Help keep your state beach clean and healthy after what is sure to be one of the busiest weekends of the year! Together, we will pick up trash to keep the coast beautiful and wildlife safe.  Meet us at the bottom of the stairs on W.R. Memorial Beach at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 9. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Rain will cancel this program.

Join California State Park Volunteer Sharon for a guided beach walk to discover what gets washed up along the sandy shoreline and compare the fresh items with those deposited earlier during high tide. Find and identify items left behind by the tide. Learn about how to identify these fun and fascinating items, such as shells, barnacles, seaweeds and more! Explore their relationship to each other and the sandy beach environment.

Meet at the tables next to the campground kiosk at Morro Strand State Beach, off Yerba Buena Street and Highway 1 in Morro Bay.

Wear closed toed sturdy shoes and sun protection; dress in layers for the coast and bring plenty of water. All ages welcome for this easy-paced walk, which includes moderately strenuous terrain with walking through soft sand.

1 mile; 2 hours

Rain or stormy weather will cancel.

Friday, July 25th 9:30 – 11:30 AM

Join California State Park Volunteer Sally to learn how plant communities thrive along the central coast and maritime environments. Enjoy a 1.5 mile walk along the lush Coon Creek riparian corridor, located at the far south end of Montaña de Oro State Park. Learn how to identify diverse plant species and a bit about the history of this beautiful canyon.

Meeting site: Meet at the farthest south parking lot in Montaña de Oro State Park, located 1 mile south of Spooner’s Cove. Arrive early as parking is limited and may fill up.

Materials: Wear closed toed sturdy shoes with good traction and dress in layers for the coast. Hiking poles are recommended for anyone needing extra stability on the initial steep decline down into the canyon from the parking lot; the rest of the trail this program will cover is relatively flat and considered easy to moderately strenuous. Bring water, camera, and binoculars.

1.5 miles, 2 hours.

*There is limited cell phone service coverage in this area of the park.

Join California State Park Volunteer Sharon for a guided beach walk to discover what gets washed up along the sandy shoreline and compare the fresh items with those deposited earlier during high tide. Find and identify items left behind by the tide. Learn about how to identify these fun and fascinating items, such as shells, barnacles, seaweeds and more! Explore their relationship to each other and the sandy beach environment.

Meet at the tables next to the campground kiosk at Morro Strand State Beach, off Yerba Buena Street and Highway 1 in Morro Bay.

Wear closed toed sturdy shoes and sun protection; dress in layers for the coast and bring plenty of water. All ages welcome for this easy-paced walk, which includes moderately strenuous terrain with walking through soft sand.

1 mile; 2 hours

Rain or stormy weather will cancel.

In a fast-paced world, nature journaling invites us to slow down, observe with intention, and connect more deeply to the landscapes around us. This program introduces visitors to the practice of nature journaling as a tool for exploration, reflection, and stewardship.

Participants will learn how to record what they see, hear, and feel through simple sketches, descriptive writing, and curiosity-driven observation.

This beginner-friendly program welcomes all ages and abilities!  We will provide nature journals and pencils, but feel free to bring your own journal and art supplies, if you’d prefer.

Meet CA State Park Interpreter Bre in front of the Spooner Ranch House in Montana de Oro State Park at 1:30 pm to join in on the fun. We will walk across the street to the Holloway Garden, and may walk a small portion of the Bluff Trail.  Please wear closed-toe shoes, layers for the coast, and sun protection. Rainy weather will cancel this program.