Family Nature Adventures: Fungi

This Months Theme: Fungus Among Us
Exploring the Secret Life of Mushrooms!

Unlock the mysterious world of fungi that thrives in the redwood forest!

Interactive Workshop:
Learn about the fascinating life cycle of mushrooms, their role in the ecosystem, and how to identify various species.
Guided Nature Walk: Venture into the forest with expert guides to discover different types of fungi growing in the wild and uncover their unique characteristics.
Get ready to explore the hidden wonders beneath the forest floor—fungi is far more fascinating than you might think!

What Awaits You:
Hands-On Workshops: Engage with science through fun, interactive activities and real tools.

Tasty Treats: Enjoy a snack to fuel your adventure!

Guided Nature Walks: Uncover the secrets of the forest with expert-led explorations.

This family-friendly experience is perfect for children ages 3-8 and their grown-ups. General museum admission is included with your ticket, and members enjoy $10 off per ticket by logging in.

Halloween Hike & Sip

As the sun dips below the horizon and shadows stretch through the forest, the Halloween Hike begins! Join us for a moderate, 75–90 minute spine-tingling adventure through the darkened trails of the majestic Oakland Redwood forest, where ghostly tales and eerie surprises await.

Led by our expert guides, this haunted trek combines the thrill of exploration with chilling stories sure to give you goosebumps. Dare to venture into the night and uncover the secrets hidden among the trees. Come in costume to add to the spooky fun—you might even receive an extra treat! This hike is perfect for friends and family who are ready to embrace the Halloween spirit with a mix of adventure and fright.

Details

Moderate Hike: 7:30 PM, approximately 2-3 miles, ±230-410 ft gain, 90-120 minutes.
Duration: 75–90 minutes
Cost: $40 per person (21+ only)
Includes two drink tickets (beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverages) and refreshments.
For a safe and enjoyable experience, wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers, and bring a flashlight to light your way.

Family Nature Adventures: Spidey Spectacular

$25 Adult, $35 Youth 3-8, Members receive $10 off

Your tickets include admission to the Center for the day – a $19-24 value!

Spin your way into the fascinating world of spiders and arachnids! This month’s adventure is packed with discovery and excitement: Learn all about native spiders, their incredible adaptations, and even how they behave in space. Grab a magnifying glass and set off into the redwood forest to find hidden spiders, marvel at their intricate webs, and explore their natural habitat. By the end of this adventure, you’ll have a newfound appreciation for these misunderstood eight-legged creatures and their vital role in the ecosystem. Adventure awaits—don’t miss out!

Bowl the Planet

Join us for an unforgettable night of bowling for the planet, where every strike helps light up the future of underserved Bay Area youth and save endangered habitat worldwide. Your registration ticket includes everything you need to have a blast—event admission, bowling shoes, three hours of glow in the dark bowling, and unlimited pizza!

Enhance your experience at the event with:
– A safari themed photo booth to capture memories of the night
– Bidding in a unique silent auction for a variety of amazing experiences, art and merch
– A full bar offering a wide selection of drinks

Every pin you knock down supports scholarships that bring our award-winning, hands-on education programs to the Bay Area kids who need them most. So lace up those shoes, grab a slice, and let’s bowl the night away!

Why Tides Matter

Docent Laurel Stell will talk and walk you through all things tides. What are they? How do they affect wildlife? How have humans reshaped the Bay’s tidal lands?

The presentation will be followed by an easy 0.5-mile walk. All are welcome.

Questions? Email watershedwatchers@sfbayws.org.

Other Considerations:
-Driving Directions: We recommend using Google Maps and mapping to 1751 Grand Blvd, Alviso.
-Wear comfortable clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. We also recommend bringing a filled reusable water bottle, and you are welcome to bring a lunch or snack.
-ADA-compliant parking spaces, trails, and portable toilets are available on-site.
-With the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed at this portion of the refuge.
-If you need any more accommodations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to watershedwatchers@sfbayws.org.

This program is brought to you by the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, the nonprofit Friends group to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, with support from the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP).

Wetlands: Natural Shields Against Climate Change

Did you know that wetlands naturally protect us against climate change?

Join us for a presentation to learn about how wetlands act like natural shields against climate change, and why the wetlands protected by the Refuge are so important to all of us! After the presentation, we will go on a short walk through our salt marsh and learn about the different types of wetlands at the Refuge. We will also discuss some exciting wetland restoration and flood protection projects happening in the South Bay! All ages are welcome.

Other Considerations:

Driving Directions: We recommend using Google Maps to navigate to 1751 Grand Blvd, Alviso, CA 95002. You will turn onto Grand Blvd on what appears to be a gravel road; continue all the way down this road to reach our main parking lot. Drive slowly and watch for wildlife crossing!
ADA-compliant parking spaces, trails, and portable toilets are available on-site.
Bring a smartphone, comfortable clothing including layers and sun protection, and a reusable water bottle.
Please note that pets, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed at this portion of the Refuge.
If you need any more accommodations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to watershedwatchers@sfbayws.org.

This program is brought to you by the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society (SFBayWS), the nonprofit Friends group to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, thanks to support from the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP).

Hike & Sip: Easy and Moderate Hikes

Experience an unforgettable evening of nature, history, and stargazing with Hike & Sip, a program designed for adults 21 and over. Explore the majestic Redwood forest, guided by Chabot’s knowledgeable outdoor educators, and learn about the ecosystem, the cultural heritage of the Ohlone peoples, and Oakland’s rich history.

Enjoy a beautiful sunset hike with two options to suit your pace:

Easy Hike: 5:00 PM, approximately 1.5 miles, ±150 ft gain, 60-75 minutes. Please plan to arrive at 4:40 PM for check in.

Moderate Hike: 6:30 PM, approximately 2-3 miles, ±230-410 ft gain, 90-120 minutes. Please plan to arrive at 6:10 PM for check in.

After your hike, unwind on Chabot’s Observation Deck with drinks and charcuterie. End the night with stargazing through telescopes (weather permitting) and star stories brought to life under the night skies.

Tickets are $40 per person and include two drink tickets (beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverages) and refreshments. This program is for adults 21+.

For a comfortable experience, we recommend wearing layers, sturdy shoes, and bringing a water bottle, mosquito repellent, and a flashlight for evening hikes.

Additional Information

Hikes may be canceled due to severe weather or low enrollment. In such cases, tickets will be refunded or rescheduled. Tickets may also be rescheduled with at least 48 hours’ notice, subject to availability. Animals are not permitted on hikes.

To participate, complete our Hiking Waiver & Consent Form prior to arrival, and bring your ticket(s) for easy check-in.

Group Hikes

Private group hikes can be arranged by contacting groupsales@chabotspace.org.

Join us for a unique adventure combining scenic trails, fascinating stories, and a starry evening you won’t forget!

Advanced reservations are encouraged as our hikes sell out quickly.
In the event of severe weather or other natural conditions that prevent access, reservations will be rescheduled.
Chabot reserves the right to cancel hikes due to low enrollment.
There are no refunds or cancellations for those who are unable to attend. Tickets may be rescheduled with at least 48 hours advance notice providing there is still ample available on a future date.

California Biodiversity Day BioBlitz

California Biodiversity Day is all about appreciating the many species that call California home. We’ll be leading a BioBlitz to celebrate! BioBlitzing involves exploring an area in search of plants, birds, insects, mammals, fungi, reptiles and any other organisms around. We’ll be snapping photos and posting them to iNaturalist so we have records of our amazing biodiversity, essential to understanding how things are changing or staying the same on the Refuge.

We will lead a leisurely walk in the Butterfly Garden and on the New Chicago Marsh boardwalk at the Alviso Unit of the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge to look for plants, insects, birds, and much more. This program is suitable for all ages, and the trails are accessible. Those of all experience levels with iNaturalist are welcome to participate. You’re also welcome to participate on your own at other parts of the Refuge!

Downloading the iNaturalist app and creating an account is a great way to prepare for this event. To get an idea of what we might find, you can check out our observations from our last BioBlitz in March of this year:

EEC BioBlitz for Beginners, March 2025 · iNaturalist

We also recommend joining our iNaturalist Project for this event in advance by searching for “Don Edwards SF Bay NWR California Biodiversity Day 2025.” We will help you with the rest!

Other Considerations:

Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early to check in.
What to bring: Wear comfortable clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. Reusable water bottles are a huge plus and are a great step to reducing plastic pollution. If you have binoculars, magnifying glasses, a camera, or other tools to help oberve wildlife, feel free to bring them!
ADA-compliant parking spaces, trails, and portable toilets are available on-site.
If you need any more accommodations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to watershedwatchers@sfbayws.org.
This program is brought to you by the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, the nonprofit Friends group to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, with support from the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP).

Climate IMPACT Summit

College and high school students passionate about the environment are invited to attend the free, one-day IMPACT Summit on Saturday, August 9th, at 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, at Campbell Heritage Theater. This action-oriented event features keynote speakers, panels and breakout sessions that empower students, elected officials and community members to tackle climate challenges by region.

Event Highlights:
* Keynote by Amanda Hansen, Deputy Secretary for Climate Change for the California Natural Resources Agency
* Members of the League of California Cities – Peninsula Division and 50+ local elected officials will be engaged with students and community members
* A unique opportunity to network with like-minded officials, professionals, community members, and student leaders
This event is free for students. Adult attendees are requested to make a donation. Lunch will be provided. This is a waste-conscious event, so please bring your own water bottle!

Learn more about the summit on SVYCA’s website.

Hosted by Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action in partnership with the League of California Cities – Peninsula Division, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, and Joint Venture Silicon Valley.

Family Hike at Sugarloaf

Come to the park for a peaceful hike through the woods on Monday, September 1! Join our Docents on this fun family hike that is good for all ages. During this 2-mile hike with 400-ft elevation gain, you will learn about Sugarloaf Park, its plants, animals, and history.

The hike begins from the Visitor Center and heads down to the waterfall on the Pony Gate-Canyon loop, or along the Creekside Nature Trail, but the route is bound to change depending on logistics and the participants’ physical ability. Free event, RSVP required. Wear layers, appropriate footwear for slippery/rocky trails, bring at least a quart (32oz) of water, sun protection, and if desired, a snack. Parking fees apply.