Friday, October 14, 2022
-
Sunday, October 16, 2022

Anthony Chabot Regional Park

Sign Up Coming SoonSign Up Now!
Note that children 14 and over are welcome on V-O-Cal projects. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Project Background and Description

East Bay Regional Park District’s 3,314-acre Anthony Chabot Regional Park has miles of beautiful hiking, riding, and bicycling trails through grasslands, chaparral, and shady eucalyptus groves, and along the shore of Lake Chabot. V-O-Cal heads to the East Bay in October for a project at Anthony Chabot Regional Park. We will reroute a section of the Towhee Trail, which currently goes through the park's corporation yard and passes through dumpsters and heavy equipment.
Our project will reroute a section of the Towhee Trail that is close to the Entry Kiosk on Marciel Road, past the park’s Marciel Gate entrance, which is located where Marciel Road and Redwood Road intersect. The reroute will consist of about 1,000 feet of new trail that will bypass the corporation yard and take hikers through a meadow. Talk about an improvement! The work will involve clearing vegetation and cutting a new 4 foot wide trail bed.
More about what it is like to volunteer on a project:
Volunteer

Project Pictures

Help recruit more volunteers! Download the project flyer here

Project Flyer

Camp

Camping is available Friday and Saturday nights at the park’s Lookout Ridge campsite. All meals provided by V-O-Cal will be provided at this campsite, which is a 25 minute walk from our work area. If you are coming for the day only, it may be easier to bring your own lunch and go directly to the work area by the Entry Kiosk. Please see Driving Directions

Driving Directions

Anthony Chabot, Marciel Staging Area 9999 Redwood Road, Oakland, CA 94619

From Castro Valley: From I-580 westbound in Castro Valley, take the Redwood Road exit and turn right on Redwood Road. From I-580 eastbound, take the Redwood Road exit and turn left at Redwood Road. After about 2 miles you will pass the Redwood Canyon Public Golf Course. Another few miles will take you to the Marciel Gate at 9999 Redwood Road. Look for the wooden Anthony Chabot Regional Park Marciel Gate sign by the road on the left under the oak trees. From here, proceed to Center Camp or Entry Kiosk.

From Oakland or Berkeley: From Hwy 13 S take the Redwood Road exit, turn left and follow Redwood Road for approximately 7.5 miles. Look for the wooden Anthony Chabot Regional Park Marciel Gate sign by the road on the right under the oak trees. From here, proceed to Center Camp or Entry Kiosk.

From Marciel Gate to Center Camp:

If you arrive after 8:10 AM Saturday or Sunday morning proceed directly to the park’s Entry Kiosk.

  • Turn onto Maricel Rd.
  • After about 2 miles you will see a brown sign pointing right to the various group camp sites.
  • Turn right. You will come to a gate, which will be locked. The code to open it is 2009. The padlock is located on the left side of the gate. After removing the padlock, pull out the metal lever from the padlock box, then lift and push the gate bar to open the gate. Please lock the gate after you have entered.
  • Drive to the end of the road. You will see two campsites. Ours is the campsite to the left – Lookout Ridge Campsite.


From Marciel Gate to the Entry Kiosk:

If you arrive after 8:10 AM Saturday or Sunday morning proceed directly to the park’s Entry Kiosk.

  • Continue driving along Marciel Road., about 2.5 miles.
  • Just before the park’s Entry Kiosk you will see signs directing you to park off the right side of the road, just before the kiosk.
  • After parking, go to the registration table on the left side of the road.
Map Link

Carpool/Parking Information

Level of Effort

Project Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet
If a parking pass is required at the project site, it will be included with the fact sheet.

Project Schedule

Friday
5:00pm - Check in and camping open. DINNER IS NOT PROVIDED.

Saturday
7:30am - Check in, light breakfast, and lunch packing begin at Center Camp.
8:30 am – Quick morning greeting, then walk to the Entry Kiosk work  site. You will be escorted, and pink flags will mark the way.
9:00 am – Morning greeting, announcements, warm-up and safety  talk near the Entry Kiosk. Project begins.
12:00pm - Break for lunch on trail.
3:30 pm – Trail work ends. Clean and store tools. For those staying past the work day, walk back to Center Camp.
4:30 pm – Drinks, appetizers and socializing. Showers available.
5:30 pm – Dinner and more socializing. 
6:15 pm – Nature Talk.

Sunday
7:30am - Check in and lunch packing begin. Hot breakfast is served.
8:30 am – Quick morning greeting, then walk to the Entry Kiosk work site. You will be escorted, and pink flags will mark the way. 
9:00 am – Morning greeting, announcements, warm-up and safety talk near the Entry Kiosk. Project begins.
11:30am - Break for lunch on trail.
1:30pm - Head back to camp, clean tools, pack gear and truck.  For those with cars   at Center Camp, walk back to camp. 
2pm - Snack, celebrate the work and say goodbyes to old and new friends.

Things to Do Before or After the Project

What to Bring and Wear

For your safety and protection from hazards, please be prepared with the following items:
  • Sturdy shoes or boots with good tread. Ankle support will be important where we are building new trails. Sandals and open-toed shoes will not be permitted
  • Water bottles or a water bladder that can hold at least 2 liters of water. (You will not be allowed on the trail without water.)
  • Day pack to carry your water and lunch.
  • Work gloves. (If you don’t have your own gloves, V-O-Cal will provide them. Please return them at the end of the project.)
  • V-O-Cal provides all necessary tools, as well as training on tool use and safety.
  • Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen.
  • Insect repellent and allergy medicine (if you normally need these things when working outdoors).
  • Reusable plate/bowl, eating utensils, and mug/cup.
  • A change of clothes for each work day and for lounging at camp to minimize the spread of poison oak.
  • Please come prepared for a variety of weather conditions (think layers!). Unless there is a serious storm predicted, we will work drizzle or shine.
If you are camping, you will also need the following items: 
  • A tent (if you have the option to bring a smaller tent, please do!)
  • A sleeping bag, sleeping pad and pillow.
  • A flashlight or headlamp.
  • A camp chair (if you don't want to sit on the ground).
  • Other camping gear that makes you comfortable

Meals

V-O-Cal provides all meals for volunteers from breakfast Saturday through lunch Sunday. Vegetarian options are available for all meals. (Please note that dinner is not provided on Friday.)
  • To minimize waste we ask that you bring your own reusable plates, coffee mug, cups and utensils. Hot water and soap are provided.
  • A continental breakfast is served Saturday morning.
  • Lunch is prepared before hitting the trail. You break for lunch on the trail around 12:30pm.
  • Please arrive at camp by 7:40am to register, eat breakfast and prepare your lunch.
  • Appetizers and beverages will be available after the work day on Saturday, usually around 4pm. Dinner will follow, usually around 5:30pm.
  • Hot breakfast is served Sunday morning.

Hazards

SUN EXPOSURE | HYDRATION | HYPOTHERMIA Most of the work areas are fully shaded.  However, please plan for sun protection, including sun hats, sun block and light long sleeve shirts. Please bring water bottles or a water bladder large enough to hold at least 2 liters of water. Drink plenty of water throughout the work day. If you feel tired or weak, let your crew leader know, and take a break.

POISON OAK There is a risk of exposure to poison oak at the work site. Have your crew leader point some out to you if you don’t know what it looks like. Clean with Tecnu (which we provide) after the work day and be cautious when handling your dirty clothes.

MOSQUITOES | TICKS Mosquitoes could be active this time of year so bug spray and long-sleeved, lightweight shirts are recommended. Ticks are always a hazard; light colored clothing makes them easier to spot when you check during and after the project.

SNAKES Snakes are present on the property. Use caution, especially when picking items up off the ground or moving rocks

SHARP TOOLS Please listen to your crew leader’s tool safety talk and observe proper tool use throughout the day.

Volunteer Project Team

  • V-O-Cal Executive Director Cathy Moyer
  • Project Team Lead Francesca Verdier
  • Technical Advisor Elissa Goldner
  • Crew Leader Manager Tomomi Yuasa
  • Food Shopping & Prep Cathy Moyer | Chris Fishel
  • Kitchen | Chef Art Liu
  • Outreach Lily Brady
  • Camp Operations Pete and Debbie Duringer
  • Warehouse Load | Truck Driver Duane Sheets
  • Tool Town Mayor and Tecnu Station Baldwyn Chieh | Marlon Tan
  • Registration Augusta Murphy | Kimberley Thompson

Agency Partner

East Bay Regional Parks District

Project Sponsors

Help recruit more volunteers! Download the project flyer here

Project Flyer

Other Upcoming Projects

This is some text inside of a div block.