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March Ranger Programs
Discover nature with LARPD Rangers, Naturalists, & Interpreters
at Sycamore Grove Park!
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Camouflage Critters
Sat, Mar 7, 1-2 pm
Sycamore Grove | Wetmore Entrance
Whoa! Did you see that? Ranger Seth will offer an interactive ranger talk about some of the best camouflage nature has to offer. REGISTER
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Legends of Leprechauns & Crafts
Sat, Mar 14, 1-2:30 pm
Sycamore Grove | Ranger Station Picnic Area
Celebrate this infamous St. Paddy's character as Ranger Rudy shares legends and crafting opportunities. REGISTER
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Spring Birds
Sun, Mar 15, 11 am-12 pm
Sycamore Grove | Nature Area Entrance
Ranger Vickie will lead a short stroll through the Nature Loop, to check out how many Spring birds we can see in this beginner level walk. REGISTER
Acorn woodpeckers photo by Karen Parkinson
| | See all our March programs and more: | | |
Spring Youth Programs
Grow up with nature, ages 2-16
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Little Scientists:
Culture, History & Cryptids
Ages 4-5
Tues, Mar 3-24 | 2:30-3:30pm
Sycamore Grove Park | Ranger Station Picnic Area
Little Scientists turn into little historians when they study different cultures around the world and their mythology. Travel through time to learn about ancient Egypt, legends of the water, historic European folklore, and cryptids of America / Turtle Island. Camp meets every week for 4 weeks, rain or shine. REGISTER
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Sycamore Science Camp:
Living Wild
Ages 4-12
Tues or Wed | Mar 3-25 | Times Vary
Sycamore Grove Park | Ranger Station Picnic Area
Listen to the call of the wild – calling you back home. Learn all about living with the land: edible plants, fire and shelter, tracking and navigating the landscape. And as the land takes care of us, how can we best take care of the land? Meet each week for 4 weeks, rain or shine. REGISTER
| | Open Space Welcomes Ranger Ginger! | | | | |
Hello all! I'm so very excited to be here in Livermore even though it's a drastic change from my first home in sunny San Diego. I love learning new things and lending a helping hand anytime I can. So please don't hesitate to say hi or ask any questions. I look forward to serving the community and getting to know you fine folk!
Sincerely, Ranger Ginger
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Magical Milkweed
by Ranger Doug Sousa
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Milkweed is often dismissed as a roadside weed, yet few native plants in North America are as powerful, versatile, or historically important!
From sustaining iconic butterflies like the monarch, soldier, and queen, to providing fiber, food, and even life-saving materials, milkweed earns its reputation as a truly magical plant—one whose value stretches far beyond its delicate flowers and drifting seeds.
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Backyard Bliss: Clarkia & Carpenter Bees
by Interpreter Eric Whiteside
| | Interpreter Eric shares how native Clarkia flowers transformed his backyard into a haven for Carpenter bees and provided hours of entertainment for him and his favorite felines. | | Volunteer at Sycamore Grove Park | | |
Native Garden Work Days
Tend and nurture the native gardens at Sycamore Grove Park! Volunteers help provide seasonal weeding, planting, pruning, and more.
All levels of experience welcome.
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Open Space Work Days
Help the rangers keep the park safe, enjoyable, and accessible for visitors and wildlife. Tasks vary each work day; details will be emailed the week of the event.
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Trail Maintenance Work Days
This spring, work with the rangers to maintain trails in the upper property of Sycamore Grove Park and Patterson Ranch Trail.
| | If your group would like to volunteer with LARPD, contact us at volunteer@larpd.org to learn about upcoming opportunities. | |
Grazing Photo Survey
Help track how grazing changes the landscape through the seasons with the grazing photo survey. Follow the steps on the sign located in the upper portion of the park. By crowdsourcing many photos of the same view over time, we can visually see the impacts of grazing at our park. Please submit photos taken with your camera in the bracket!
LEARN MORE ABOUT CATTLE GRAZING IN THE PARK
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Sat, Mar 21, 10am-3pm
Sycamore Grove | Ranger Station Picnic Area
The Spring Egg-Stravaganza is back! A few spots are still open for egg hunts and opportunities to see some of our local bird nesting habits, egg specimens, and some egg-citing eggs-periments.
Candy and other prizes will be awarded for eggs gathered.
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Egg-Stravaganza
Volunteers Needed
9:30am - 12:30pm
12:15 - 3:15pm
Egg hiders, check-in/prize table, and egg station helpers are needed to make the Egg-Stravaganza a success!
| | | Spring Break Camps at Sycamore Grove | | |
Spring Nature Camp
April 6-10, 9am-3pm
Ranger Station Picnic Area
Registration is open for Spring Nature Camp, ages 7-10! Invite your child to put away the phone, pick up some binoculars to watch birds building nests, hunt for ladybugs in the grass, smell the wildflowers, and make new friends.
Learn about the natural world around us through fun, age-appropriate programs and activities.
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Counselor in Training Camp
April 6-10, 9am-3pm
Ranger Station Picnic Area
Go beyond Nature Camp with the Counselor in Training program.
This 1-week program designed for young teens will provide CITs the opportunity to develop leadership skills and get a behind-the-scenes look at the recreation and outdoor industry, all while having fun and bonding with their peers.
Participants who complete this program have the opportunity to volunteer at future camps.
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Wildflower Season at the Park | | |
Johnny Jump Ups, Poppies, Lupines and other wildflowers are brightening the park this spring! These native plants provide pollen and nectar, food, and shelter for the local wildlife. To enjoy these flower displays for years to come, please remember:
- Take only photos, leave only footprints.
- Stay on designated trails.
- Keep dogs leashed for their protection and safety of others.
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Commercial Photography Permits
Professional photography sessions at Sycamore Grove Park require a daily photo permit. The permit fee is $50 per day and includes two parking passes.
- Applications accepted year-round and are processed in the order received.
- Once the application has been processed, office staff will call for credit card payment.
- Please allow 3-5 business days to receive a response to your request.
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April Ranger Programs
Explore upcoming programs featuring activities led by LARPD Rangers, Naturalists, & Interpreters at Sycamore Grove Park!
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Earth Day Celebration—Save the Date & Help Preserve Our Planet!
Sun, Apr 19, 10am-2pm
Sycamore Grove | Wetmore Entrance
This Earth Day weekend, celebrate at Sycamore Grove Park while taking action to help protect our planet. Drop-in crafts and activities for kids and adults, guided hikes in the park, and volunteer projects to directly better our local ecosystems.
REGISTER
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Big Foot & Other Cryptid Myths
Sat, Apr 4, 1-2pm
Sycamore Grove | Wetmore Entrance
Bigfoot! Yeti! Loch Ness Monster! And other Myths! Ranger Seth will share some truths about the origins of these legendary cryptids. REGISTER
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Mammals in Motion
Sat, Apr 11, 1-2:30pm
Sycamore Grove | Wetmore Entrance
Ranger Rudy will introduce some of the many mammals that call Sycamore Grove Park their home followed by a 1-mile walk through the park. REGISTER
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Brushy Peak Adventure: Lowlands Hike
Sat, Apr 25, 9am-1pm
Brushy Peak | Meet at RLCC
Explore this magical parkland with Interpreter Eric. Brushy Peak Regional Preserve owned by LARPD is only open to the public by ranger-led tours. REGISTER
| | Open Space Program Highlights | | Junior Rangers take in the amazing valley views from the heights of Sycamore Grove Open Space Park. Several trails, including Valley View Loop, Patterson Ranch, and Cattail, can lead visitors to the green spring vistas of the Tri-Valley. Maps are posted at Wetmore and Arroyo entrances. | | Meet the Wildlife of Sycamore Grove Park | | | Ranger Aide Shawn and Animal Ambassador Linguini enjoy the view together with a helping hand from Naturalist Candace.
If you have a photo from the park to share in this newsletter, e-mail us at: natureprograms@larpd.org
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PRIME TIME
Adult & 50+ Programs, Pop-Up Trips, Socials, Classes and Events
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DISTRICT NEWS
LARPD News, Events, and Updates
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REC GAZETTE
Recreation Programs, Camps, Classes and Special Events
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