Family Section
January/February 2005 Newsletter
Here it is, our sixth newsletter since restarting the Section in March! This one is packed with eleven outings designed specifically for the Family Section. Thank you, outing leaders! In addition, we list a number of Chapter outings and activities with "kids specifically encouraged" to participate. So this is definitely the time to go on an outing or three, invite some friends along, and tell other families about our Section!
Family Section outings are open to everyone, but you must be a Sierra Club member to receive our newsletter and everyone is encouraged to join. Children are also permitted on main Chapter (as opposed to Family Section) outings as long as the outing description does not specify otherwise. Of course, the children will be subject to the same screening (e.g., can he/she really hike 20 miles with 5000' of elevation gain?) as everyone else. |
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Our membership now includes kids of all ages, single dads, single moms, and couples from at least five continents! If you are interested in an outing but only want to go if there are other kids about the same age as yours, just let the leader know ahead of time. It is OK to make your participation contingent on other kids in the right age range signing up. If you have any questions about an outing -- pace, recommended equipment, difficulty, etc. -- just ask the outing leader!
If you would like to receive the Family Section e-newsletter and other information for members, please subscribe by filling out this form. You will need your Sierra Club member number, printed on the address labels of your Hi Sierran newsletter and Sierra magazine.
We always appreciate new ideas of activities for enjoying the outdoors with other families. Any member can publish an event on the Family Section e-mail list any time, and any member who is a COL can publish an outing to the list any time. If you send the information by February 25th, we can include it in the next newsletter.
We are in need of a Family Section speaker for the Chapter's New Member Orientation at the Tierrasanta Recreation Center, which takes place every second Wednesday of the month from 7-9PM. We are also looking for a Newsletter Editor, Treasurer, and Chair for the Section. Please let us know if you are interested in any of these positions!
We look forward to seeing you at a Family Section event soon!
Ensie and Matthias Blume
858-695-9675
January/February Activities and Outings
Notes: Contact information for the outing leaders and event organizers is included in our free newsletter, distributed via e-mail. It is not included on the Web so as to protect the leaders from spammers and to provide you more incentive to join!
Outings and events labeled with an '*' below are primarily Family Section activities. All others are Sierra Club activities that were not particularly designed for families but that definitely accept kids as participants.
JAN 8/SAT/E2A
*Babies at the Wild Animal Park
Leader: Matthias Blume
Assistant: Ensie Blume
Are you trying to figure out how to enjoy the outdoors with your kids? Or are you already an expert? Here's an opportunity to meet other conservation-minded parents and children (all ages) and share experiences. This casual walk through the Wild Animal Park in Escondido features gazelles, giraffes, gorillas, and more. 10AM meeting time. E-mail leader for signup and details. |
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JAN 8/SAT/6:00-9:00PM
Ray At Night
Ray at Night is an art event held at the Sierra Club office on Ray St. The office is open and surrounded by art galleries and delightful shops. Our whole street is alive with visitors, music, food and untold surprises. For more information, check out these Union Tribune and North County Times articles or call the Sierra Club office at 619-299-1743. Please join us for a delightful evening! |
JAN 8/SAT/E2A
Trail Reconstruction Southeast Part of Warner Ranch
Leader: Rob Langsdorf
Assistant: Needed
Join us to reconstruct trail in a canyon west of S-2. We will build a new rock wall where a firebreak was built last summer which damaged the trail. We will do other work to restore the trail in this oak-filled canyon. Call Rob for REQUIRED sign-up and directions to meeting point. |
JAN 9/SUN/E3A 2:30PM
*Rose Canyon
Leader: Trina Tu
Assistant: Needed
This open-space park is located in University City - the first of the 3 canyons in the Tri-Canyon Park System. A rare riparian habitat runs the length of the park - oak woodland, willow, and sycamore along the north-facing hillsides. Wear walking shoes; bring water, snacks, and a light jacket. Contact leader for reservations and directions to meeting location. |
JAN 9/SUN/M6A
Los Penasquitos Canyon West
Leader: DJean Becker
Assistant: Needed
Come and join us for an easy-paced early afternoon social hike through an area of local beauty. Bring a quart of water, lunch, hiking boots. Children welcome when accompanied by an adult. Rain cancels. E-mail leader for reservations and directions, call if no e-mail. |
JAN 16/SUN/M7C
Iron Mountain
Leader: DJean Becker
Assistant: Needed
Come out and enjoy a refreshing easy-paced, early afternoon social hike. There will be great views as well as exercise. Bring 2 quarts water, lunch, and hiking boots. Children welcome when accompanied by an adult. Rain cancels. E-mail for sign up and directions --call if no e-mail. |
JAN 18-MARCH 20
North County Wilderness Basics Course (WBC)
Organizer: Jeff Marchand jeffmmarch@aol.com
Location: San Pasqual High School in Escondido (near North County Fair)
The perfect way to learn how to backpack! This is a 10 week course, with lectures starting on January 18, 2005, and meeting every Tuesday night from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at San Pasqual High School in Escondido. In addition to these lectures, you will go on 4 overnight trips, guided by experienced Sierra Club Chapter Outings Leaders. The course has introduced hundreds of women and men to safe, comfortable wilderness experiences.
After completing the course, you will be experienced in hiking and backpacking, and will be able to do it confidently and safely. Along the way, you'll meet some nice people, see some beautiful places right here in San Diego County, and may surprise yourself with what you can do. The cost of the course is just $95 (cash or check only), and includes a compass, guidebook, notebook, handouts, and admittance to all outings. Class size is typically 100 students. Open to kids age 14 or older who are in 9th grade or higher (parent or guardian required). |
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JAN 22/SAT/E2A
Trail Building Northeast of Mataguay Scout Camp
Leader: Rob Langsdorf
Assistant: Needed
Join us to reconstruct trail on the climb out of Mataguay where a firebreak was built across it during last summer’s fire. We will also rebuild some tread that has become too narrow. Call Rob for REQUIRED signup and directions to meeting point (which will be somewhere on Thomas Guide p409 K9). |
JAN 23/SUN/E6A 2:00PM
*San Clemente Canyon
Leader: Trina Tu
Assistant: Needed
San Clemente Canyon is part of the Tri-Canyon Park System, with riparian forests and chaparral. Huge sycamores and live oak trees highlight this easy hike in the canyon bottom. Learn how the distinctive mottled bark of sycamore trees helps to identify them. Wear good walking shoes, bring a light jacket, water, and snacks. Contact leader to RSVP and for directions to trailhead. |
JAN 24/MON/E6A 4:00PM
*Los Penasquitos Canyon Evening Hike-West Side
Leader: Ensie Blume
Assistant: Matthias Blume
Come and enjoy an evening hike through meadows in Los Penasquitos Canyon-West side located in Sorrento Valley at 4:00PM. Midway through the hike, we'll reach a nice set of waterfalls in the canyon, where we stop for a break. Bring 1-2 liter of water and a snack. Please e-mail leader for required sign up. Rain cancels. |
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JAN 29/SAT/E3A
*Balboa Park Gardens Family Walk
Leader: Karen Smith
Assistant: Needed
Meet at 8:30AM for a slow-paced adventure in Balboa Park. Wondrous plants and magical fountains await us, as does a friendly green monster with BIG teeth. To sign up and get directions, call or e-mail leader. Suitable for families with children of any age; some stairs and small hills. No pets, please. Group limited to 20 people. |
FEB 5/SAT/H6D
*Grapevine Mountain/Bitter Creek Loop
Leader: Matthias Blume
Assistant: Ensie Blume
Enjoy the cool winter desert air and climb one of the San Diego 100 Peaks. We'll scramble over plenty of loose rocks, sneak past spiny agave, cacti, and mesquite, and sample the water of Bitter Creek Spring. Views of the Volcan and Laguna mountains. Moderate pace, 2400' gain and loss, 15 persons max. E-mail leader for signup and details. |
FEB 6/SUN/E4A 2:30PM
*Tecolote Canyon
Leader: Trina Tu
Assistant: Needed
Tecolote Canyon is the third and last in our exploration of the Tri-Canyon Park System - which is comprised of 1,500 acres, and trails that take visitors through some of the most endangered habitat in the continental U.S. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and snacks. Contact leader for reservations and directions to the meeting location. |
FEB 12/SAT/M5A
*Otay Valley Regional Park
Leader: Karen Smith
Assistant: Needed
Let's go for a morning stroll of almost five nearly-flat miles. See Upper & Lower Otay Lakes, maybe birds, definitely scenery. Learn about plans for great new park. For signup and directions, contact leader by phone or e-mail beginning Monday February 7. Children OK with adult; no pets please. One-way hike: car shuttle required unless you walk back to start on your own. Open to main chapter. |
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FEB 12/SAT/6:00-9:00PM
Ray At Night
Ray at Night is an art event held at the Sierra Club office on Ray St. The office is open and surrounded by art galleries and delightful shops. Our whole street is alive with visitors, music, food and untold surprises. For more information, check out these Union Tribune and North County Times articles or call the Sierra Club office at 619-299-1743. Please join us for a delightful evening! |
FEB 23/WED/E6A 4:00pm
*Los Penasquitos Canyon Evening Hike-West Side
Leader: Ensie Blume
Assistant: Matthias Blume
Come and enjoy an evening hike through meadows in Los Penasquitos Canyon-West side located in Sorrento Valley at 4:00PM. Midway through the hike, we'll reach a nice set of waterfalls in the canyon, where we stop for a break. Bring 1-2 liter of water and a snack. Please e-mail leader for required sign up. Rain cancels. |
FEB 27/SUN/E4A 3:00PM
*Batiquitos Lagoon
Leader: Trina Tu
Assistant: Needed
Batiquitos Lagoon is one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the southern California coast. Enjoy an afternoon walk in this natural environment of coastal salt marsh located in North County, and learn about the habitats it provides for birds, insects, plants, fish and animals. Bring a light jacket and water, and binoculars if you'd like to do some bird-watching. Contact leader for reservations and directions to trailhead. |
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MAR 5-6/SAT-SUN
Foster Lodge Work Party
Coordinator: Harry Galliver 619-461-7350. Call for sign-up. |
MAR 19/SAT
"Support Anza Borrego" Wild Flower Bus Trip
Sponsor: Outings Committee
Coordinator: Lois Day
This year the Park promises a rare vintage wildflower display. We’ll stop at various locations to identify blooms and understand their requirements to produce seed: attract pollinators, moisture at the right times and required amounts and in temperature variants. Wildflowers speak to us in Nature’s most eloquent voice. Humans would not be on earth if there were no flowering plants! How did the flash floods of last September affect plants? Send your $30 check made out to the Sierra Club to Lois Day, 4654 Glacier Ave, San Diego 92120 by March 10. More details in the March-April Hi Sierran or call Lois.
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MAR 19-20/SAT-SUN/E2A backpack E6B dayhikes
*Blair Valley Pictograph Trail Backpack
Leader: Ellen Feeney
Assistant: Needed
Short, easy backpack in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Flowers should be starting. Once camp is set up, dayhikes to see a dry waterfall and older pictographs. Need equipment to come? Contact leader early. Must call leader for signup and what to bring. Good way to let the family try backpacking for the first time. 10AM meeting time. |
MAY 14/SAT
Chapter Outing Leader (COL I) Training
Mark your calendars now and watch for signup instructions in the March/April Hi Sierran if you want to be an outing leader. Training will be conducted in one intense, very full day. Plan on 8AM to 6PM; you must attend the entire session. Any Sierra Club member at least 18 years of age can take the training and lead outings. You don’t have to be a super athlete. You should have gone on at least four outings first, so that you are familiar with our way of doing things. If you miss this training, the next one is in fall. |
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