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Good Tidings!
Let us share our celebration for the great year that was 2024 and express how grateful we are to ring in 2025 with YOU! We look forward to you joining us in January and all year round, Happy New Year!
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White Pelicans on a winter morning
Let’s Celebrate!
As our year comes to a close, we want to share with you some of the amazing ways that we have made an impact here at The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve this past year. We would not be able to do all of this incredible work without our steadfast team of staff, volunteers, and supporters. Our New Year’s Resolution is to continue to Educate, Restore, and Inspire in 2025!
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In 2024 the Education Team at BCC hosted 81 schools for Expert Guided tours of the wetlands serving 2,512 students. Our Windows to Our Wetlands Outreach program met with over 8,000 students and community members, mostly in under resourced neighborhoods where funding restricts access to coastal science education. Over the summer, we held our first ever full eight week Summer Curiosity Camp, serving 130 campers! Lastly, in partnership with UC Davis, our team ran two California Naturalist courses in the fall and spring, with 37 adult students learning about California’s natural resources and various outdoor field topics. That means The Bolsa Chica Conservancy educated 11,063 students and community members in 2024!
Here are a few programs that we are looking forward to in 2025:
- Birthday Parties or private events with our WOW program (book your party with Brooke@bolsachica.org today!)
- Expanded programming for toddlers and parents
- Homeschool packs with self guided activities
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Join in the Joy!
Join The Bolsa Chica Conservancy for PUBLIC tours and classes in January at The Interpretive Center.
- Every Saturday 11am – 1pm: Live Animal Interactions
- 11am – 12pm: Touch Tank and Reptile petting. Guests are welcome to safely engage with our touch tank animals and live snakes during this time with staff supervision.
- 1pm – 2pm: Animal Feeding Presentations. Guests can view the process of feeding our fish and reptiles, ask staff questions, and learn more about the biology of these animals.
- Saturday 1/4 @ 10am – 12pm: Public Tour
- Learn about the history and general ecology of The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with an Expert Guide. This program is FREE but registration is recommended.
- Saturday 1/11 @ 10am – 12pm: Second Scout Saturday
- Scouts of all ages are invited to join a general scout tour to learn about wildlife in support of similar badge work. Scouts get to make a plaster paw print, receive a workbook, and earn a fun patch. Registration is required with a $10 donation that covers the cost of materials and the patch.
- Saturday 1/25 @ 10am – 12pm: Public Birding Tour
- Break out your binoculars (or borrow a pair) and take a guided tour to identify and learn about local and migratory birds. This program is FREE but registration is recommended.
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Out with the Old and in with the New!
Habitat Restoration is critical work, whether it’s removing harmful plants or trash, planting new native plants that encourage a healthier ecosystem, or monitoring wildlife. All of these strategies help us gain a better understanding of what areas need restoration and how we can help. The results provide animals with the healthiest habitat and the best possible chance at survival at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
In 2024, The Bolsa Chica Conservancy had over 1500 volunteers help remove 29,574 pounds of harmful vegetation and trash.
In 2025, we are excited about:
- Expanding our work at Harriett Weider Regional Park, providing more comprehensive trail maintenance, signage enhancement, and habitat restoration.
- Providing corporate and private team building experiences. (Contact Kenny@bolsachica.org to look into dates for your team!)
- Pursuing grants to expand our reach and open new opportunities.
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Need a Resolution? Volunteer with us!
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Are you looking for ways to get involved and give back? Here are some ways to get started:
Nest Site Work Days:
- Saturday 1/11 @ 8am – 11am AND Wednesday 1/22 @ 8am – 11am
- Join our Eyes on Nest Sites (EONS) team and pull weeds to improve the quality of the nesting sites for the California Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover this spring. Consistent weeding helps make a more attractive site for nesting!
Sign up to participate in the January Nest Site Work Days
Public Service Days:
- Held on the LAST SATURDAY of every month from 9am – 11:30am @ Harriett Wieder Regional Park.
Sign up to participate in the January Public Service Day on 1/25 from 9am – 11:30am.
Looking to make a difference all year round? Our next Volunteer Orientation Training is on January 4th (first Saturday of every month).
We are always seeking extra help with:
- Leading and assisting education tours
- Participating in habitat restoration events (weeding, planting, and trash removal)
- Monitoring wildlife like endangered birds or sea turtles
- Hosting at our Interpretive Center to welcome guests to Bolsa Chica
Sign up for the next Volunteer Training with us on January 4th.
Contact Program Manager Kenny Perez for corporate or group volunteering at kenny@bolsachica.org
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Upcoming Events
Support The Bolsa Chica Conservancy in 2025
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It’s not too late to apply your votes in Target Circle™! Go to the Target app or at target.com/circle to direct Target funds to support our work. All that holiday shopping can really pay off as every dollar spent earns you a vote! Apply your votes through December 31st!
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SAVE THE DATE: Friday, August 22nd, 2025
5:30pm at the Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
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Bring the family to The Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center and explore our 5 miles of trails for FREE!
Building and Restroom Hours: Mon (9am-1pm), Tues-Sun (9am-4pm).
*The Interpretive Center will be CLOSED on New Years Day (Restrooms will remain open from 9am-4pm)
Trails are open from Sunrise to Sunset every day. Public Parking Lots are FREE.
Download the FREE Agents of Discover App to take a self guided tour anytime! This app is a mobile game which does not require wi-fi to use. Work through a series of questions and interactive challenges through your cellular device and learn about the wildlife at Bolsa Chica while you explore on trail.
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Ask a Staff Member
Do you need to reach out with an inquiry? Here are the main contacts:
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