Nature and Outdoor Activities
Get out and explore!!

Are you curious?
Why do vultures soar in circles? What is that wildflower? Do bullfrogs belong here?* Is it really true that only the girl mosquitoes will bite you?* If you have a question about the history or natural history of local parks, ask a ranger.

Rangers love to hear what you have observed, to share what they know and to continue to make new discoveries as they explore the parks with you.

Explore with a ranger
To help share their knowledge and love for discovery, the LARPD ranger staff offers a variety of programs:

• School programs bring students to the parks and take rangers to the classroom
• Weekend programs for the public provide a time for individuals and families to get away from the daily routine and learn what is special about our parks.
• Kids in the Junior Rangers program tromp through the mud, hike through dry grass and splash into the stream to discover nature’s hidden treasures. Exploration, games, crafts and overnights are all part of the fun.
• Scouts and other community groups explore the nocturnal world after the park closes with our Hoot Owl program.
• Those who like to venture out of the Livermore area can travel with a ranger to see other natural wonders of the Bay Area such as the elephant seals at Año Nuevo, hawks migrating at the Marin Headlands or monarch butterflies wintering at Natural Bridges State Beach.

More activities
In addition to programs led by the rangers, LARPD’s outdoor recreation staff:

• leads the popular summer nature camp program for kids from ages 4 to 13.

We also work with contractors to provide outdoor adventures. You can:

• sleep in an igloo you helped build
• Learn to kayak at Lake Del Valle
• Spend a day kayaking in a beautiful spot such as Tomales Bay
  

These classes and trips are listed in the LARPD Classes and Programs brochure's Outdoor Recreation page.

Read about it
Each month the ranger staff publishes a newsletter, Valley Wilds. In it you will find articles on local history and natural history topics, park news and listings of all of the weekend programs for that month.

Check out our Nature Notes page for notes on what plants are blooming and what animals are active, and read short articles introducing you to some of them. If you would like to read about how to avoid conflicts with wildlife, read the information about wildlife concerns on the Park Safety page. 

To learn how to support LARPD's nature and outdoor activities, visit the LARPD Foundation page or view Donation Opportunities.

*The answers to these two questions are no and yes.