Palos Verdes Hikes & Trails Events February 2020
Special Events:
Nature Walk at Sacred Cove by Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. You can take a scenic walk down the coastal bluff to discover the tide pools below. This is considered a strenuous walk. You can park at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park located at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes. Cost for parking is $6. Sign up at www.pvplc.org.
Trail Crew Training will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. You can join the indoor introductory class to learn more about how you can help improve Peninsula trails. Following the course, you can join for field classes held every 2nd Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon that focus on various techniques for erosion repair, building rock walls, proper pruning and more. No experience is needed, and you must be 18 or over. Sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
Docent Orientation for the White Point Nature Education Center will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2020, from 11:00 to 12:00 noon. If you enjoy local nature and want to share it with others, you can become a Nature Center Docent. You will be assisting with with many functions from plant sales to mentoring scout badges to guiding field trips. RSVP at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
Monthly Activities:
Native Plant Sale at White Point Nature Preserve will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. Is it possible to have a beautiful and fragrant yard without using fertilizers and pesticides? Could our winter rains provide all the water that your plants need? The answer is yes if you garden with native plants. Come to the plant sale and learn how. Experts can tell you how. Free for all ages. Leashed dogs are welcome. Plants sold on first come, first served basis. White Point Nature Preserve is located at 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates. RSVP at www.pvplc.org, Events & Activities.
The Woodlands Nature Walk at George F Canyon will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. At the canyon you can experience this pristine streamside 1.8 mile trail that winds through fragrant coastal sage habitat and into shady willow woodland. You will observe canyon birds and wildlife, discover rare exposed Catalina schist bedrock, and at the top enjoy a spectacular view of the Los Angeles basin. This easy walk begins and ends in the Nature Center where Miss Penny, the beautiful California King Snake, welcomes you. This is free and appropriate for all ages. Stroller friendly. Leashed dogs are welcome. The Preserve is located at 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates. For more information, call (S-S) 310-547-0862 or (M-F) 310-541-7613 or RSVP at www.pvplc.org, Events & Activities.
The Nature Club for Families at White Point Nature Preserve will take place on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. Bring your kids to White Point Nature Preserve and get to know the mammals and reptiles that live on the Peninsula. You can play games, make art, study taxidermy specimens, handle pelts, and meet the live animal collection while you learn to identify the tracks and scat of coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, snakes and skunks. Afterwards take your new sleuthing skills out on the trails to find out what kinds of wildlife are nearby. This is free and appropriate for all ages, stroller friendly, and leashed dogs are welcome. The White Point Education Center is located at 1600 W. Paseo del Mar, San Pedro. RSVP at www.pvplc.org,Events & Activities.
The Nature Club for Families will take place at George F Canyon on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. In February, you will discover native trees like the large Sycamore, evergreen Coastal Live Oak, and swaying Willow. The knowledgeable naturalists invite you to play games, make art, sing songs, hike trails, read books and explore the preserves magical trees. This event is free and appropriate for all ages. Leashed dogs and strollers are welcome. The Preserve is located at 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates. For more information go to www.pvplc.org,Events & Activities.
The Coastal Nature Walk at White Point Nature Preserve will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. You will be able to take a walk beside the ocean with the knowledgeable Naturalists. You’ll begin with a stroll through the Tongva Demonstration Garden to learn how for thousands of years, the early inhabitants of the Peninsula used native plants for survival. Continue on the trails through beautifully restored coastal sage scrub habitat, past historic military sites, and across native grasslands. Listen for the “meow” of the endangered gnatcatcher bird that is thriving here. Finish with a hands on exploration of the Native Center. This is free and appropriate for all ages, stroller friendly, and leashed dogs are welcome. The White Point Education Center is located at 1600 W. Paseo del Mar, San Pedro. RSVP at www.pvplc.org,Events & Activities.
Native Plant Sale at George F Canyon will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. There are one third fewer birds in North America than there were thirty years ago, with coastal birds taking the hardest hit, mostly due to habitat destruction. You can contribute to their survival by resorting coastal sage habitat in your own yard. When you plant native plants, you expand their habitat beyond the nature preserves’ boundaries, creating a new kind of contiguous urban wilderness. Your garden can be gorgeous and fragrant, require very little water, and no chemical fertilizers or insecticides; while also contributing to the survival of coastal birds and pollinators. The naturalists will show you how. For more information email scmith@pvplc.org. George F Canyon is located at 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates. RSVP at www.pvplc.org, Events & Activities.
The Wild Bird Walk at White Point Nature Preserve will take place on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. Join the Wild Birds Unlimited to search for the winged creatures that make White Point Nature Preserve their home. Keep one ear tuned for the “meow” of the endangered gnatcatcher, now thriving at White Point. Or maybe you will spot one of the burrowing owls, a peregrine falcon, or a red tailed hawk. This program is free and all ages are welcome. Binoculars supplied for beginners. Parking is available at 1600 W. Paseo del Mar, San Pedro. For more information email csmith@pvplc.org, or go to www.pvplc.org,Events & Activities.
The Wild Bird Walk at George F Canyon will take place on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. You will join Wild birds Unlimited expert birder to search for the winged creatures that thrive in the coastal sage and riparian woodland of this lovely canyon. This is free and appropriate for all ages. Binoculars are supplied for beginners. No dogs are allowed on the bird walks. The George F Canyon Nature Preserve is located at 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates. RSVP at www.pvplc.org, Events & Activities.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Outdoor Volunteer Day at White Point Nature Preserve with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The volunteers will help care for the White Point Native Plant Demonstration Garden by removing invasive weeds, watering native plants, adding mulch to recently planted plants and more. These efforts will help restore this habitat for wildlife as well as create a beautiful place for the community to enjoy! Sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
Outdoor Volunteer Day at Alta Vicente Reserve with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Volunteers provide a critical role in working to remove invasive weeds to maintain important wildlife habitat in this recently resorted ocean side habitat. Sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
Outdoor Volunteer Day at Abalone Cove Reserve will take place on Saturdays, February 15th and 22, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Help enhance the habitat by planting native shrubs, removing invasive weeds, watering native plants and more. Your efforts will help restore this habitat for wildlife as well as create a beautiful place for the community to enjoy. Locations may be subject to change or cancellation due to rain. Sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com
Rapid Response Team will be getting together on Fridays and Saturdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. You will work alongside Conservancy staff protecting important wildlife habitat by closing unauthorized trails. The task includes trail maintenance, building fences, installing signage and more. You will work at various locations around the Preserve. No experience is needed. This is for ages 15 and up. Sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
To read my prior article on Palos Verdes Hikes and Trails, click here.
Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
