Saturday night – CBTA hosted the local screening of “California Forever”.  Many Thanks to David Vassar and Sally Kaplan for sharing their incredible movie with those lucky enough to attend.

Our success was due in large part of all our generous sponsors and donors.

Saturday – California Forever screening Sponosrs and donors:

GOLD SPONSORS

LILA & SAGE CATERING and CUPCAKES, Murphys CA

GROUNDS RESTAURANT, Murphys, CA

BLACK OAK CASINO,  Tuolumne, CA

SILVER SPONSORS

BERTINI MECHANICAL, Paul and Debbie Bertini

CALAVERAS WINEGRAPE ALLIANCE, Murphys, CA

Donors:

Black Sheep Winery, Brice Station Vintners, Broll Mountain Vineyards ,
Calaveras Springs Water, ChathomVineyards, Coppermine Winery, Country Flower Hutch, Hatcher Winery, Indian Rock Vineyards, Laraine Winery, Lavender Ridge, Milliaire Winery, Muir-Hanna Vineyards, Newsome-Harlow Wines, Renner Winery, Stevenot Winery, Twisted Oak, Val du Vino Winery and Villa Valleceito Vineyards.

Sunday – CBTA hosted the Snowshoe Thompson Experience and Raffle – Donors

Marisolio Tasting Bar, Yogurt Your Way, Tea An’ Tiques, The Spice Tin, Nelson’s Candy, Dr. Sullivan, Chiropractor, Jen’z Salon, Marda at Jen’z, Bergerz,  Sierra Nevada Adventure Co., Scott’s Yogurt Factory, Lavender Rose, Pumpco, REI, Stockton, Thorlo Mfg, North Carolina, Sierra Trading Post, All Seasons Ranch, Salon, ETC, The Dollar Store, Murphys.

Thanks to Steve Hale for a wonderful program.

Many thanks to all who participated in all both activities.

Thank you also to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make this a successful weekend.

Click here for more information

Saturday May 5 ^– Bears  of Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Dr. Paul Ustach, Biology Professor at San Joaquin Delta College will present a program about the Bears of Calaveras Big Trees State and the surrounding Sierra. Although we do not see them often, bears are among the most popular animals in the Park. Dr. Ustach has presented a very popular seminar about reptiles and amphibians here at the Park in 2009. He continues with a long college tradition of bringing his students to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Recently he has been volunteering during the summer in Yosemite. 

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

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

A big thank you to all who made this year’s “Winter Wonderland” and huge success.  Even though we had no snow, it was a beautiful day and a great time was had by all.

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.