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We’re still glowing from the Bolsa Chica Earth Day event this past weekend — thank you for being part of it — and we’re already buzzing with excitement for the full season of events just around the corner.
From mama ducks guiding their ducklings to California Least Terns beginning their nesting season, nature is putting on a beautiful display of motherhood all around us. This Mother’s Day, bring your mom out to enjoy the beauty of the wetlands together.
Summer is nearly here, bringing camps and programs that keep young minds curious and inspired between school years. Explore this opportunity for your future scientist!
This May, we’ll celebrate local history with Chris Epting, provide a tranquil space to honor our heroes on Memorial Day, and begin preparations for America’s 250th Birthday on the Fourth of July. We’re also gearing up for our 13th Annual Barefoot Ball on August 7 — stay tuned for ways to contribute to the auction and join us.
It’s a season full of heart, and we’re glad you’re sharing it with us.
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Thank You For Celebrating Earth Day
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Earth Day 2026 was a day shared by friends and family. Thanks for coming and sharing the fun, we look forward to seeing you again next year!
A special thank you to Bolsa Chica State Beach and the Huntington Harbour Yacht Club for partnering with us, along with our daily partners at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Amigos de Bolsa Chica, and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, and to every local exhibitor who attended and helped make this day a beautiful event.
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Summer Curiosity Camp is Filling Up Fast!
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Our Education Team is busy as bees, planning and gathering fun crafts, activities, and on-trail adventures for curious campers this summer! Enrolling your 1st–4th grader in Summer Curiosity Camp ensures full-day care Tuesday through Friday, with outdoor games and activities, indoor educational lessons, arts and crafts, and a summer full of inspiration and imagination.
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Education Programs Happening in May:
- 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 5/2 @ 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.
- Register Today!
- Saturday 5/9 @ 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.
- Register Today!
- Saturday 5/30 @ 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.
- Register Today!
- EVERY Wednesday @ 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.
- Register Today!
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Habitat Programs Happening in May:
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Beginning Birder Workshops are offered on the 3rd Sunday of every month from 9am – noon.
Next Beginning Birder Workshop- Sunday 5/16
Join our expert birding friends and staff to learn the basics of birding.
Topics Covered include:
- Overview of the habitats of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
- Tips for bird ID and recognizing field marks
- Basic bird groups and common species of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
- How to use binoculars
- How to use field guides and bird I.D. apps
Included Materials:
– Binocular rental during the class
– Bird ID cheat sheets
– Mini field notebook
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Get Involved & Volunteer!
- Saturday 5/2 @ 9am – 12pm: Volunteer Training
- Join us for a required orientation to begin volunteering at Bolsa Chica! This 3-hour session includes an introduction to our programs, a review of safety and expectations, and a guided hike to get familiar with the wetlands. Please wear closed-toed shoes, bring sun protection and a refillable water bottle. The hike includes uneven terrain and outdoor exposure, so come prepared. Open to all new volunteers—students, families, and community members welcome.
- Register Today!
- Saturday 5/23 @ 9am – 12pm: Public Service Day
- Hosted every last Saturday of the month, join us for our Public Service Day! Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, pick up trash, and support habitat restoration in the wetlands. No experience needed—just bring your energy and willingness to help! Volunteers under 14 must attend with an adult.
- Register Today!
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Bring your office for a team building experience like none other!
Contact Program Manager Kenneth Perez for corporate or group volunteering at ken@bolsachica.org
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Join author and BCC Board Member Chris Epting on May 7th at 6 PM, for a presentation at the theater in the Central Library in Huntington Beach, discussing Roosevelt, Yosemite, the birth of the national parks, and their connection to Huntington Beach.
The City of Huntington Beach designated May 7 as Theodore Roosevelt Day to honor the historical significance of Roosevelt’s visit to California in March 1903. The ceremony recognizes this pivotal moment in American conservation history.
The public is invited to join this unique celebration as Huntington Beach pays tribute to one of the most influential figures in U.S. history and highlights the importance of conservation for future generations.
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4th of July Champagne Brunch @ Fred’s!
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Celebrate the momentous 250th Birthday of the USA with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy!
Join us for a unique parade view and champagne brunch at Fred’s Mexican Cafe from 9am – 10:30am.
Reservations include your selection from a special 4th of July Brunch menu, champagne, coffee & tea, and premier views of the Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade (The BIGGEST parade west of the Mississippi).
AND 100% of all proceeds are donated to The Bolsa Chica Conservancy to support our Education, Habitat, and Volunteer programs!
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Get Ready for the 13th Annual Barefoot Ball — August 7, 2026
Upcoming Events
Gift Giving Party #1
Join us on Wednesday, May 20th from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the home of Van & Huong Vu in Huntington Harbour! Enjoy wine, cheese, appetizers, and beautiful harbor views as we collect donations for the Barefoot Ball’s online silent auction.
RSVP here for the Harbour Party on 5/20
Gift Giving Party #2
Can’t make it on May 20? Join us on Tuesday, June 23 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Beachwood Brewery in HB (5205 Warner Ave)! Enjoy pizza and a pint while we mingle with good friends and gather the final items for our online auction.
RSVP HERE for the Beachwood Gift Party on 6/23
Barefoot Ball Dinner & Auction
Sponsor a table or purchase tickets to attend on Friday, August 7, at 5:30 PM at the Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort.
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Take a Breath at the
Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center
FREE and OPEN to the public Tues- Sun (9am – 4pm) and Mondays (9am-1pm). Located at 3842 Warner Ave, you are welcome to park in the lot and walk the trails with your special someone from sunrise to sunset (Parking is also FREE).
**The BC Interpretive Center is open for normal business hours on Mother’s Day, 5/10, and on Memorial Day, Monday, 5/25. Trails and parking lots will be open from sunrise to sunset. Restrooms will remain open until 4pm.
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Critter Corner!
Learn more with activities and facts
at the Bolsa Chica Interpretive Center
Fly in to learn all about May’s featured critter:
The California Least Tern (Sternula antillarum browni)
- The smallest of the terns, they can be identified by their white forehead and yellow bill with a black tip.
- They spend 4 months in CA to raise their young because of the availability of food (small bait fish).
- They have a gift-giving behavior where males will try to give a female a fish, and if she accepts then mating will occur.
- California Least Terns lay 2 eggs per nest.
- The California Least Tern is endangered because of habitat loss along the California coastline, human disturbance of nest areas around beaches, and especially from predators like crows, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, gulls, and birds of prey.
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy helps California Least Terns with a volunteer program called Eyes On Nest Sites (EONS) where nests are monitored throughout the day and protected from predators!
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Photo Credit: Erin Meyer 2018
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