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.
Monday Trail Clearing and Weeding
Join Reserve staff for a Monday morning maintaining our trails!
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered by 4:00 pm on Friday, January 31.
| When: | February 3, 2020, 7:30 am – 9:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | Ladera Open Space - East |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 18 (out of 20) |
Fun Finding Fungi Mushroom Walk: 9:00am-11:30am
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.
For more information on 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, February 07.
| When: | February 8, 2020, 9:00 am – 11:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 0 |
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.This event will be located at The Reserve Headquarters-specific location information will be provided in a confirmation email after your registration is submitted. 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, February 7.
| When: | February 8, 2020, 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 0 |
Fun Finding Fungi Mushroom Walk: 12:30pm-3:00pm
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.
For more information on 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, February 07.
| When: | February 8, 2020, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 18 (out of 30) |
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, February 21st.
| When: | February 22, 2020, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 0 |
Shooting Stars Wildflower Walk
Local wildflower expert Bob Allen will lead an exploration of The Reserve looking for early wildflowers like the Padre Shooting Star. Learn to identify blooms and savor the smells, sights, sounds and breathtaking beauty of winter.
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 8 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 8:00 pm on Friday, February 28rd.
| When: | February 29, 2020, 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 7 (out of 25) |
Monday Trail Clearing and Weeding
Join Reserve staff for a Monday morning maintaining our trails!
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ages: 10 and up
Please note: participants must be registered by 4:00 pm on Friday, February 28.
| When: | March 2, 2020, 7:30 am – 9:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 20 |
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, March 13.
| When: | March 14, 2020, 8:00 am – 11:00 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 18 (out of 20) |
Leprechaun Hunt: 10:00am - 11:30am
Bring the “wee-ones” out for a morning in pursuit of the mischievous Irish faery - the Leprechaun. Decorate a blarney stone, build a fairy house, play games, and go on a search for a leprechaun.
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: All. Activities geared for ages 5 and up.
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, March 13.
| When: | March 14, 2020, 10:00 am – 11:30 am |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 6 (out of 30) |
Leprechaun Hunt: 1:00pm-2:30pm
Bring the “wee-ones” out for an afternoon in pursuit of the mischievous Irish faery - the Leprechaun. Decorate a blarney stone, build a fairy house, play games, and go on a search for a leprechaun.
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: All. Activities geared for ages 5 and up.
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, March 13.
| When: | March 14, 2020, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 25 (out of 30) |
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: | March 18, 2020, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | RMV Presentation Center |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 14 (out of 25) |
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, March 20.
| When: | March 21, 2020, 7:45 pm – 9:45 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 26 (out of 30) |
Butterfly Walk
Come explore with amateur butterfly enthusiast Gary Meredith and learn to identify butterflies – a relaxing and fun activity. How many species will we find during our walk through the ever-changing palette of habitats? Learn how to recognize our common butterflies. Find out about hill topping and territorial behavior as you hike the trails of The Reserve.
Interpretation Level: Medium
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 March 20.
| When: | March 21, 2020, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy |
| Information: | Available Spaces: 16 (out of 25) |