5th graders from Flowery Elementary School participating in the capstone overnight camping trip at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park this Spring. This Spring, Sonoma Ecology Center is thrilled to have launched our new overnight camping opportunity for our 5th grade and 6th grade students at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Every year, we provide environmental education for these students through our Watershed Education program. The overnight camps are the 5th and 6th graders’ capstone, end-of-year celebration and exploration event. Meadow View Elementary School students in Santa Rosa were the first ..read more

By James Webb About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarlaof Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park. Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb Canyon Trail: The Canyon Trail is a ste ..read more

By James Webb About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarlaof Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park. False Solomon Seal (Prosartes recemosa). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb Headwaters and Vista Trail: I wal ..read more

By James Webb About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarlaof Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park. Hillside Morning Glory (Calystegia collina). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb Goodspeed Trail: The Goodspee ..read more

By James Webb Iris fernaldii. Photo courtesy of Dana Glei, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Volunteer About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarlaof Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park.  Bird’s Eye G ..read more

April’s Plant Sale Thank you to everyone who helped prepare and label plants, and beautify the Nursery last month for our semi-annual sale. We facilitated the planting of 250 California native plants in and around Sonoma County and netted $3000. Thank you especially to Kim P., Tom, and Jeanne for staffing the sale, assisting customers, making recommendations, handling sales, and transporting plants. Here are some of our 60 customers with their new plants. Animal visitors to the Nursery The pipevine swallowtail butterflies are back, as evidenced by their eggs and very young caterp ..read more

Sonoma Valley Collaborative Assistant Director Classification: Non-exempt, hourly Commitment: ~20 hours/week, potentially increasing to full time over several months Reports to: Sonoma Valley Collaborative Project Director Compensation: $33-$36 per hour ABOUT SONOMA VALLEY COLLABORATIVE (SVC)  SVC is a forum of community leaders from a wide range of sectors across Sonoma Valley, finding solutions and taking action to address our community’s biggest challenges. Please read about our values, members, and activities at https://sonomavalleycollaborative.org/, including a summary of accomplish ..read more

By James Webb Diplacus aurantiacus. Photo courtesy of Dana Glei, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Volunteer About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarlaof Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park. Striped Cora ..read more

Bruce Hall, a former Sugarloaf staff member and volunteer, who is a retired mechanical contractor, built a new accessible ramp at the park’s Community Science office. This ramp installation was funded by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). This Spring, we finished the installation of a new accessible ramp at the Community Science office at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, which our Senderos Naturales staff and volunteers use for their work. We were able to complete this ramp installation using a grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). This ramp in ..read more

By James Webb Sisyrinchium bellum. Photo courtesy of Maria Mauricio, our Sugarloaf Volunteer Coordinator. About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarlaof Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park. Collinsi ..read more