Sam McDonald Park
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Project Pictures
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Project FlyerCovid Policy
Camp
Driving Directions
If you are biking, the actual address of camp is 12430 Pescadero Road.
Carpool/Parking Information
Level of Effort
Project Fact Sheet
Fact SheetProject Schedule
(tentative schedule)
Friday
5:00 pm - Registration and camping open. DINNER IS NOT PROVIDED.
Saturday
7:30 am - Registration, light breakfast, and lunch packing begin at Center Camp.
8:30 am – Morning greeting, announcements, stretching and safety talk.
9:00 am – Project begins.
12:30 pm - Break for lunch on trail.
3:30 pm – Stop work and return to camp. Clean and store tools.
4:00 pm – Snacks, cold drinks and beer.
6:00 pm – Dinner.
Sunday
7:30 am - Registration and lunch packing begin. Hot breakfast is served.
8:30 am – Morning greeting, announcements, stretching and safety talk.
9:00 am – Project begins.
1:30 pm - Stop work, clean tools, load tools into boxes and return to camp.
Things to Do Before or After the Project
- Food/Drink
- Blue Ocean Brewing - Brewery near Half Moon Bay - good stop on your way back home if you are going north!
- Highway 1 Brewing Company Pescadero’s (Open 12-5:30pm)
- Loma Mar Store Coffee, Pastries, homestyle food, beer/wine, plus local art/crafts for sale and a cozy atmosphere. (Open 8am-8pm)
- Arcangeli’s Famous for its Garlic Herb and Artichoke bread, this market has been around since 1929 and makes all sorts of other delicious goodies besides bread! (Open 11am-5pm)
- Mercado & Taqueria de Amigos Best burritos on the coast! (Open 9am-8pm)
- Sante Arcangeli’s Family Winery Stop by for a wine tasting at Pescadero’s local Family Winery. (Open 12-5pm)
- Harley Farms Goat Dairy (Open 11am-4pm)
- Blue House Strawberry U-Pick & Farm Stand Pick strawberries and shop for yummy veggies, dry beans, cornmeal, jam, pickles, flowers and more! (Open 12-5pm)
- Duarte’s Tavern Famous for its artichoke soup and delicious pies, Duartes has been around since 1894. (Open 11am-6pm; Bar open until 8pm w/o food).
- Beaches/Marsh
- Pescadero Marsh - Rich in biodiversity, the Pescadero Marsh is at least 6 ecosystems in one. In the fall, tons of migrating birds can be seen soaring across the sky.
- Bean Hollow State Beach - Hike along the bluffs, visit Pebble Beach, tidepool, and/or spend time on the south beach. It’s the only beach that allows dogs.
- Año Nuevo State Park - You may be able to catch some juvenile elephant seals getting some beach time as a part of their early development. Ano Nuevo has a rich geological history and biodiversity.
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Hostel - 115ft tall, the Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a landmark on the central coast. Just north of the lighthouse off of Pigeon Point Road, there are some great tidepooling spots. Great place to watch for migrating humpback whales. It’s also a hostel.
- Redwood Parks
- Sam MacDonald Park - A 2.6 mile trail leads to a beautiful grove of old growth redwoods.
- Memorial County Park - There’s some great trails in the park we are working in. Check out the map. One of my favorite’s is Mt. Ellen Trail.
- Pescadero Creek County Park - Another one of Pescadero’s redwood parks, with varied trails and great views on some.
What to Bring and Wear
- 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.
- 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
- 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 Please plan for sun protection, including sun hats, sun block and light long sleeve shirts. We will be in the shade most of the day, but good to be prepared. Bring layers to keep warm as it can get cold in the redwoods. 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 are limited areas of poison oak. Have your crew leader point some out to you if you don’t know what it looks like. “Bunny suits” will be provided for thohere are limited areas of poison oak. Have your crew leader point some out to you if you don’t know what it looks like. “Bunny suits” will be provided for those who need extra protection. Clean with Tecnu (which V-O-Cal provides) after the work day, and be cautious when handling your dirty clothes. Always wear gloves when handling tools.
TICKS | MOSQUITOES | YELLOW JACKETS Ticks are always a hazard so it is important to check during and after the project. Bring bug repellent for mosquitoes or wear thick clothing. Stay calm around yellow jackets. Most will leave us alone. Crew leaders have first aid kits to help in case of bites/stings.
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 Leads Kayla Marie Figard | Duane Sheets
- Technical Lead Lauren Blanchard, mentored by Joe Cavaness
- Crew Leader Manager Cavine Johnson, mentored by Tomomi Yuasa
- Kitchen Lead Clara Chan
- Registration Augusta Murphy
- Outreach Kayla Marie | Lily Brady | Melinda Greene
- Shopping KM | Duane Sheets
- Truck/Warehouse Load Lead Duane Sheets
- Artist in Residence Taylor Seamount
- Website Lisa Freeman | Geoff Clarke
Agency Partners
San Mateo County
Project Sponsors
Project Sponsor
Special thanks to Bay Area Barns and Trails (BABT) for their generous grants supporting V-O-Cal these past few years. BABT assists landowners and land managers with preservation and maintenance of publicly accessible Bay Area barns, stables, pastures, staging areas, horse camps, and trails.
Other Sponsors
- Blue Ocean Brewing (beer!) https://www.blueoceanbrewing.com/
- Blue House Strawberry U-Pick & Farm Stand (tomatoes and other veggies) https://bluehousefarm.com/
- Lasky Trade Printing (stickers for volunteer thank yous) https://www.printaccess.com/p?aff=vma&pid=463
- Buenos Recuerdos Orchard (apples)
