THESE ACTIVITIES ARE GREAT FOR DENS OR FAMILIES!
EMAIL YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS PAGE TO: pack393@aol.com.

For a comprehensive list of things to do, use the California Events Search provided by AAA of Southern California. Choose from hundreds of Southland entertainment and event options sorted by date, location or interest.

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Chino Hills State Park Interpretive Association
4717 Sapphire Road, Chino Hills
www.chinohillsstatepark.org
Note: It takes close to 1/2 hour to drive all the way back to the meeting area from the entrance (on an unimproved road), so allow extra time when attending events. Directions.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM REQUESTS
To request a Ranger or Park volunteer for guided nature hikes, school programs, interpretive programs, fairs, etc., call the Interpretation Coordinator, Ranger Stephens, at 714-572-0182.

CAMPFIRE PROGRAMS
Join rangers for a fun-filled presentation and slide show on interesting topics about nature, wildlife & cultural history. Meets at the Rolling M Ranch Barn for about an hour. Location: Meet at the Rolling M Ranch (Chino Hills entrance).

JUNIOR RANGER ACTIVITIES
CHSP offers this statewide program for children ages 7-12 who would like to learn more about local cultural history, plant communities, wildlife, ecosystems, conservation, weathering effect, climate, park careers, and safety techniques. Children document their programs in a State Park Jr. Ranger logbook. Merit awards may be earned based on participation. Awards include buttons, certificates, and patches and culminate with the awarding of a Junior Ranger badge. Meets at the campground for about one hour with a ranger or park aide. For kids only, parents are asked not to attend. Location: Meet at the Rolling M Ranch (Chino Hills entrance).

GUIDED NATURE WALK
An interpretive adventure with the park ecologist or rangers who share with you CHSP’s diverse habitats and wildlife and reveal stories of the park’s cultural history. Hikers of all skill levels welcome. Hiking routes determined by hiker abilities.

RANGER TALK
This is an informal gathering to get to know your rangers and ask questions. Meet the ranger patrolling the campground an hour before sunset.

GUIDED TRAIL RIDES – EQUESTRIAN AND BICYCLE
Mounted Assistance Unit and Bicycle Assistance Unit volunteers host a monthly ride to interpret and orient visitors to the trail system & diverse ecosystems of CHSP. Riders of all skill levels welcome. Ride routes determined by skill level. Equestrian ride meets at the Equestrian Staging Area. Bike ride meets at the Rolling M Ranch Barn. (Riders must provide own horses or mountain bikes.)

HABITAT ENHANCEMENT WORKDAY
Are you disappointed with gazing at exotic vegetation over our wild rolling hills? The come to the Habitat enhancement Workday. Join the park’s ecologist and volunteers in native plant restoration, seed collection, transplanting nursery tending and other resource management activities. Meets at the Rolling M Ranch Barn.

TRAIL MAINTENANCE WORKDAY
Join our rangers & volunteers in trail maintenance projects involving brush clearing, trail restoration, trimming, erosion control, & blocking undesignated trails, Projects will typically focus on maintaining the most popular single-track trails. This makes a great community service project for interested groups. Group Sponsorship is welcome. Workdays scheduled in the cooler months of the year. Meets at the Rolling M Ranch Barn.

SIERRA CLUB HIKE
Have you ever want to hike the local hills but didn’t know how to get started? Have you looked up at the green hillsides in the spring and appreciated the pleasant backdrop that they provide for an increasingly crowded urban area?

Join us on any of these hikes in 2006/2007 and become familiar with everything our hills have to offer. The Puente-Chino Hills Task force (PCHTF), a group within the Sierra Club, organizes the hikes. The PCHTF is working towards the preservation of the Wildlife Corridor as an island of beauty and biological significance in a sea of urbanization. The hikes should appeal to people who want to stay in shape, are eager to enjoy the outdoors, and want more information about their hills and wildlife.

• Sonome Canyon 1/13: Hike a remote and relatively unknown loop through the back hills of Brea in the Chino Hills State Park. Meet at 8:30 at Verbena Lane and Olinda Dr. Hike along the trail crossing Sonome Creek. 4 mile loop with 1800’ vertical. Co-leaders: Eric Johnson and Fred Reed
• Chino Hills State Park 3/17: Hike through open grasslands and wooded valleys in this scenic State Park. The 700’ gain, 4.5 mile loop will travel west on the South Ridge and back on the Hills-for-Everyone trail. The park is located 10 miles northwest of Corona. Take the 91-Freeway to Highway 71-North, turn left at Soquel Canyon. Proceed to Elinvar and turn left. Elinvar merges into Sapphire on the left, the park entrance is located on the right at 4721 Sapphire Road. Meet 9:00 AM at the Equestrian Center parking lot, approx. 3 miles off of Sapphire Rd. Ridesharing is encouraged to offset the $4 per car fee. Co-leaders: Eric Johnson and Fred Reed
• For more information visit: www.SaveTheWildlifeCorridor.org.

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Environmental Nature Center
1601 16th Street, Newport Beach
(949) 645-8489
www.encenter.org
The mission of the ENC is to provide quality education through hands-on experience with nature. We are a conservation area designed to develop, demonstrate and protect selected California native plant communities.

The ENC Cub Scout and Webelos programs are specially developed to satisfy the requirements set forth by the Boy Scouts of America. Webelos programs are 1-1/2 hours long and cost $6 per boy. Most Cub Scout programs are 1 hour long and cost $4 per boy.

• Tiger Cub Discover Nature Program
• Wolf Outdoor Adventure
• Wolf World Conservation
• Bear Wildlife Wander
• Webelos Naturalist Badge Program
• Webelos Forrester Badge Program
• Webelos Geologist Badge Program

The ENC is also part of the "Orange County Wild" program, which offers a variety of outdoor facilities and events for families and Scouts. Individuals attending five nature programs at five different "Orange County Wild" locations earn a "Wilderness Lover" patch. Refer to their website, www.orangecountywild.com

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Orange Empire Railway Museum
2201 S. "A" Street, Perris
(951) 657-2605 info
(951) 943-3020 office
www.oerm.org
Grounds open daily 9a.m.-5p.m.; trolleys and trains operate weekends and holidays 11a.m.-5p.m.
Price: entrance free; all-day train passes $8-10; parking free

Explore the West's largest collection of railway locomotives, passenger and freight cars, streetcars, interurban electric cars, buildings and other artifacts dating from the 1870's. Ride streetcars, interurban cars and trains on the museum railway.

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The Yorba and Slaughter Families Adobe
17127 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino
(909) 597-8332
www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/museum/branches/yorba.htm
Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day
Donation requested: $2/adult, $1/child

The Yorba-Slaughter Adobe, built in 1852-53, is one of the oldest standing adobe residences in San Bernardino County. One of the fascinating aspects of this site is the presence of original furnishings from the 19th century occupation of the Slaughter family. The combination post office and general store, which also contains an exhibit of agriculture and animal husbandry, was opened in September 2002. Step inside to experience an 1890s store complete with advertising and artifacts.

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Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology
1175 West Baseline Road, Claremont
(909) 624-2798
www.alfmuseum.org
Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm (closed for lunch from noon to 1:00pm)
Saturdays, noon to 3:00pm September thru May (closed Saturdays June thru August)
Price: $3 (free on Wednesdays)
Family Science Discovery Days, noon to 3 p.m. on the first or second Saturday of the month, feature a different topic each month with learning stations and related crafts and activities

The Hall of Life traces the history of life on earth through exhibits spanning the first cells through human civilization. Highlights include casts or models of the dinosaurs Monoclonius, Allosaurus, T. rex and Velociraptor, dinosaur eggs, and a giant fossil alligator skull. The Hall of Footprints is the largest, most diverse collection of animal footprints on display in North America. Dozens of trackways are on exhibit that represent ancient camels, dinosaurs, spiders, reptiles, and other animals. Also on display is a skeletal cast of the giant bear-dog, Amphicyon, mounted directly above its trackway.

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Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
1500 North College Avenue, Claremont
(909) 625-8767
rsabg.org
Daily 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. except New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
Price: $4/person or $8/family

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is a unique living museum of native Californian plant life. The Garden's 86-acre natural setting offers panoramic views of the mountain range throughout the year. Self-guided interpretive brochures enable visitors to fully enjoy three distinct areas: Indian Hill Mesa, the East Alluvial Gardens, and the Plant Communities.

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California Science Center
Exposition Park, 700 State Drive, Los Angeles
(323) SCI-ENCE
www.californiasciencecenter.org
Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: free (donations welcome); IMAX $4.75-$8; parking $6

A dynamic learning experience that combines real-world science and technology with hands-on opportunities.

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Puppetolio!
Santa Monica Puppet and Magic Center, 1255 Second Street, Santa Monica
(310) 656-0483
www.puppetmagic.com
Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Wednesday and holidays: 1 p.m. (ongoing)
Price: $7.50

Variety show with puppet enthusiast Steve Meltzer. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

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Bowers Kidseum
1802 N. Main Street, Santa Ana
(714) 480-1520
www.bowers.org
Saturday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday, special after-school art and cultural programs (call for details).
Price: $5.00

Play musical instruments from around the world, explore discovery boxes filled with artifacts, experience ethnic fashion, enjoy masks, puppets, art projects, face painting, storytelling and more.

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Discovery Science Center
2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana
(714) 542-CUBE
www.discoverycube.org
Daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: $8.50-$11; 3-D Laser Theater an additional $1; parking $3

All ages can try the 120 hands-on exhibits, participate in science demonstrations and watch 3-D movies. 108-foot tilted "solar cube" projects a spectacular array of fiber-optic colors nightly. 20 new science exhibits including Virtual Volleyball, a 12-foot erupting geyser, musical laser harp, a wave tank, wind tunnel and more.

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Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano
(949) 234-1300
www.missionsjc.com
Daily 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: $5-$7

Historical exhibits, displays, re-enactments and regularly scheduled special events for families.

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Natural History Museum of Orange County
28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel
(949) 831-3287
www.ocnhm.com
Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: $1-$2; parking $3

On display: Native American artifacts, Orange County fossils, Local butterflies, taxidermy-treated animals, microscopic fossils and painted murals. Visitors can learn about local environment, animals, habitats and other natural history subjects.

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The Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary at Cal State Fullerton
29322 Modjeska Canyon Road, Modjeska Canyon
(714) 649-2760
www.tuckerwildlife.org
Price: free (donations welcome)

Facilities include a small natural history museum/interpretive center, two ponds, a bird observation porch and feeders, relaxing patio and picnic areas, a small amphitheater, a caretaker's house, hiking trails, a gift shop, restrooms and an ample visitor parking lot.