owls, hawks, fox, porcupine, raccoon, otter, mountain lion, fawn, California vole, and
several varieties of birds. You may touch them with the back of two fingers.
Touch Table with microscopes: drawers of things to explore! Have you ever seen a hummingbird skeleton?
Habitat Wall: painted animals in their habitat behind numbered doors, with a key to identify. Can you guess who
might live behind each door?
NEW! Interactive Watershed exhibit. Do you know how California’s watershed has changed over the last 200
years? Do you have suggestions on how we can do our part to save water?
Fishing trough and poles: donated by Trout Unlimited, nine wooden native fish
of the South Fork of the American River. This activity is for old and young alike.
Read the descriptions of each fish.
And last, but not least: George, the California Tiger Salamander, the star of the
Nature Center! George came from a lab at UC Davis. He was bred and raised in
captivity so he would never survive in the wild. Come and see George be handfed crickets.
Children love to sit on the bean bag chair on the floor and read a book. Little
ones delight in toy birds that chirp authentic bird calls when squeezed. Everyone
loves to bend down to see what color are porcupine’s teeth. Visitors come from all
over the world to visit the park to learn about the Gold Rush history. ARC
partners with the park to teach about the natural history of the area. The Nature
Center murals depict the local flora and fauna painted by Jean McEachern taken
from photographs of the area, and the murals were enhanced with local wildlife
by Artist Michael Maydak. All visitors like to share which animals and plants
they also have where they live.
The Nature Center is also home to our bookstore. Managed by Susan Covington, illustrious volunteer, the bookstore offers a variety of reference books,
hiking guides, nature books, children’s books, t-shirts, hats, posters, bouncy balls,
and even boxes of edible flavored crickets and grasshoppers! Yum!
Outside the Nature Center, take a tour of our native plants on the grounds, or
if you are up for a hike, ask for a map of the park. There is a short hike from the
monument to the bedrocks, or a longer 3-mile hike on the ridge with beautiful
views of the Coloma Valley.
Hope to see you soon at the Nature Center. Admission is free; donations are
always welcome. Open to the public Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00am until
3:00pm.
page 15 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
THANK YOU, AMERICAN RIVER CONSERVANCY SUMMER SUPPORTERS!
Mizuhara, Albert
Mower, C.A. & Ann
Okazaki, Helen
Pedroni, Joseph
Quirk, Michael & Jennifer
Racobs, James
Sacramento JACL
Saito, Margaret (Peggy)
Sandoval, Araceli
Shindo, Yoichi
Shoffner, David & Konnie Brown
Steelquist, Jennifer
Strom, Shizuko
Sugimoto, Ralph
Sunseri, Richard & Zondra
Takahashi, Susan
Tanimoto, Asami
Tsuji, Hirohiko
Tsukamoto, Marielle
Tull, Debra
Van Thull, Christopher & Traci
Vansant, John
Waldrond, Cece
Walker, Robert
Wasano, Isako
Watanabe, Yoshiyuki Bill
Weber, Lisa
Widroe, Jane
Wilson, Kenneth and Gail
Yoshikawa, J.S. & E.Y.
Trail Campaign Donations:
Anonymous
Beeman, Joyce
Butler, Cari
Callahan, Sandra
Campbell, Marcia
Clark, Steven & Lora
Cool Cycling Club
Dreifuss, Noga
Duchardt, Florence
Fink, Herman
Geldens, Martina
Grote, Al & Debbie
Hamre, Bill & Sherry
Holmes, Richard
Khalsa, Hari Darshan
Kitagami, Hiroyuki
Lawson, James & Judith
Leong, Yuko
Lorig, Kurt & Phyllis
Minton, Jonas
Mullen, Susana
Pollett, Arlyne
Quilici, James & Marci
Rutherford, Katie
Schule, Zelda
Seberger, G.C. & Dee
Seivert, Kerstin
Shevock, Ronald
Stark, Michael & Mary Ann
Stouffer, LJoan
Stultz, Patsy
Trombino, Gerlinde
Wagner, Joseph
Waldrond, Cece
Williams, Howard
Williamson, Gail
Yogi, Takashi
Wakamatsu Donations:
AI-ENNikkei Services Inc.
Anderson, Timothy
Anonymous
Arai, Sally
Armstrong, David
Arthur, Betty
Cluster, Thomas & Fong, Randy
Cova, Clifford
DeLacy, Elena P.
Detwiler, Winifred
Gold River Discovery Center
Haney, Patricia
Hayes, Brian & Murray, Sarah
Hinkle, Elko
Hirai, Koji & Miyeko
Home, Catherine
Jones, Reanne
Katz, Debbie
Koski, Gregg
Los Rios Community College Dist.
New Members:
Bailey, Rho
Boehm, John & Lucille
Coolidge, Arthur
Damer, Michael
Didriksen, Susan
Edmondson, Nina
Geoffrion, Ann
Gerrard-Hall, Sandra E
Goral, Larry & Dana
Grosby, Todd & Regina
Lyster, Stefanie
Macri, Jimmy & Angie
Menard, Michelle
Mone, Catherine
Schade, Tyler
Tam, Mary Kay
Wham, JoAnn
Wilson, Anie
Renewing Members:
Allan, Christina
Angell, Christopher
Anonymous
Adamson, Sonya
Ahola, Kelly
Barrager, Thorne
Bennett, Harold & Betty
Beutelschies, Scott
Black Oak Animal Hospital
Brickel, Debra & Tony
Bridges, Lynne
Curtis, Kathleen
Damer, Michael
Damer, Michael
Dillon, John & Carol
Dyer, Elizabeth
Eaton, Linda
Edmondson, Nina
Ferroggiaro, Suzanne & Rob
Galloway, Jerry & Beckie
Gershon, Keith
Haley, William
Hanson, Victor
Herrman, John
Hession, Jack & Mary Kaye
Holmes, Pam & Pat
Hoyt, Jerry & Janice
Johnson, DeanneKinoshita, David & Naomi
Knowles, Ruth & Tony
Land, Christine
Levy, Armand & Doris
Mahaffey Raty, Colleen
Memari, Megan
Mengelkoch, Joan
Minton, Jonas
Mone, Catherine
Moore, Bill & Kris
Morgan, Jacqueline
Pittman, Jason
Shiro, Steve & Tiffani
Smart, Robert & C.B.
Steiner, Kurt
Strom, Shizuko
Stroth, Karen
Tracy, Karen
Weddle, Nancy & Patrick
Wheat, Amy
White, Cheri & Barry
Wood, Jeannie Wong
Wright, Eva & Dan
Yost, Amy & Darrin
General Donations:
Barrow, Randy & Karen
Bush, Richard
Delta Construction Inc.
El Dorado Community Foundation
Embody, C.B.
Foster, Rebecca
Galloway, Jerry & Beckie
Greenwood, Veronique
McCombs, John & Mary
Minton, Jonas
Scofield, June
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Starns, Jean
United Way
In-Kind Donations:
Baumgartner, Stephanie
Callahan, Sandra
Campbell, Marcia
Clark, Steven & Lora
Cool Cycling Club
Dreifuss, Noga
Duchardt, Florence
Dunk, Nancy
Evans, Pam & Loyd
Fink, Herman
Gass, Steve
Geldens, Martina
Grote, Al & Debbie
Hamre, Bill & Sherry
Hayes, Brian & Murray, Sarah
Harano, Ross
Johnson, Dennis
Kreutz, Kara
Schierholt, Pamela & Ronald
Parks, Ben
Sargent, Phil
Schierholt, Pamela & Ronald
Stewart, Judie
Vail, Scott & Vicky
Veerkamp, Helen
Raley's
The Coloma Club
The River Shack
To become a member
visit us at
www.arconservancy.
org/membership
THE AMERICAN RIVER CONSERVANCY IS LOCATED IN THE
AMERICAN RIVER NATURE CENTER
INSIDE THE MARSHALL GOLD DISCOVERY STATE HISTORIC PARK
AT 348 HWY. 49, COLOMA, CA
THE NATURE CENTER & BOOK STORE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY FROM 11 AM-3 PM.
OUR OFFICES ARE OPEN TO VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY FROM 9 AM-5 PM AND
WEEKENDS FROM 11 AM-3 PM.
WE CAN BE REACHED BY PHONE AT (530) 621-1224 OR ONLINE
AT www.arconservancy.org.
1. E
2. C
3. D
4. C
5. F
6. A
7. D
Answers to
Secrets of ARC
page 16 The Current
Fall 2012 (Sept., Oct., Nov.)
PRESERVING RIVERS AND LAND FOR LIFE
NOURISH THE LEGACY THROUGH MEMBERSHIP
VISIT WWW.ARCONSERVANCY.ORG
& MAKE YOUR SECURE ON-LINE DONATION
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE AMERICAN RIVER CONSERVANCY’S VISION OF TOMORROW.
MEMBERSHIP LEVEL:
NAME
$
$
$
$
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP
PHONE #
EMAIL
ADDRESS
VISA/MASTERCARD #
EXP. DATE
___ OTHER
1000
500
250
$ 100
$ 50
$ 35
NEW MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
GIFT MEMBERSHIP
PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT
PLANNED GIVING/LEGACY CIRCLE
DO NOT PUBLICIZE MY GIFT
D.O.B.
SIGNATURE
Your membership gifts to ARC are tax deductible.
Please make your check payable to the AMERICAN RIVER CONSERVANCY
348 Highway 49  PO Box 562  Coloma, CA 95613  (530) 621-1224
www.arconservancy.org
THE AMERICAN RIVER CONSERVANCY AND NATURE CENTER PROVIDE NATURAL HISTORY INTERPRETIVE SERVICES IN THE
MARSHALL GOLD DISCOVERY STATE HISTORIC PARK, COLOMA, CA
American River Conservancy
P.O. Box 562
Coloma, CA 95613
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 7
Coloma, CA
95613
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
To renew your
Membership on-line,
scan with your smart
phone.
OUR MISSION
THE CURRENT is printed on
recycled paper
The American River Conservancy serves our community by protecting and enhancing natural habitats
where wildlife can flourish. Through education and recreation we promote a broad ethic of stewardship,
ensuring healthy ecosystems now and for the future.