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.

BIMG_6554OATING AT THE BARN

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: Feb. 24th, March 10th, March 24th, April 7th, and April 21st

WATERSHED CLASSROOM

IMG_4164Friends 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.

Beginning in 2014, public educators throughout Petaluma will began to implement the new California Common Core Curriculum Standards. Friends of the Petaluma River, along with a host of other community organizations, is committed to supporting Petaluma educators and the implementation of new Common Core curriculum that focuses on our community’s most important natural resource, the Petaluma River and Watershed.

The Watershed Classroom is designed to support the implementation of exceptionally engaging curriculum about the Petaluma River and Watershed with the goal of inspiring youth, improving local education, and conserving and celebrating our local environment. Participating educators will receive a $500 stipend to use to design and implement their new curriculum.

To date over 1700 students have learned about the Petaluma Watershed in Petaluma City Schools through this program in subjects like Environmental Sciences, History, Geography, Art, Biology and more. Visit our website, watershedclassroom.org to learn more about current projects and teacher resources.

Contact Stephanie Bastianon at (707) 763-7756 or at [email protected] for more information.

GREEN HERON NATURE CAMP

CONNECTING CHILDREN AGES 6 – 12 WITH THE OUTDOORS


Welcome to our 7th year of Summer camp on the Petaluma River! 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:  $250/wk – $300/wk

Camp meets each morning at the David Yearsley River Heritage Center @ Steamer Landing Park.

Monday through Friday 9:00AM – 3:00PM

WE HAD A WONDERFUL 2018 GREEN HERON NATURE CAMP SEASON!

CHECK BACK IN FEBRUARY FOR OUR 2019 CAMP DATES.

YOUTH NATURE IMMERSION PROGRAMS

Sign up today for our 2018-19 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.

Camp Dates: October 13th, November 10th, December 8th, January 12th, February 9th, March 9th, April 13th, May 18th / Camp out: May 18th – 19th (Camp out for Badger Tracks and Elderberry Blossoms only)

Tuition: Badger Tracks & Elderberry Blossoms – $475.00 / Fox Kits – $400.00

FOX KITS

IMG_8430Fox 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.

SIGN YOUR CHILD UP FOR FOX KITS HERE.

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.

This session we are expanding our Elderberry Blossoms program and offering a new group for our older youth, age 13-16 and will deepen the mentoring processes with our participants.

SIGN YOUR CHILD UP FOR ELDERBERRY BLOSSOMS HERE

BADGER TRACKS

Based in practices of nature connection, Badger Tracks will work with young boys, ages 9-12, transitioning toward adolescence to build deeper and resilient relationships with themselves, others, and the natural communities around them. Over the course of the spring and winter, youth and mentors will meet monthly to immerse ourselves in the natural communities of the Petaluma River Watershed, engaging in practices aimed toward greater awareness of and connection to this place and to ourselves in it. These practices will include animal tracking, wild-crafting, earth-based skills, learning to work with wild edible and medicinal plants, and more.

We will work together in developing healthy peer to peer and mentoring relationships.

SIGN YOUR CHILD UP FOR BADGER TRACKS HERE

RIVER FRIENDLY BUSINESS

417513_311148592267085_946952769_nDoes your business want to help protect and conserve the Petaluma River? The Petaluma River isn’t only a place to recreate and enjoy nature, it is also a working River. It was estimated by the Petaluma Downtown Association that the Petaluma River brings over 1.3 million to the local economy annually. We want to give local businesses the opportunity to tell their customers that they support a healthy and vital Petaluma River.

Our River Friendly Business program has two tracks, one for small businesses and one for larger businesses (those with over 25 employees). Download information for small businesses HERE or large businesses HERE.

Our dual marketing strategy will let  your customers and our supporters know that your business is committed to celebrating and conserving the local environment.

Sign your business up today by clicking HERE

Call (707) 763-7756 or email [email protected] for more information.