Hastings Natural History Reserve

Ventana Wilderness Alliance
Founded in the summer of 1998, the Ventana Wilderness Alliance is a California nonprofit corporation with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status dedicated to protecting the wildlands of California's northern Santa Lucia mountain range. Our organization is composed of people from all walks of life w...ith at least one thing in common: a love of the wilderness and a desire to help see to it that what little is left in our area remains as such in perpetuity. They will be here for a board meeting and annual meeting.Read More

Each year for a decade, Dr. Jerry Powell leads a group of dedicated volunteer butterfly counters. They walk the same routes each year, generally along roads or trails and identify, sometimes capture to check, and record the numbers of each species of butterfly seen. You would be welcome to attend. Bring sturdy boots, a... pack with water and lunch, and be ready to spend the day outside no matter the weather. A hike of 2-3 miles is involved.Read More

During this workshop we examine selected aspects of the pollination ecology of the Hastings Reserve's spring wildflowers. Field exercises will be used to demonstratehow and when flowers make their pollen and nectar rewards available to pollinators and how pollinators use their adaptations to extract floral resources. V...arious bee groups will be examined under magnification to observe relevant morphological adaptations. Participants will be instructed on the wide variety of methods that are used to study pollination relationships. Talks will be presented on the topics of pollination syndromes in plants, bee diversity, global pollinator decline, and encouraging pollinators in your backyard environment.

Student participation includes lodging, meals, and transportation for the duration of the workshop. Most participants will be accommodated in twin or bunk-style beds. Space outside the bunkhouse is also available for camping.Read More

FALL WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE GRAZING, Upper Carmel Valley:
"Developing a Sustainable Grazing Plan to Manage Native Grasslands."
Tentative dates are October 14, 15, 16. Final details are
forthcoming.

Questions? Indicate your interest in registering by contacting Judy
at 530-661-2280 or admin@cnga.org.

The workshop: Learn how... to plan and implement a successful sustainable
grazing program. Includes: developing a shared vision of social,
economic, and ecological goals for managing a grassland; classroom and
field work focusing on sustainable grazing programs for ranch,
preserve, or managed public lands; listening to the land; determining
Animal Days per Acre; best monitoring practices for your operation;
writing an actual grazing plan for the Reserve; and attracting and
selecting leasees for public land management.

Enrollment is limited to 30. Includes course materials and
extraordinary food by Michael Jones and The Moveable Feast. Overnight
lodging available at The Hastings Reserve and the Hidden Valley Music
Center. Instructors: Richard King, Ecologist, USDA/NRCS, and Kent
Reeves, Natural Resources Division Manager, Yolo County Parks &
Resources. SRM credits.Read More