COSF News   (March 2008)                                    

COSF and COSTAC volunteers greet Wildwood Park visitors
At the Trailhead Outreach on March 1, 2008, volunteers representing the Conejo Open Space Foundation (COSF) and the Conejo Open Space Trails Advisory Committee (COSTAC) met many visitors to Wildwood Park and exchanged lots of information. Volunteers answered visitors’ questions about the Conejo Open Space, and suggested trails and hike routes to those unfamiliar with our trail system. COSF and COSTAC supplied Conejo Open Space trail maps, hike and event schedules, information about environmental education and Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) volunteer opportunities, and more.


Spring Trail Work Day - Los Robles Trail
This year’s Conejo Open Space Spring Trail Work Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Many volunteers are expected to turn out to help repair and improve one of the most popular trails in the Conejo Open Space – the Los Robles Trail off Moorpark Road. All volunteers are invited. No experience is necessary. For more information, click here, or call the Spring Trail Work Day leader, Burt Elliott at 805-498-2475, or Supervising COSCA Park Ranger Glen Kinney at 805-381-2741.


2008 Trails Education Days - April 28 through May 2
Here’s an opportunity for open space enthusiasts to share what they know and to help Conejo Valley Unified School District fifth graders have a valuable experience in the Conejo Open Space. The students are extremely receptive, making it a rewarding experience for the kids and volunteers alike.

Volunteer hike leaders take groups of 12 to 15 fifth graders on 1-hour, 1-mile hikes from the Wildflower Playing Fields to the Nature Center via the Wildwood Canyon Trail. One teacher or parent accompanies each group to keep the students focused on their hike leader; the leader talks to the group about indigenous plant and animal life. At intervals along the way, plants are tagged with multiple choice questions. Vast knowledge about local plants and animals is not a requirement. Volunteers range from experienced naturalists, botanists, and wildlife biologists to people who simply value natural open space and wish to contribute to our program. Volunteers who have not participated in this program previously are asked to attend a training session the week before Trails Education Days. These training sessions are conducted by professional naturalists and include a rehearsal hike to the Nature Center on Wildwood Canyon Trail. With 1,600 students attending over a 5 day period, we need as many as 15 people per day to lead 2 hikes each.

General Coordinators - Several people are needed each day to help keep the program running smoothly and on schedule. These volunteers unload the school groups from their buses, assign the groups to their hike leaders, usher the groups from one workshop to the next, pass out water bottles as the students leave the canyon, lead groups on the 20 minute hike back to their buses, set up the Nature Center for the volunteers' lunches, and do whatever else comes up. Interested people might choose to volunteer for one morning, a day or two, or for the entire week.

Volunteers for Trail Safety & Courtesy workshop - One workshop involves a hiker, bicyclist, equestrian, and dog walker. These trail users act out a scenario for the students that illustrates right and wrong ways to behave in the open space. Volunteers typically participate in 5 or 6 half-hour workshops each day, over a total of 4 hours, and volunteer for one or more days of the program.

All volunteers are treated to snacks and lunch, courtesy of COSCA and Whole Foods Markets. Click here to learn more about Trails Education Days. For information or to volunteer, please email Elayne Haggan at ted@cosf.org, or Julie Osborn at volunteer@cosf.org, or fill out an online volunteer application.


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