Come experience the Petaluma Watershed for yourself through Friends’ unique, hands-on programming connecting the community to our River. Discover the River on your own steam in one of our kayaks during free Boating at the Barn or participate in one of our on-going activities at Steamer Landing Park like our Nature Camps and Stewardship Days. Our programming at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center offers great ways to spend some quality time with the family, learn about local history or just connect with nature. Read on for descriptions and registration links for our programs.
B
OATING AT THE BARN
**THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR OPENING DATE.**
EVERY SUNDAY 10AM-1PM*
Sunday’s Boating at the Barn program is entering its third year shepherded by stellar volunteer Eve O’Rouke. Eve and crew are at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center every Sunday from 10am to 1pm checking out boats to the community. Our growing fleet includes rowboats, canoes, kayaks and a sailboat, all of which can be checked out for free by the public after a short safety demonstration. Come explore the Petaluma River and Watershed for yourself!
*Please check the tides before going to the barn. Due to the lack of dredging in the River, when the tide is beneath 2ft, we cannot go out.
Current closures include:
March 29, April 12, April. 26, May. 10, May. 24, June 7, June 21
Days with amended hours due to tides:
March 15, 10 – 12
June 28, 9:30 – 12:30
Friends’ Flickers
AN AFTER-SCHOOL NATURE CONNECTION PROGRAM FOR YOUTH 6-10 YEARS OLD
Friends’ Flickers gets young students outside, learning about and exploring nature through a place-based, play-focused after school program. Through standards-based lessons, hands-on activities, games, crafts and of course time in boats on the Petaluma River, youth gain a great connection with and understanding of their local environment.
Program Details:
6 weeks of instruction / 2:30pm – 4:30pm – 2 days a week
Cost: $275.00 per session
Location: Steamer Landing Park, 6 Copeland Street, Petaluma
FALL SESSIONS
Session 1 – September 8th – October 23rd – Click the links below to register for a Cohort during session 1. Please note: No gatherings will take place on Sept. 7th and Oct. 12th, prices have been adjusted accordingly.
A Cohort – Monday & Tuesday (Sept. 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th, Oct. 5th, 6th, 13th) *THIS SECTION IS FULL
B Cohort – Thursday & Friday (Sept. 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th and Oct. 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th) *THIS SECTION IS FULL
Session 2 – October 26th – December 10th – Click the links below to register for a Cohort during session 2. Please note: No gatherings will take place during Thanksgiving break (Nov. 23 – Nov. 27) or on Dec. 11th, prices have been adjusted accordingly.
A Cohort – Monday & Tuesday (Oct. 26th, 27th, Nov. 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 30th, and Dec. 1st, 7th and 8th) *THIS SECTION IS FULL
B Cohort – Thursday & Friday (Oct. 29th, 30th, Nov. 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, and Dec. 3rd, 4th, 10th)
*This program is taking place in accordance with county public health regulations regarding COVID-19. Youth will be in cohorts of 12 with 2 educators. Health screenings will take place before each day of program and youth will need to wear a face covering when not social distancing.
YOUTH NATURE IMMERSION PROGRAMS
REGISTRATION STARTS SEPT. 1st FOR THE 2020-21 SESSION
This is a 8-month program to immerse youth in nature, allowing them to gain skills and comfort in the outdoors. Camp takes place one Saturday each month at Open Field Farm. Lessons and skills build throughout the immersion program growing participants’ knowledge and understanding. Hours are 9am to 3pm each day.
We will end in the Spring with an overnight camp out and celebration.
This year, in light of the many disruptions our community has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires, the program will run in 2 concurrent packages – Fall and Spring
2020-21 Session Dates:
FALL – Oct. 10th, Nov. 14th, Dec. 12th, Jan. 9th,
SPRING – Feb. 13th, Mar. 13th, Apr. 10th, May 8th
FOX KITS
Fox Kits gives boys and girls ages 6 – 8 a chance to immerse themselves in the natural world of the Petaluma Watershed. At this age children are still discovering their environment. Fox Kits seeks to strengthen this connection and create a sense of comfort in young people out in nature. By engaging youth in meaningful play, exploring the watershed and letting our imaginations be wild we will foster a sense of place and an appreciation for nature.
REGISTER FOR FOX KITS’ FALL SESSION This section is full, please sign up on our WAIT LIST if you would like to be notified if a spot becomes available.
REGISTER FOR FOX KITS’ SPRING SESSION
ELDERBERRY BLOSSOMS
Elderberry Blossoms supports young girls ages 9-12 and 13-16 in developing strong and healthy relationships with themselves, their peers and nature. In a time of transition into adolescence Elderberries provides a foundation allowing for a deepening in their connections to the Earth, their skills, capabilities and inherent sense of awe and wonder. We will help to foster these connections through our time out in nature immersed in the practices of earth skills in the Petaluma River Watershed. Through the course of this program girls will have the opportunity to grow deeper into themselves as blossoming individuals, including growth in their self esteem and self confidence. We will explore the Watershed; hiking, navigating the River via paddle boats, making herbal medicine and culinary creations, creating primitive fire including cooking over the fire, wild-crafting with both edible and medicinal plants, basic rope making, sewing and more.
REGISTER FOR ELDERBERRY BLOSSOM’S FALL SESSION – This section is full, please sign up on our WAIT LIST if you would like to be notified if a spot becomes available.
REGISTER FOR ELDERBERRY BLOSSOM’S SPRING SESSION
WATERSHED CLASSROOM
Friends of the Petaluma River believes that educators are our community’s most important resource. By teaching Petaluma’s youth, our teachers are guiding future generations of Petalumans whose decisions will determine the health and vitality of our wetlands and other natural resources.
Friends of the Petaluma River is committed to supporting Petaluma educators and the implementation of curriculum that focuses on our community’s most important natural resource, the Petaluma River and Watershed. Participating educators will receive a $500 stipend to use to design and implement their new curriculum.
To date over 3000 students from 13 different schools have learned about the Petaluma Watershed through this program. Visit our website, watershedclassroom.org to learn more about current projects, teacher resources or to sign up to participate.
Contact Stephanie Bastianon at (707) 763-7756 or [email protected] for more information.
GREEN HERON NATURE CAMP
CONNECTING CHILDREN AGES 6 – 12 WITH THE OUTDOORS
Thank you for voting the Green Heron Nature Camp PETALUMA’s 2020 PEOPLE’S CHOICE FOR SUMMER CAMPS!!!!!!
This exciting nature awareness program connects children to the Petaluma River Watershed through hands-on learning and exploration. Activities for camp include naturalist games, primitive skills, canoeing, crafts, bird watching, identifying wild edibles and fresh farm food crafting. We will explore the River by boat experiencing the hidden treasures of the River.
We keep our camp sizes small so we can focus on each individual camper and ensure the best possible experience and connection with the Petaluma River. We currently have a 4:1 ratio of campers to staff.
For more information please contact Stephanie Bastianon at [email protected], or call (707) 763-7756.
GHNC CAMP DETAILS:
Tuition: $275/wk and $325/wk for River Otters (sorry we cannot pro-rate if you miss dates)
Camp meets each morning at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center @ Steamer Landing Park with a couple days at Open Field Farms.
Monday through Friday 9:00AM – 3:00PM
We had a wonderful 2020 summer, getting youth outside safely, and look forward to connecting with you for our winter session. Registration coming in October.
TEENS IN NATURE
Golden Eagles –
Nature mentoring program for youth ages 13-15, which features a three-day/two-night camp out. Golden Eagles builds and fosters a connection to nature as youth grow into their teen years. Throughout our camp out, teens develop nature skills while exploring local environments, growing their sense of self and forming a deeper awareness of the natural world. Campers develop their interpersonal skills, critical thinking abilities and their love for and knowledge of their local environment. For more information, please contact Stephanie at [email protected]
GHNC CAMP DETAILS:
Tuition: $300/wk
Dates: July 13th – 15th
Camp meets in the morning at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center @ Steamer Landing Park.
Monday at 9:00am – Wednesday at 3pm.
ADOPT-A-CREEK
Want to support ongoing stewardship of the Petaluma Watershed? Adopt a creek! Businesses, schools/classrooms, community groups and individuals that want to make a difference in their community creeks, can directly benefit a local creek. With support from Friends, Adopters help remove trash and monitor conditions in their Creek. Adopters will be recognized at the creek site, on the Friends’ website and through social media marketing. Commitments are a year in length. Creek sections are approximately 1 – .5 mile in length.
Sign up today to adopt a creek and we’ll work with you to create a plan that fits your team’s needs. Be a part of the solution to River pollution – Adopt a creek!
There are 3 ways to participate:
- Sponsor a Creek – sponsors fund cleanup activities at their creek and receive recognition for their support at the creek, on Friends’ website and through our social media channels
- Adopter – adopters volunteer in groups to provide cleanup, restoration, and monitoring at their creek site. Adopters are also recognized on our website and at the creek.
- Sponsor/Adopter – fund a creek site and volunteer to steward it!