E-NEWSLETTER: JANUARY 2021
Rotary PlayGarden Re-opens for Weekend Use
The Rotary PlayGarden is NOW OPEN Fridays through Sundays
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM beginning Saturday January 23rd. We are excited to welcome you back safely in accordance with state and county public health guidelines for outdoor playgrounds. We are committed to bringing inclusive play back to our community and have put a lot of time into reopening safely in accordance with state and county public health guidelines for outdoor playgrounds. Please review our visitor guidelines to help plan your visit. Follow the PlayGarden on Facebook for updates on park hours and program details.
Guadalupe River Art Walk Update
We are excited to introduce Kristina Micotti, the next Artist in Residence who will make her own mural contribution to the Guadalupe River Art Walk. Kristina is an illustrator and designer from right here in San Jose. Her illustrations are playful, bold, and simple. She likes to create anything that makes her laugh and spread joy with her work. Kristina's mural will be located along the Guadalupe River Trail underneath Santa Clara Street.

The Artist in Residence (AIR) collaboration between Pow Wow! San Jose and the Conservancy has been a way to continue to improve the quality of life in San Jose while practicing safe social distancing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever we understand how critical natural spaces and public art are to the community. Check out GRPC and PWSJ social media channels for updates and more photos!
Welcome Gillian Naegele!
The Conservancy is delighted to welcome Gillian, our new California Climate Action Corps fellow! Gillian is a recent grad of UC Santa Cruz who will be working with GRPC over the next several months to help restore our Historic Orchard and River Trail. Climate Action Corps is deploying Fellows to support local climate action projects in front-line and low-income communities across the state. Other San Jose organizations that will be working with the Climate Corps are Veggielution, Our City Forest, and the City of San Jose. You can read the full press release on the Climate Corps program at the link below.
Virtual Field Trips Begin
The Conservancy has now begun offering the Virtual Field Trips featured in the December 2020 e-newsletter. The Education Team kicked off the first Synchronous Session (live!) field trip on Thursday, January 28th with the help of our animal ambassadors and Education Staff pictured above. 29 students were able to experience an Animal Encounter, one of three different field trip options, from the safety of their homes. Each unit has two lessons consisting of short videos for students to watch, followed by a simple activity for them to complete in order to cement and deepen learning. 

This program has been designed to support Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, and Executive Function Skill development, while being offered in both English and Spanish. We plan to have more languages offered soon. To find out more, click below!
Thank You to our recent grantors!
As part of the Urban Grant Program, OSA has awarded the Conservancy $130,000 to support Outdoor Field Trips (in-person & distance learning) for Title I & Special Needs Groups. Thank you, OSA!
The Rotary Club of San Jose has awarded a Community Grant to the Conservancy $10,000 for materials to construct a split-rail fence at the Rotary PlayGarden. Thank you Rotary San Jose!
Community Events and News
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and the GRPC are conducting a training for those who want to get involved in the bike movement and support better biking infrastructure in their communities. This training would include biking and its benefits to the surroundings, types of bike lanes, the central bikeway project, how bike projects get done, where to go for information and whom to contact when issues arise. 

This training will be held on February 23rd, 5-7pm.
Join the Law Foundation of San Jose in community to learn about the critical role safe housing plays in the well-being of adults and children. Hear firsthand accounts on the fight to keep our neighbors housed and ideas on how we can strengthen this movement. This event will be simultaneously interpreted in Spanish and Vietnamese.

MONDAY, 2/1 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Register here
If your primary healthcare provider is the Santa Clara County Health System and you are 65 or over, you are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For those whose providers are Kaiser, Palo Alto Medical, or others- the vaccine is only available to those who are 75+ or essential workers.

Please click here for more information.
Make a lasting tribute on The Donor Walkway
A paver in the Donor Walkway at Arena Green makes a lasting gift to honor or remember someone special in your family, business, or social circle. This enduring tribute is also a great, tax-deductible way to support park development. Pavers are available in three sizes for a donation of $500, $1,000, or $2,000. Please note: logos can only be engraved on the large $2,000 paver size.
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