Saturday May 19 – BUTTERFLIES

Jim Mori of Sonora will present a program on the butterflies of our Park and the surrounding areas.   Mr. Mori has long shared his expertise and interest in butterflies with Park groups.  He has presented to docent groups and at Family Day.  He has also provided the excellent collection of butterflies which is displayed in the Park’s natural history collection located in the Visitor Center.  Mr. Mori is an entomologist, retired from the State of California and has had a deep interest in butterflies since he was a child.

All Seminars will be held in Jack Knight Hall at Calaveras Big Trees State Park  from 10:00 am-12 noon  Admission to the Park is $8 per car.

The seminars are free and open to the public.  Pack a lunch, bring the family and plan on spending the day among the Giant Sequoias.  For more information call Calaveras Big Trees Association at 795-3840 or visit our website at www.bigtrees.org

Click Here to download printable flyer.    Click on “Read More” to see the rest of the schedule

Saturday June 9th  – THE MYSTERY OF BIRD SONG       

Presented by David Lukas.  How do birds learn to sing such beautiful songs?  Why do they produce many different types of vocalizations?  David will help answer some of these questions and share his insights into the magical world of bird song—from the ways we study bird song to the anatomy of how birds produce sounds and some of the social behavior that explains common bird vocalizations.  David is a naturalist and author who has been living in the Sierra Nevada and leading bird programs in California for nearly 20 years.  His newest book is “Sierra Nevada Birds”, and it is the first comprehensive guide to all the birds that occur in the Sierra Nevada.

Saturday September 29.  – SEQUOIA RESEARCH

Presented by Dr. Howard Shellhammer, who was part of the team from San Jose State that conducted the first major study of the role of fire in the reproduction of the giant sequoias. Fire and other aspects of giant sequoia ecology were studied, mostly in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks during the late 1960′s and early 1970′s. The studies resulted in two popular publications, “The Giant Sequoias of the Sierra Nevada” and “Giant Sequoia Ecology..Fire and Reproduction”. Dr. Shellhammer will speak about recent continuing giant sequoia research.

Saturday October  6  – GO NATIVE 

Presented by Steve Stocking, retired biology professor from Delta College.  He will present “Go Native” about those native plants which will do well in this area, particularly above 2,000 feet.  Native plants are well adapted to the soils and climate of our area and typically do well with less water and care than many non-natives, once established.  Many also are particularly good for attracting native birds and butterflies.  Steve has been the CBTA “Seminar Chair” and Board member for four years.  He established the native plant garden at Delta College in 1978 and is the Education Chair of the local Native Plant Society and grows many natives at his home in San Andreas.

All Seminars will be held in Jack Knight Hall at Calaveras Big Trees State Park  from 10:00 am-12 noon  Admission to the Park is $8 per car.

The seminars are free and open to the public.  Pack a lunch, bring the family and plan on spending the day among the Giant Sequoias.  For more information call Calaveras Big Trees Association at 795-3840 or visit our website at www.bigtrees.org

May 26 – September 5, the hours for the Visitor Center are Weekdays - 9 am - 5 pm; Weekends 9 am – 6 pm

Please call (209) 795-3840 for more information.

Come join us in Jack Knight Hall (in Calaveras Big Trees State Park) for amazing music, hors d’oeuvres and fine local wines.  A perfect summer afternoon in a most spectacular place.

Tickets are $25.00 and are available online at www.memorylane.eventsbot.com.  Call (209) 795-3840 for assistance.

COAST TO CALAVERAS RAFFLE

Enter to win one of three extraordinary prizes!  Proceeds will support CBTA in their mission to provide the delivery of high quality educational and interpretive programs at Calaveras Big Trees State Park  We greatly appreciate your support.  The drawing will be held at the Anne Saunders Concert on June 16, 2012. Winners need not be present to win.

Tickets are only $5 each or 5 for $20.  Click Here to download your ticket application.

Raffle Packages:

A.  ON THE COAST: Your coast getaway includes a two-night stay for two at Moonstone Landing, a luxurious boutique hotel located in the resort village of Cambria.  Your ocean front room is complete with fireplace and Jacuzzi tub.  Included is an expanded continental breakfast and afternoon refreshments.     Moonstone Landing

Next in this package,  is the Grand Rooms Museum tour of Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which includes a viewing of Hearst Castle – Building the Dream. Breathtaking original cinematography combined with vintage clips and stills from the 1920s and 30s allows visitors to experience the building and background of the Castle on a 5-story screen.       Hearst Castle

B.  AMONG THE GIANTS: Four nights of camping in beautiful Calaveras Big Trees State Park will provide a base camp for your outdoor adventure among the giant Sequoias.  Your premier campsite can accommodate up to 4 people.  A Park specialist will guide a private interpretive hike for four through the serene South Grove of the big giants.  Along the way you will enjoy a respite and a gourmet picnic in a secluded setting.     Calaveras Big Trees State Park

The next part of your adventure will find you on a day long white water rafting experience for two, hosted by the renowned adventure company, O.A.R.S.  You will be rafting down the North Fork of the Stanislaus River, stopping along the way for lunch and a hike.  When you come off the river, you will find yourselves back at the Park.  You will also receive a $100 gift certificate to Royal Robbins Apparel.   www.oars.com

C.  MOUNTAIN RETREAT: The famed Black Bear Inn, nestled among the pines, will host your two night stay for two in Arnold, gateway to the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway.   Your room, which includes a fireplace and Jacuzzi tub, opens to a spectacular park-like setting.  Enjoy a full chef’s breakfast and afternoon wine and cheese in the magnificent great room. http://www.arnoldblackbearinn.com/

Paired with this mountain retreat is a private wine tasting for eight at Frog’s Tooth Vineyards in Murphys.  This tasting will include special hors d’oeuvres to complement each wine selection.  www.frogstooth.com

Hikes of two miles, demonstrations, talks, and audio-visual programs will include the topics of astronomy; animal adaptations; Sierra geology and weather; the mixed conifer forest, wildflowers; birds; Giant Sequoias and fire ecology; people through time; and the history of the National Park Service and one Ranger’s story. A special field trip to the largest sugar pine in the world will be included.

Doc Nancy

Join Fulbright Scholar and retired NPS Park Ranger, Dr. Nancy Muleady-Mecham for this unique opportunity to learn so much about this very special place.

Date:                       July 13, 14, & 15, 2012

Location:             Calaveras Big Trees State Park    

Participants:        Maximum number of participants: 20 – Ages 13 and older

Cost:                    $150 per person                             10% discount for Calaveras Big Trees Association Members

Included is a 3-day pass to Calaveras Big Trees State Park for the dates of the program and a BBQ Saturday night.

For more information and to reserve your spot, contact Calaveras Big Trees Association,

     Calaveras Big Trees Association                 209-795-3840             www.bigtrees.org

Click Here to Download Flyer                             Click Here for More Detailed Information

The Visitor Center will be open Daily December 17 through January 1 from 11:00 – 3:00.

The Warming Hut will  be open December 24 through January 1 11:00 – 4:00.

After January 1,tThe Visitor Center and Wrming Hut will be open on weekends only.

There will be a guided hike on Saturdays at 1:00 pm.  Please meet at the Warming Hut and wear appropriate shoes and clothing.  It can be cool.

Please come visit us!  Happy Holidays!

Activities also included:  Search and Rescue team members, the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum and First Five (with a project for pre-schoolers).  Other events returning this year included:  “cocked hat bowling”, which replicates bowling in the Gold Rush era, the Great Mother Lode Brass and Reed Band, fly fishing demonstrations, and a project by artists from “Arts of Bear Valley”.  The band “Passing Thru”  also played in the picnic area behind Jack Knight Hall.  The Ebbetts Pass Moose Lodge once again provided visitors with wonderful barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs.

Congratulations to Kathy Molinari – the winner of out beautiful handmade quilt that was raffled off on Saturday!

A big thanks to our wonderful sponsors:  Ace Hardware in Arnold; Arnold Lions Club; Big Trees Market in Arnold; Ebbetts Pass Moose Lodge; No. California Power Agency; Pioneer Electric; Sierra Hills Market in Murphys; and Subway Sandwiches in Arnold.   Also, many thanks to ALL the wonderful docents and volunteers who worked so hard to make this event a great one.  This year, Family Day was produced under the tireless the direction of Vaughn Smith and Scot Bishop.  Thank you to Vaughn and Scot for all their hard work to make Family Day a huge success.

And, of course, thank you to all who came to enjoy the day and to support Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

Calaveras Big Trees Association was well represented in the annual Arnold Fourth of July Parade.  Many docents, CBTA members and State Park representatives joined in the festivities.  The marchers were warmly received by the crowds that lined Highway 4. 

For their efforts, the CBTA and State Park entry was awarded a 2nd Place in the Non-Vintage Car category.

It is important in this time of State budget problems that have resulted in the closure of 70 State Parks, that the local communities, as well as visitors and tourists keep supporting our Parks and the efforts of Calaveras Big Trees Association. 

Thanks to all of those who participated in this fun event.

Marilyn Regan

Calaveras Big Trees Association is proud to announce that a new, 2011-2012 Board of Directors has been elected.  The election was held at the Annual meeting that was held on June 18, 2011.  Held in conjunction with a delicious potluck lunch, the election was conducted under the direction of Bunny Firebaugh.  The members of the 2011-2012 Board of Directors are:  President, Marilyn Regan; Vice President, Bruce Thomsen; Secretary, Bunny Firebaugh; Treasurer, Bruce Tallakson; continuing members of the Board are Marcy Crawford, Sanders Lamont, Steve Stocking; and new members to the Board are Vida Kenk, Tom Jones and George Leong.  The Board is looking forward to a very productive and exciting year as the construction of the new Visitor Center gets underway.