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Come Be Free with BCC!
There are still a few tables left for our 4th of July Champagne Brunch and Parade Viewing fundraiser hosted by Fred’s Mexican Cafe & Cantina. Enjoy select items from the event menu, champagne, coffee, tea, soda, juice and watch the parade unfold from some of the best seats in Huntington Beach! Stay, eat, drink, and celebrate! 100% of the proceeds from this event are donated directly to The Bolsa Chica Conservancy to support our education programs, THANK YOU Fred’s!
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Birthday Special!
You can rent the Wetlands On Wheels (WOW) van for birthday parties, summer camps, office parties, or community events this summer! Share with us what you have in mind, and we’ll find a way to make it happen. Email JoAnn@bolsachica.org to start coordinating your WOW experience.
Events can range between 60 minutes to 6+ hours, offering hands-on science activities, games, ocean themed arts and crafts, and opportunities to interact with live animal ambassadors from our traveling tidepool touch tank and live regional snakes.
Book an event with us in July for a special rate $100/hour!
*special rate applies to a minimum of 2 hours within 15 miles of Bolsa Chica
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The Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center is FREE and OPEN to the public every day: Mon (9am – 1pm) Tues- Sun (9am – 4pm). Located at 3842 Warner Ave, you are welcome to park in the lot and enter the building to enjoy live fish and reptiles, see various bird taxidermy, and ask questions to our staff and volunteers. Learn about the history of Bolsa Chica and why it is a critical space to protect for all future generations of wildlife and humans alike. You can easily make a day out of this experience. Take a walk, explore, have lunch, and learn something new!
Join The Bolsa Chica Conservancy in JULY on expert guided tours & experiences at The Interpretive Center.
- Every Saturday 11am – 1pm: Live Animal Interactions
- 11am – 12pm: Touch Tank and Pet-a-Reptile. 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 7/5 @ 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 7/12 @ 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 6/26 @ 10am – 12pm: Public Birding Tour
- Break out your binoculars (or rent a pair) and take a guided tour to identify and learn about local and migratory birds. This program is FREE but registration is recommended.
- Wednesday 7/30 @ 10am – 11am: Hatchlings
- Hatchlings is a program designed to engage you and your little one with nature. Enjoy a mini hike through the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and participate in a nature-themed craft for ages 2-5.
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Do You Want To Get Involved & Volunteer?
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
Bring your office for a team building experience like none other!
Contact Program Manager Kenny Perez for corporate or group volunteering at kenny@bolsachica.org
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Rattlesnake Facts & Tips
As you hit the trails this summer in Orange County, be mindful of wildlife and watch your step. Although rattlesnakes are generally non-aggressive, they can be dangerous. With thousands of visitors to Bolsa Chica every month, cases of rattlesnake bites are few and have mostly involved dogs or bad decision making.
HOW TO STAY SAFE ON TRAIL:
- Rattlesnakes are very sensitive animals that can sense vibrations in the ground and use heat sensing pits under their eyes to detect the body of their prey. This means they usually like to hunt when the surrounding temperature is cooler than the body temperature of their prey. During the heat of the day, rattlesnakes will attempt to stay cool in the shade of bushes, in piles of rocks, wood, or plant debris, or underground in holes.
- Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Always stay on trail, surprising a rattlesnake by trekking off trail into bushes and brush is a sure way to provoke a rattlesnake to protect itself.
- Do Not Bring Your Dog. Taking your pup for a walk in nature can seem enjoyable, however, dogs are not allowed within The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve for the safety of your pet and the protection of wildlife. Dogs off leash in the natural spaces of Orange County can put your dog at risk of expensive vet treatments for snake bites, cacti, dehydration, ticks, and coyote interactions. Local dog parks and approved dog beaches are the best options for outdoor fun with your fur baby.
- Never try to handle wildlife, especially rattlesnakes! Even if a snake appears dead, do not attempt to pick it up or move it as they can still bite. Catching wildlife is not permitted at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and can result in hefty fines.
- Do not attempt to kill or harm a rattlesnake, even if they are in your yard. Rattlesnakes are an important predator in our ecosystem and help to control rodents like rats, gophers, and squirrels. Trying to kill a rattlesnake can be dangerous and provoke them to strike and bite out of protection. Call a professional if a snake needs to be relocated from your nearby property- OC Animal Care Services #: (714)-935-6848
- Call 911 if you get bit by a snake and wait for professional medical help. Emergency response recommends to not attempt to suck out venom or bleed the bite wound. Stay calm, most rattlesnake bite cases are serious but not life threatening.
It is incredibly important to help protect wildlife from human interactions and stay safe while enjoying our local natural places like Bolsa Chica. Remember to stay hydrated, wear sun protection, and use restroom facilities before heading out on trail to prevent dangerous circumstances. Stay safe this summer!
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Meet Chef Wing Lam, co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco, and support The Bolsa Chica Conservancy’s Barefoot Ball at our Gift Party here at the Interpretive Center on July 17!
How does it work? Register for $10 and receive a dinner plate of steak or chicken tacos, rice, and beans provided by Wahoo’s, and a beverage! Bring a gift valued at $50 (or more) to donate to our Barefoot Ball Silent Auction. This can be a new item, gift card, bottle of wine or liquor, a unique experience, tickets to a show or sporting event, autographed collectable, or cash. Wing will be here on site to meet and greet those who attend, so register today and come say hi!
When is it? July 17 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Where? At The Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center located at 3842 Warner Ave. Join our staff for a bonus guided tour at sunset as an additional “thank you” for attending and supporting our Barefoot Ball.
See you soon!
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Friday, August 22, 2025
5:30pm at the Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
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Ask a Staff Member
Do you need to reach out with an inquiry? Here are the main contacts:
For general questions about the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, you can email info@bolsachica.org or call 714-846-1114 X 310
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