Tuesday, August 26, 2025
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Monday, September 1, 2025
East Bay Hills Benefit 2025
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. Children under 14 may attend VoCal with a non-volunteering adult supervisor, but neither would volunteer that day per the terms of our waiver.
Project Background and Description
V-O-Cal volunteers are, along with key partners, the magic ingredient that has made it possible for the East Bay Hills Trails Benefit to raise over $470,000 over the past 23 years to support trail building and volunteer trail work programs like V-O-Cal, the Bay Area Ridge Trail and more. We are hoping that you will be able to join us for a single shift or more to help make the 2025 East Bay Hills Trails Benefit Ride and Hike the best ever! Please use the sign up button to sign up now! As usual, if you want to sign up for consecutive days, you can camp with us and your meals will be included. Come for 2 days or more, and you probably will be able to join one of the hikes!
The East Bay Hills Trails Benefit Hike and Ride is not your typical V-O-Cal Project, but rather a celebration of our trails, consisting of a 5-day hike and a 6-day equestrian ride, utilizing the Bay Area Ridge Trail and other nearby trails. We camp for 2 days at 3 campsites, in EBRPD's Tilden Park, City of Oakland's Joaquin Miller Park and at Bort Meadow in Anthony Chabot Regional Park. Volunteers provide meals, trail routes, and camp and logistical support for the hiker and rider participants, as well as evening programs centered on the parks. Please join us by registering for a shift or more, using the sign up button above!
More info about:
East Bay Hills Benefit 2025More about what it is like to volunteer on a project:
VolunteerProject Pictures
Help recruit more volunteers! Download the project flyer here
Project FlyerCovid Policy
Because we do not want any of our projects to become a super-spreader event, V-O-Cal policy is that each of us should respect our fellow volunteers by not attending a project if you have contracted Covid and have not yet tested negative. In addition, if you have been exposed to Covid in the week before a V-O-Cal project, you should test to make sure you are unable to expose others. Thank you for keeping our V-O-Cal community and families safe.
Camp
Driving Directions
Carpool/Parking Information
Level of Effort
Project Fact Sheet
Fact SheetIf a parking pass is required at the project site, it will be included with the fact sheet.
Project Schedule
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.
