All events specify a minimum age for participation.
- Eight (8) is the minimum age for most Reserve events.
- Some events require participants to be ages 12 & up.
- FAMILY events welcome children aged 6 & up.
- Refer to specific event listing for details.
- Be sure to review our age limit policy.
Pre-registration required for all programs.
- Contact us for large groups or to arrange a special group outing.
- Your registration enables us to contact you about program changes or cancellations. Please see our policy on Cancellations and Refunds.
- All visitors to The Reserve must present a signed release waiver upon entry to the property. Families may submit a single form, as long as all entrants are identified on the form. Waivers are also available at the event.
Caspers Park Foundation Nature Talk
Reservations are not necessary for this event call Caspers Park Foundation for accurate seat availability.
This nature-themed lecture is held in association with the monthly meeting of Caspers Park Foundation (CPF) volunteers.
Subject: Landfill Restoration
This event is presented by the Caspers Park Foundation. For information regarding this event, please contact the Caspers Park Foundation. For more info, email: CaspersParkFoundation@gmail.com or call 949-923-2210.
| When: | September 1, 2018, 10:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | Caspers Wilderness Park |
| Information: | Available Spaces: Unlimited |
Astronomy Night
Orange County Stars
Visitors traveling to sparsely populated areas are usually delighted to discover how many more stars are visible than at home. If you’ve not yet caught a glimpse of the Milky Way, come out to The Reserve for Astronomy Night where you can still view many more celestial phenomena than elsewhere in urbanized Orange County!
Enjoy an evening outdoors, as you gaze into the heavens, learn the constellations, and peer through the telescopes of our volunteer astronomers. Reserve astronomers are all volunteers who enthusiastically share their telescopes and expert sky knowledge with you. (BRING: Warm clothing, Red cellophaned flashlight, binoculars, optional beach chair.)
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, Sept. 7.
| When: | September 8, 2018, 7:45 pm – 9:45 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 0 |
Lecture: Tarantulas and Other Many-Legged Critters of the Night
Did you know that in the evenings, male tarantulas wander around in search of food and females? They only live for about 1 year. Female tarantulas dig deep burrows in the ground and remain there, waiting for crickets and other insects to walk by and become dinner. They live for 20 years! Their relatives, the trap-door spiders, live in burrows in the ground. Some species build a hinged door over their burrow, and spring up when an insect walks across it. Black widow spiders mostly come out at night. When an insect gets stuck in its web, the spider rolls it up in silk, waits for it to quiet down, then bites and injects its venom. Soon after, the spider feeds on its dinner.
Aren’t you glad that you are too big to become dinner for a spider?!
Join us with guest speaker, Bob Allen, for an evening of photographs, stories, and specimens of tarantulas, other spiders, and night-time insects of Orange County.
Ages: 8 and up
Participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm, September 11.
| When: | September 11, 2018, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | Guest House in Rancho Mission Viejo |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 43 (out of 50) |
Tarantulas and Other Many-Legged Critters of the Night Walk
Join guest leader, Bob Allen, to get up close and personal with tarantulas and other arthropods! We'll be on the lookout for male tarantulas making their annual late summer search for females. We will also look for trap-door spiders and other critters of the evening.
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 8 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, September 14.
| When: | September 15, 2018, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 16 (out of 25) |
Monday Weeding and Restoration
Join Reserve staff for a Monday morning maintaining The Reserve!
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered by 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 30.
| When: | October 1, 2018, 7:30 am – 9:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 20 |
Caspers Park Foundation Nature Talk
Reservations are not necessary for this event call Caspers Park Foundation for accurate seat availability.
This nature-themed lecture is held in association with the monthly meeting of Caspers Park Foundation (CPF) volunteers.
Subject: Birds of Prey
This event is presented by the Caspers Park Foundation. For information regarding this event, please contact the Caspers Park Foundation. For more info, email: CaspersParkFoundation@gmail.com or call 949-923-2210.
| When: | October 6, 2018, 10:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | Caspers Wilderness Park |
| Information: | Available Spaces: Unlimited |
Middle Ridge Hike
Enjoy spectacular views of The Reserve as we hike up Middle Ridge and return along Gato Road.
Interpretation Level: Medium
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, October 5.
| When: | October 6, 2018, 8:00 am – 10:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | Cristianitos Trail (Talega) in San Clemente (The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy) |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 25 |
Saturday Trail Clearing and Weeding
Volunteer to spend a few hours in beautiful surroundings helping make The Reserve trails accessible to our visitors. Join the crew dedicated to protecting our native ecosystems by maintaining trails and eliminating weeds. Volunteer efforts make an impact! Drinks and snacks provided. (BRING: Work gloves if you have them).
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered by 4:00 pm on Friday, October 12.
| When: | October 13, 2018, 8:00 am – 11:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 20 |
Halloween Hunt Family Walk
Owls, spiders and bats…oh my! Come along as we explore these amazing creatures of Halloween time. Discover what owls like to eat, why spiders don’t stick to their own webs, and how bats communicate in the dark of night. Make a “spook-tacular” craft to decorate your home this Halloween!
Craft geared for ages 6 - 11 years, but all ages (6 and up) are welcome to participate.
Interpretation Level: Medium
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 6 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, October 12th.
| When: | October 13, 2018, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 24 (out of 25) |
Volunteer Orientation and Training
Please join us for Volunteer Orientation and Training!
This fun and informational orientation is the first step in joining us as an official Reserve Volunteer. Learn about The Reserve's history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Reserve lands through conservation and education.
CERTIFIED RESERVE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:
This training is the first step in becoming a Certified Reserve Volunteer. Certified Reserve Volunteers are specially trained volunteers that lead and co-lead Reserve programs.
Ages: 18 and up
| When: | October 17, 2018, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | RMV Presentation Center |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 24 (out of 25) |
Lecture: The Wonderful Life of the Coast Live Oak Tree
Trees play important roles in our lives. Join us for an in depth look at Orange County’s Coast Live Oak tree. Laura Coley Eisenberg, Executive Director of The Reserve, will examine the life of this intriguing tree. Oak woodlands have an impressive diversity of plants and animals that use them. Learn how oaks are important to the local wildlife – from deer, fox, bobcat, and birds…to mushrooms, lichen, butterflies and other insects. Get to know the challenges this tree and other oak species are facing from imported pests and how you can help protect these majestic trees.
Ages: 8 and up
Participants must be registered by Thursday, March 5 by 6:30 pm.
| When: | October 18, 2018, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm |
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| Where: | Guest House in Rancho Mission Viejo |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 30 |
International Observe the Moon Night
International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is an annual worldwide public event that encourages observation, appreciation, and understanding of our Moon.
Enjoy an evening outdoors, as you gaze into the heavens, learn about The Moon, the constellations, and peer through the telescopes of our volunteer astronomers. Reserve astronomers are all volunteers who enthusiastically share their telescopes and expert sky knowledge with you. (BRING: Warm clothing, Red cellophaned flashlight, binoculars, optional beach chair.)
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 19.
| When: | October 20, 2018, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 25 (out of 28) |