Calaveras Big Trees Association

Birding With Bruce 2025
2025-08-07 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-08-14 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-08-21 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-08-28 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-09-04 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-09-11 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-09-18 09:30 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Calaveras Big Trees Visitors Center, 1170 E. Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
Bird lovers rejoice! Our volunteer docent Bruce McClenahan will continue the Thursday 9:30am guided bird walks, conditions permitting. Meet Bruce at the Visitor Center on Thursday mornings for a roughly hour-long, easy walk to learn about bird watching and what birds we have here.
Call 209-795-7980 for more information.

Night Skies with Doc Nancy
2025-08-16 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-08-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Calaveras Big Trees Scenic Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
Come look at the stars! Doc Nancy will be sharing scientific information and telling stories as everyone gazes at the night sky. Meet us at the Scenic Overlook in the park, just a few miles past the Visitor Center. Bring a chair or blanket and please keep your headlights turned off as you enter the parking area.

Optical Astronomy Nights
2025-08-21 20:00 - 21:30, 2025-09-18 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-10-02 19:30 - 21:00 | CA
Optical Astronomy Nights at Big Trees. You bring a chair and a blanket, we’ll bring the telescopes, and together we’ll explore the night sky! Meet at the scenic overlook and come early for best parking.

Optical Astronomy Nights
2025-09-04 19:30 - 21:00 | CA
The Sept 4th date has been cancelled due to air quality concerns from local fires.

Optical Astronomy: Dark Sky
2026-05-14 20:30 - 22:30 | Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
May 14, 2026 (Thursday) at 8:30 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Join us for our first Dark Sky Astronomy Night of 2026.

Experience the magic of a truly dark sky at Calaveras Big Trees State Park on May 14, 2026 at 8:30 PM. Far from city lights and surrounded by towering sequoias, led by our knowledgeable docent-volunteer astronomers, this program offers a rare opportunity to explore deep-sky objects, star clusters, and galaxies through our telescopes. Bring a chair, a blanket, and your curiosity. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a first-timer, this family-friendly program you won’t want to miss.

Please arrive early — parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Optical Astronomy: Moon Night
2026-05-21 20:00 - 22:00 | Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
May 21, 2026 (Thursday) at 8:00 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Join us for our first Moon Night of 2026.

Grab a chair and a blanket and head out under the stars! Our volunteers will have telescopes ready for a guided night sky exploration. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a first-timer, this family-friendly program you won’t want to miss.
Please arrive early — parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

2026 UC California Naturalist Course Registration:
2026-05-28 - 2026-06-26 | Ralston Classroom, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
The California Naturalist Program is returning to Calaveras Big Trees State Park for an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Sierra Nevada’s ecology. This immersive course combines an engaging science curriculum with hands-on field experiences, creative problem-solving, authentic citizen science projects, and meaningful community service.

Program Dates
Thursdays: May 28, June 4,
18 & 25
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Fridays: May 29, June 5,
19 & 26
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Program Flyer

Program Fee: $310

Scholarships Available: A limited number of need-based, partial scholarships ($55) will be available.

Registration Is Open
Register Today
NOTE: Register early to ensure your place in this program. The class size is limited to 24 participants.

Attendance Policy: Participants must attend all classes.
Refund Policy: Full refunds, minus a $50 processing fee, are permitted until April 15, 2026. No refunds will be issued for any reason after April 15, 2026.

Conservation Ambassadors’ Wild Things
2026-06-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Campfire Center
Your favorite wild neighbors are coming to the park
A Special Event at Calaveras Big Trees
The incredible team from Conservation Ambassadors’ Wild Things is returning to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and they’re bringing some of the most fascinating animal ambassadors you’ll ever meet up close.

From a baboon who loves a good balance ball to a bald eagle who survived a gunshot wound, every single animal has a story. And Wild Things is here to tell it, with warmth, humor, and a deep commitment to conservation that will leave your whole family inspired.
Whether you’re a returning fan or meeting them for the first time, this is one of the most popular events we host all year. Don’t miss it.
Want to learn more about Conservation Ambassadors’ Wild Things? Click here to check out their website, meet a few of their animals, and learn more about the great work they do.

About Conservation Ambassadors
Conservation Ambassadors’ Wild Things was founded in 1987 and has spent nearly four decades providing a home for displaced wildlife and sharing their stories with the public. Today, they care for over 60 species, reaching thousands of school children every year with a message of conservation, curiosity, and deep respect for the natural world. They are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Weimar, CA. Learn more about their mission and team here.

Optical Astronomy: Dark Sky
2026-06-11 20:30 - 22:30 | Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
June 11, 2026 (Thursday) at 8:30 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Join us for our Dark Sky Astronomy Night.

Experience the magic of a truly dark sky at Calaveras Big Trees State Park on June 11, 2026 at 8:30 PM. Far from city lights and surrounded by towering sequoias, led by our knowledgeable docent-volunteer astronomers, this program offers a rare opportunity to explore deep-sky objects, star clusters, and galaxies through our telescopes. Bring a chair, a blanket, and your curiosity. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a first-timer, this family-friendly program you won’t want to miss.

Please arrive early — parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Night Skies with Doc Nancy
2026-06-13 21:00 - 23:00 | Calaveras Big Trees Scenic Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
June 13, 2026 (Saturday) at 9:00 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Come look at the stars!
Doc Nancy will share scientific information and tell stories as everyone gazes at the night sky. Meet us at the Scenic Overlook in the park, just a few miles past the Visitor Center. Bring a chair or blanket and please keep your headlights turned off as you enter the parking area.
Please arrive early! Parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast, so carpooling is recommended.
Meet at the Scenic Overlook for astronomy programs.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

M. Kat Anderson - Author Seminar
2026-06-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Ralston Classroom, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
Author Talk with M. Kat Anderson
A Special Morning at Calaveras Big Trees
Join Us for an Author Talk with M. Kat Anderson
The Calaveras Big Trees Association is delighted to welcome ethnobotanist and author M. Kat Anderson for a morning of inspiration and discovery.
What does it mean to truly belong to a landscape, to listen to it, and let it sing back? In her new book, I Sing to the Earth and She Sings Back, ethnobotanist M. Kat Anderson invites us into a more intimate, embodied relationship with the natural world, one grounded in presence, reciprocity, and a reawakening of ancestral ways of knowing.
Building on the foundation of her landmark book Tending the Wild, which transformed how we understand Indigenous stewardship of California’s landscapes, Anderson draws from decades of collaboration with Native elders and a lifetime of personal experience as an ecologist and seeker. She weaves storytelling, cultural insight, and practical guidance into ten lyrical chapters that speak powerfully to our moment of ecological reckoning and spiritual disconnection, offering a grounded and hopeful path to reconnection — one that honors Indigenous wisdom without appropriating it.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Kat speak, ask questions, and connect with others who share a love for the living world.
I Sing to the Earth and She Sings Back and Tending the Wild are available at the Big Trees Visitor Center. For more information on these books, visit M. Kat Anderson’s website.

About the Author
M. Kat Anderson is an ethnobotanist whose thirty-year collaboration with California’s Indigenous elders and traditional knowledge holders has shaped how scientists and land stewards understand the natural world. Author of the landmark Tending the Wild and the newly released I Sing to the Earth, and She Sings Back (2026), her work is a lifelong devotion to restoring our relationship with the land. Learn more at tendingthewild.com.

Optical Astronomy: Moon Night
2026-06-25 21:00 - 23:00 | Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
June 25, 2026 (Thursday) at 9:00 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Join us for our Optical Astronomy Night – Moon Night.

This program invites you to gaze at the moon and the surrounding night sky through our telescopes. Bring a chair, a blanket, and your sense of wonder.
Please arrive early — parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Night Skies with Doc Nancy
2026-07-03 20:30 - 22:30 | Calaveras Big Trees Scenic Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
July 3, 2026 (Friday) at 8:30 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Come look at the stars!
Doc Nancy will share scientific information and tell stories as everyone gazes at the night sky. Meet us at the Scenic Overlook in the park, just a few miles past the Visitor Center. Bring a chair or blanket, and please keep your headlights turned off as you enter the parking area.
Please arrive early! Parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast, so carpooling is recommended.
Meet at the Scenic Overlook for astronomy programs.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Optical Astronomy: Dark Sky
2026-07-09 20:30 - 22:30 | Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
July 9, 2026 (Thursday) at 8:30 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Join us for our Dark Sky Astronomy Night.

Experience the magic of a truly dark sky at Calaveras Big Trees State Park on July 23, 2026 at 8:30 PM. Far from city lights and surrounded by towering sequoias, led by our knowledgeable docent-volunteer astronomers, this program offers a rare opportunity to explore deep-sky objects, star clusters, and galaxies through our telescopes. Bring a chair, a blanket, and your curiosity. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a first-timer, this family-friendly program you won’t want to miss.

Please arrive early — parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Night Skies with Doc Nancy ( Event Canceled )
2026-07-10 20:30 - 22:30 | Calaveras Big Trees Scenic Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
Event Canceled: July 10, 2026 (Friday) at 8:30 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Come look at the stars!
Doc Nancy will share scientific information and tell stories as everyone gazes at the night sky. Meet us at the Scenic Overlook in the park, just a few miles past the Visitor Center. Bring a chair or blanket, and please keep your headlights turned off as you enter the parking area.
Please arrive early! Parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast, so carpooling is recommended.
Meet at the Scenic Overlook for astronomy programs.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Black Bears in California: Natural History, Conservation, and Management
2026-07-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Ralston Classroom, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
Seminar with Arjun Dheer, Ph.D.
Black Bears in California: Natural History, Conservation, and Management

The Calaveras Big Trees Association is delighted to welcome Arjun Dheer, Ph.D., Senior Environmental Scientist and Statewide Black Bear Coordinator with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, for a morning of insight and discovery into one of the Sierra Nevada’s most fascinating and misunderstood neighbors.

What does it take for people and bears to share the same wild spaces? In his presentation, Black Bears in California: Natural History, Conservation and Management, Arjun brings years of fieldwork and hands-on wildlife science into the room, offering a rare inside look at black bear behavior, ecology, and the delicate balance between thriving communities and a healthy natural environment. For those of us who live, work, and love nature, this is a conversation that matters. Bears are part of our community, and understanding them more deeply is part of understanding our shared environment.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Arjun speak, ask questions, and connect with others who share a love for the wild world around us.

About the Presenter
Arjun Dheer, Ph.D., is a Senior Environmental Scientist and the Statewide Black Bear Coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Black Bear Management Unit. His work is dedicated to maintaining ecologically functional black bear populations across California, balancing science, conservation, and the realities of living alongside wildlife. To explore his full body of research and publications, visit his ResearchGate profile. Learn more about CDFW’s Black Bear Program at wildlife.ca.gov.

Optical Astronomy: Moon Night
2026-07-23 20:30 - 22:30 | CA
July 23, 2026 (Thursday) at 8:30 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Join us for our Optical Astronomy Night – Moon Night.

This program invites you to gaze at the moon and the surrounding night sky through our telescopes. Bring a chair, a blanket, and your sense of wonder.
Please arrive early — parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

The Birds of Calaveras Big Trees
2026-07-25 10:00 - 11:30 | Ralston Classroom, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
Presentation with Alan Beymer
A Special Morning at Calaveras Big Trees

Join Us for a Presentation with Alan Beymer
The Calaveras Big Trees Association is pleased to welcome Alan Beymer for a morning dedicated to the birds that live in our park.
The giant sequoias get much of our attention. But look up, and listen, the birds of Calaveras Big Trees have a compelling story to tell. In his presentation, The Birds of Calaveras Big Trees, Beymer draws on a lifetime of careful observation to bring these species into focus, offering a closer look at who’s here, when they arrive, and what their presence tells us about the health and rhythm of this forest.

From the striking black-and-white flash of the White-headed Woodpecker prying the bark of a sugar pine, to the flame of a Western Tanager in the summer canopy, to the quiet industry of the Brown Creeper spiraling up an ancient trunk, these birds are everywhere, if you know where to look.
For all of us, his talk is an invitation to listen a little more closely the next time we step outside.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Alan speak, ask questions, and connect with others who share a love for the wild world around us.

About the Presenter
Alan Beymer is a retired educator from Merced College and a longtime resident of Arnold, California. His years living and observing in the foothills and mountains of the central Sierra have given him an intimate familiarity with the birds and natural world of this region.

Night Skies with Doc Nancy
2026-08-01 20:00 - 22:00 | Calaveras Big Trees Scenic Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
August 1, 2026 (Saturday) at 8:00 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Come look at the stars!
Doc Nancy will share scientific information and tell stories as everyone gazes at the night sky. Meet us at the Scenic Overlook in the park, just a few miles past the Visitor Center. Bring a chair or blanket and please keep your headlights turned off as you enter the parking area.
Please arrive early! Parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast, so carpooling is recommended.
Meet at the Scenic Overlook for astronomy programs.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Night Skies with Doc Nancy
2026-08-08 20:00 - 22:00 | Calaveras Big Trees Scenic Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
August 8, 2026 (Saturday) at 8:00 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Come look at the stars!
Doc Nancy will share scientific information and tell stories as everyone gazes at the night sky. Meet us at the Scenic Overlook in the park, just a few miles past the Visitor Center. Bring a chair or blanket and please keep your headlights turned off as you enter the parking area.
Please arrive early! Parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast, so carpooling is recommended.
Meet at the Scenic Overlook for astronomy programs.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees

Optical Astronomy: Dark Sky
2026-08-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Overlook, 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold, CA, 95223, United States
August 13, 2026 (Thursday) at 8:00 PM | Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Join us for our Dark Sky Astronomy Night.

Experience the magic of a truly dark sky at Calaveras Big Trees State Park on August 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM. Far from city lights and surrounded by towering sequoias, led by our knowledgeable docent-volunteer astronomers, this program offers a rare opportunity to explore deep-sky objects, star clusters, and galaxies through our telescopes. Bring a chair, a blanket, and your curiosity. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a first-timer, this family-friendly program you won’t want to miss.

Please arrive early — parking is limited, and spaces fill up fast.
$10 per vehicle at the Entrance Station
For more information:

Email Us At: calaverasbigtreessp@parks.ca.gov
Phone: (209) 795-7980.
Visit: www.parks.ca.gov/calaverasbigtrees
