Irvine Ranch Conservancy Partners with the City of Irvine and OC Parks on the City Nature Challenge

 

Below looks like a fun free hiking activity for families in Orange County

WHAT

Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) is hosting two City Nature Challenges for the public April 29-30, 2023, at the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon Preserve and OC Parks’ newly opened Saddleback Wilderness, both within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. These interactive and exploratory events focus on finding and identifying as many of Orange County’s rare and threatened plant communities and wildlife species as possible to gain a better understanding of our ecosystem and aid in biodiversity conservation. Guests will look for plants and animals, learn how to identify them using the iNaturalist app, and catalog their findings in a community iNaturalist project. High-quality data uploaded to iNaturalist become part of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, an open-source database used by scientists and policymakers around the world.

 

Following the activity, participants will collectively submit their findings in the City Nature Challenge, a global effort to discover and document biodiversity in cities around the world.

REGISTRATION

Registration is required and begins April 21, 2023

●      2023 Nature Challenge at Bommer Canyon Preserve-Beginner Route: Register here

●      2023 Nature Challenge at Bommer Canyon Preserve-Intermediate Route: Register here

 

Registration is required and begins April 22, 2023

●      2023 Nature Challenge at Saddleback Wilderness: Register here

 

WHEN

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Bommer Canyon Preserve-Beginner Route: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Bommer Canyon Preserve-Intermediate Route: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

 

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Saddleback Wilderness: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

WHERE

Bommer Canyon Preserve Cattle Camp Staging Area

1 Bommer Canyon Rd., Irvine, CA 92603

 

Saddleback Staging Area

3066 Santiago Canyon Rd., Orange, CA 92869

VISUALS

Guests of all ages hiking through the Irvine Open Space Preserve, identifying plants and animals, wide panoramic views of Bommer Canyon Preserve and Saddleback Wilderness, wildlife and plants residing in their natural habitat.