SPRING 2003 Newsletter
This spring, the Conservancy launches two programs for membership participation. We now have our first series of guided Nature Walks, to get to know the canyon better, and a strengthened Volunteer Program for canyon beautification, trail creation, and reduction of overgrowth of exotic vegetation.
GUIDED NATURE WALKS
Organized by Joan Collignon
These are short, leisurely strolls, with more learning and observing than hiking. Families are welcome, but small children will be bored and dogs are prohibited. Because of the narrow nature of our Canyon trails and limited parking we must limit the number of participants. See the Schedule for details of time and place.
As the Conservancy grows, our programs grow too. The Trails Committee, headed by Joe Engbeck, is working with the Park District and University to further develop the trails in Gwin Canyon (a side canyon to Claremont) and other areas in upper and lower Claremont Canyon.
Our Volunteer Committee headed by Bill McClung has made great strides clearing brush at roadside turnouts, improving the site of the Redwood Restoration Project and cleaning up the City of Oakland's Garber Park. Look for flyers in your mailbox or check our website for coming adopt-a-trail opportunities for your school, organization or neighborhood. For more information, email wmcclung@rcn.com or call (510) 841-8447.
This spring, the Conservancy extended its volunteer program to high school students with a work day in the upper canyon just below the Grizzly Peak ridgeline. Students from Bentley and College Prep were able to plant 50, 10 year-old redwood seedlings in the ground while enjoying a day outdoors with panoramic views of the bay area.
The Redwood-Planting Project is part of the Conservancy's effort to bring about vegetation management in key areas of the canyon. From a fire perspective, the Grizzly Peak ridgeline is crucial. The coastal redwoods, which were germinated from local east bay seed, will replace the eucalyptus, which had re-sprouted after being cut in the early 1970s after a freeze killed many of trees above ground.
Working with the Agencies
While the Conservancy is eager to carry out volunteer projects, we also encourage responsible stewardship by Claremont Canyon's major landowners, The East Bay Regional Park District, the University of California and the City of Oakland. Conservancy Board officers are busy with negotiations and meetings and have been influential in several agency-sponsored fuel-reduction efforts. Our Board's work really does make a difference to the fire safety within the Canyon and to the beauty of the Canyon to the public.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Earth Day, Saturday April 12
Conservancy members and friends are invited to Oakland's Garber Park located on the hill behind the Claremont Hotel. Learn how the park was left idle and neglected for years, becoming so overgrown that it was nearly obscured. Conservancy volunteers spent hours sprucing up the park and cleaning up the creek bed. More work is definitely needed. So come witness the spirit and optimism of Earth Day taking root right here in Claremont Canyon. This will be a joint project with the Vicente Canyon Neighborhood Association. For details check with Bill McClung, wmcclung@rcn.com.
National Trails Day, June 7
The first Saturday of June is designated National Trails Day in the United States. Hikers and nature lovers across the country take part in thousands of events in celebration of America's trails. The Conservancy plans to celebrate this year in Gwin Canyon. We are looking for local sponsors to make this a fun, community-wide experience. Look for more on National Trail Day in later flyers and emails from the Conservancy.
Stay Connected
If you have not recently received emails from the Conservancy, we may have the wrong email address for you. To get on our list, please email claremontcanyon@hotmail.com.
We are asking homeowners, who are able, and community organizations to be Founding Sponsors of the Conservancy by pledging $1,000 as a tax-deductible contribution. Our stated goal, as put forth in our 2001 grant from the State's Bureau of Land Management, is to have 200 Founding Sponsors by the end of 2003. We are approaching that goal with 130 families or organizations.
We also have less expensive ways for people to be members and we do not expect everyone to contribute $1,000 but we hope many people with reasons to be strongly interested will help us continue the work of the Conservancy from a position of financial strength.
