Hikes and Nature Programs
The City of Palo Alto offers a variety of nature programs including; night hikes, nature walks, birding, canoe floats, campfire programs, movies, star parties and other activities in the open space preserves. A full schedule of these events is listed in the Enjoy! catalog. Please pre-register for all programs to ensure availability.
Restoration Activities
Acterra's Arastradero Preserve Stewardship Project conducts habitat restoration activities to restore degraded habitat and to control non-native weeds. Volunteers are always welcome. Workdays are on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call to confirm dates when holidays fall near a workday. Meet in the preserve parking lot. Please call 650-962-9876 x347 to RSVP. For more information about restoration activities, visit www.arastradero.org.
Nature Programs
Special request interpretive programs are available at Foothills Park by reservation. Programs vary from arts and craft style programs, nature hikes and walks to canoe programs on Boronda Lake and can be tailored to the needs of your group. A downloadable copy of the request form is available via the link at the bottom of this page. Please contact Ranger Richard Bicknell at 650-329-2423 for more information or reservations.
If staff is available you can also request a Ranger to stop by and visit with your group in any preserve. These free "15 minute" talks are a great way to get acquainted with the park, find out what is blooming or what animals are out or learn a little about the history of this local treasure. Please call 650-329-2423 for requests in Foothills Park and the Pearson-Arastradero Preserve or 650-617-1356 for the Baylands Preserve.
Special group programs on the ecology of the salt marshes in the Baylands may be arranged by reservation. Please call a Naturalist at 650-329-2506 for more information or reservations.
Nature Notes
Our Nature Notes are a collection of flyers that describe the wonders of our preserves; its plants, animals and history. You can select the notes to download from the Nature Note page by visiting the Nature Notes Page.
