Volunteers Needed: Bull Thistle Removal - Saturday, June 21, 2025

Saturday, June 21-  VMF needs your help! Join botanist and conservationist Larry Hendrickson and VMF's Suzie Meyer for a morning removing non-native and highly invasive bull thistle at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center. By removing this plant species, you will have the satisfaction knowing that you are restoring the forest to its healthy, natural ecosystem! 

Date:  Saturday, June 21

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Wildcrafting: Spa Day - Sunday, May 25, 2025

Sunday, May 25: Join VMF's Outdoor Naturalist Janice Smith as we start our day relaxing quietly in a sensory meditation, allowing us to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the beauty of nature. Inspired by the freshness of the season, we’ll take a short walk to forage the ingredients we will use to make botanical bath salts, a raw sugar scrub, and a handmade spring soap infused with essential oils of your choice. You will be able to take home your handcrafted creations.

Wildcrafting: Spa Day - Saturday, May 24, 2025

Saturday, May 24: Join VMF's Outdoor Naturalist Janice Smith as we start our day relaxing quietly in a sensory meditation, allowing us to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the beauty of nature. Inspired by the freshness of the season, we’ll take a short walk to forage the ingredients we will use to make botanical bath salts, a raw sugar scrub, and a handmade spring soap infused with essential oils of your choice. You will be able to take home your handcrafted creations.

Nature Education Series: The Sex Lives of Plants

Saturday, May 10 - Join naturalist teacher Sharyl Massey as you learn about the fascinating ways plants reproduce and how their different adaptations are unique and fitting to their ecosystem. There will be a presentation at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center followed by a short walk observing a variety of plants.  

Date: Saturday, May 10

Time:  10:00 am - 2:00 pm 

Cost: $15 per person

Creek to Bay Clean Up Day - Saturday, April 26, 2025

Saturday, April 26: The Volcan Mountain Foundation is partnering with I Love a Clean San Diego to clean up VMF's Copper Spur Ranch. The focus will be to remove trash items in a forested area near the headwaters of the San Dieguito River. By participating in this clean-up, you will be restoring the forest to a healthy ecosystem. 

The Volcan Mountain Foundation greatly appreciates the time and energy volunteers take to restore the beautiful ecosystems of the Volcan Mountains in Julian, CA.

Date: Saturday, April 26

Wildcrafting: Forest Feast - Sunday, March 23, 2025

Sunday, March 23: Join VMF's outdoor naturalist educator, Janice Smith, as we identify, collect, and cook wild edible plants at VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center.  

We will start with a short walk to identify and harvest some of the easy to find edible plants growing around the nature center. Then we will roll up our sleeves and work in teams creating a delicious meal together from our harvest. 

Wildcrafting: Forest Feast - Saturday, March 22, 2025

Saturday, March 22:  Step into the magic of spring! In this workshop VMF's outdoor naturalist educator, Janice Smith, will guide you on a short walk to identify and harvest edible wild plants growing around the nature center. Then we will work in teams to make a delicious green feast. These lush plants may include miner’s lettuce, chickweed, cleavers, plantain, stinging nettle, mustard, stork’s bill, conifer needles and more!

Volunteer Day: Pile Burn - Monday, March 3, 2025

Join VMF for a stewardship day on Volcan Mountain. As a wildfire prevention measure, we will be creating piles of wood collected from the forest and burning them throughout the day. No experience necessary.

Date: Monday, March 3

Time:  8:30 am - 4:00 pm (Volunteers are free to leave at anytime).

Bring: Work gloves (VMF has its own supply as well), water, snacks, lunch. Camp chair optional. If you have a rake, bring that too.

Wear: Sturdy shoes and dress warmly and in layers.