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.
Presentation: Native Plants and their Uses
Have you ever wondered how California Indians cured a headache or eased the symptoms of the common cold? Or what plants were used to build houses, boats or hunting tools? Join us as naturalist and docent Janine Petersen discusses the medicinal, spiritual and practical uses of native plants. This lecture will be a hands-on look at the plants and the objects used by California Indians.
Ages: 8 and up
Participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm, November 21
| When: | November 21, 2019, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | Guest House in Rancho Mission Viejo |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 21 (out of 100) |
Family Astronomy Night
Discover the stars at this kid-friendly, family-oriented Astronomy Night. Join The Reserve and OC Astronomers for a "stellar" evening learning about space. Play astronomy themed games and activities, put together a star craft to take home, and listen to legends and stories about the Night Sky. The Orange County Astronomers will bring their telescopes for everyone to take a glance at the galaxy, as they share their knowledge of the planets and stars.
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 6 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, November 22.
| When: | November 23, 2019, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 0 |
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, December 1.
| When: | December 2, 2019, 7:30 am – 9:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 20 |
Ridge to Ridge Hike
Celebrate the end of fall with a 3.5 mile loop hike on The Reserve. This hike will traverse along Middle Ridge to North Ridge and provides some breathtaking views.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate with some strenuous hills
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, December 6.
| When: | December 7, 2019, 8:00 am – 10:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 6 (out of 25) |
Holiday Nature Crafting
Enjoy a cool, winter morning creating treasured keepsakes and personalized gifts made from natural and recycled materials. Take a winter plant walk around the area as we look for natural treasures for our winter plant bundles. Enjoy making personalized holiday cards, pinecone crafts, handprint keepsakes, upcycled gift tags, and "tree cookie" ornaments!
Ages: All
Participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, December 13th.
| When: | December 14, 2019, 9:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 16 (out of 40) |
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, December 13.
| When: | December 14, 2019, 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 20 |
Christmas Bird Count
Join experienced birders for the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Over the years, more than 80 species of birds have been seen at The Reserve. How many will we see in 2019? Join us and find out!! BRING: Binoculars & field guide if you have them, if not we have plenty for you to borrow. Visit Audubon's website to learn more about the CBC, one of the oldest "citizen science" events in the nation.
This bird count will take place alongside a private road. Counters will drive from site to site to look, listen and count the birds. Please wear neutral colored clothing.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Wednesday, December 18.
| When: | December 19, 2019, 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 20 (out of 30) |
Caspers Park Foundation Nature Talk
Reservations are not necessary for this event.
This nature-themed lecture is held in association with the monthly meeting of Caspers Park Foundation (CPF) volunteers.
Subject: Working with Ronald Caspers
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: | January 4, 2020, 10:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | Caspers Wilderness Park |
| Information: | Available Spaces: Unlimited |
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: Adult, 18 and older
Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering for The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.
| When: | January 11, 2020, 8:00 am – 10:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | RMV Presentation Center |
| 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, January 10.
| When: | January 11, 2020, 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 19 (out of 20) |
Fun Finding Fungi Mushroom Walk
What are Mushrooms and Why Do We Care? Why do they grow with Oaks?
Can I Touch Them? Can I Pick Them? Can I Eat Them?
How to Find, Photograph, and Identify Fungi.
Explore the fascinating world of wild mushrooms with amateur mycologist Joanne Schwartz. If we are fortunate and get rain, we might find a wide range of fungal forms and species.
For a list of references by Joanne, please click HERE.
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, January 11.
| When: | January 12, 2020, 9:00 am – 11:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 20 |
Winter Sycamore Trails Hike
Enjoy a cool, winter hike on the Reserve as we adventure up Shady Canyon to Wilson's Camp and return on the Sycamore Loop trail. Take in views of green grasslands, Toyon plants bursting with red berries and mistletoe bunches clinging to the Sycamore trees.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Easy-Moderate
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, January 17th.
| When: | January 18, 2020, 8:00 am – 10:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 24 (out of 25) |
Martin Luther King Jr. - Day of Service 2020
Enjoy a morning of service with Reserve staff and fellow volunteers as we beautify the grounds of our headquarters and gardens. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the Martin Luther King Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a "day on, not a day off."
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 8 and up
Please note: participants must be registered by 4:00 pm on Friday, January 19.
| When: | January 20, 2020, 9:00 am – 11:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 40 |
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. 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, January 24th.
| When: | January 25, 2020, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 22 (out of 30) |