A fun, hands-on class where teens get to make lip balms from scratch. Learn how to vary ingredients for different flavors and textures to create a personalized lip balm. Then we will find common plants that can be infused in oil to create an herbal balm for winter chapped lips. Take home two of each... Read more »
Fall is when plants take the energy from the summer’s growth and store in their roots. This program will celebrate the changing of the seasons as we hike to find and identify useful plants as they lose their leaves. Practice how to safely and ethically harvest fall plants used for foods and drinks. Finish by... Read more »
Just because it’s the dead of winter doesn’t mean you have to stop foraging! Now is the time for evergreens to shine, as they are now easy to spot! These trees have a long history of use to treat coughs and colds and traditionally supplied much-needed vitamins during the winter. Today many can be found... Read more »
Celebrate the changing of the season with a nature exploration along Irvine’s trails. The wetlands will be full of frog calls as we hunt for frogspawn and salamanders. Enjoy the hunt for the first flowers of the season and look for buds bursting and shoots emerging. Join Naturalist Clare on a wet and muddy adventure... Read more »
Throughout history, wild herbs have been used as both medicine and an important source of nutrients. Many of the first plants to grow in spring are ones brought to America for their medicinal value but are now considered weeds and can be harvested in quantity. We will discuss which greens can be collected to make... Read more »
Do you know the difference between a frog and a toad? Find out as we explore Irvine’s wetlands for frogs, toads, and dip for tadpoles. Try frog hopping games, toad crafts, and meet some of ambassador amphibians up close. Expect an ‘un-frog-gettable’ afternoon of fun. Irvine’s wetlands are a 15 minute walk, down a short... Read more »
Have you been curious about foraging? Flowers are a great place for beginner foragers to start, as identification tends to be easy and many can be nibbled right off the plant. They also reveal the places where berries will later be available. Take an easy hike around Irvine as we look at how to pick,... Read more »
What does it mean to know the land? Why learn about the land around you? Learning the land where you live is about cultivating a relationship with the external and our internal environment that allows you to rise to the challenges of life by emotionally, physically, and spiritually rooting to the earth under your feet.... Read more »
