It's nearly impossible to say "thank you" enough times to convey our gratitude.
But we'll keep trying.
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What's Happening at the Rancho? |
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On March 30th, the last of the Rancho's three Peking ducks passed away. The white drake was over ten years old and had thoroughly enjoyed his days as "king of the duck pond."
Additionally, the Rancho's light-colored Rex-lop-mix bunny passed away recently. Because rabbits are social animals, the remaining Rex rabbit will be rehoused for the time being at Sharon Connor's home, where she will have rabbit company.
The good news is that we are expecting some young, healthy ducklings soon!
The new additions will be historically appropriate breeds to add depth to our Barnyard interpretation.
In preparation for the new ducklings, staff and volunteers have been deep-cleaning and refurbishing the duck pond. Next, they will turn their attention to the hutch, a safe place to house the new ducklings until they're big enough for the duck enclosure.
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(Above) Volunteers Allan Harmon and Marlo Lee have been working with staff to deep clean and refurbish the Rancho's historic duck pond.
(Below) Lydia Shinkle with her niece, Janie Mae Wilkie, at the duck pond in the early 1920s.
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A New Cottonwood Event this May! |
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Though we still cannot host hundreds of folks for a fundraising and networking luncheon, the Cottonwood event remains an important part of our annual calendar.
Like many of our programs, this year the event will be all new!
Development staff have been hard at work creating a wonderful video alternative
to the luncheon, which will launch on Facebook Live on May 27 at 11:30 am.
Help support the Rancho by joining the audience!
Better yet, invite a friend and watch "together" virtually!
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Got Great Photos of the Rancho?
We'd love to share them!
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If you have taken photos while volunteering and would like to share them with us,
we'd love to see and share them on our website and social media channels!
Please email your images and a brief caption to
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Photos by Mitch Wellsteed in April 2021. The butterfly is a "Red Admiral." |
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Volunteer Feedback Meeting
May 19 @ 9:30 am on Zoom
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Now that the House has been open for about a month, it's time to revisit our operations. This Zoom meeting is an opportunity for volunteers (our "boots on the ground") to share suggestions and feedback about how our site is working for visitors and volunteers. We'll also have some data to share with you about our visitors, and we may even have some COVID-19 updates.
If you have ideas about how to improve the way we welcome guests, please join us! RSVP in VICnet or email Ambyr or Katie. If you're not available, please email us your feedback.
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Want to learn about all the exciting programs we have planned?
Click on the image above to access the slides with updates from the programs meeting on May 12!
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Got ideas?
Help us develop fun and engaging public programs!
Join RLA staff and volunteers to learn what's going on and to share your ideas in a new monthly meeting on Zoom:
- Monday, 6/14 at 1 pm
- Wednesday, 7/14 at 10 am
- Monday, 8/9 at 1 pm
- Wednesday, 9/8 at 10 am
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Thanks to volunteers, we have opened a
path through the Ranch House to visitors!
Shifts available include:*
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Check-in (seated position)
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Gardens, Barns, Parking Lot, and a Floater (mobile positions)
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and two (or three) House Stations (seated OK)
*We are not offering tours or in-depth interpretation at this time
(please keep interactions with guests brief),
and we must fill all priority stations (above in bold type) to open the House.
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Have you been considering volunteering after a long pandemic break?
Please watch these reopening videos and please contact Ambyr or Katie with questions, concerns, and to sign up!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Save the Dates for 2021 VSC MEETINGS
9:30 am on third Saturday mornings
June 19: We'll celebrate Juneteenth with a presentation from LBCIP Intern Kalilah Dixon
- August 21
- October 16
- December 18
We will continue to meet virtually via Zoom until it is safe to meet in person again.
Topic: VIRTUAL VSC ZOOM MEETING
Time: This is a recurring meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 870 5820 1430
Passcode: 290010
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Community Partners Update |
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Shout-out to volunteer Monica Kovach and intern Marian Navarro for lending their expertise to
the Rancho's first-ever virtual workshop on Saturday, May 8!
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On Saturday, May 8, we partnered with Farm Lot 59 to offer the Rancho's first-ever virtual workshop, "Floral Arranging Then & Now." Recording coming soon! You can learn more about Farm Lot 59, a local urban farm with a great cause here.
On Saturday, June 26 at 10 am on Zoom, we'll partner with the Willmore Baking Company to present "Cooking for a Crowd with Mrs. Shinkle." This will be a family-friendly virtual program that highlights women's history, inter-generational baking, and delicious snickerdoodle cookies.
Keep a lookout for sign-up details soon!
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The Miller Special Collections Room at the Billie Jean King Main Library
is pleased to launch their new Arts & Culture Lecture Series in honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May)!
Sign up by clicking the link below.
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Rancho Museum Gift Shop
Now Open
During Public Hours
or call (562)431-3541
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If you need to cancel a scheduled volunteer shift or have an urgent matter,
please contact the Rancho Office.
Please reach out to Ambyr or Katie with volunteer scheduling or activities inquiries.
If you have livestock questions or concerns, you may contact
the Ranch Office, Ambyr or Katie, or
Grounds Manager, Karen Thompson.
Thank you for helping us inspire, educate, and engage our community!
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