2019 Regional Rendezvous
Nature lovers unite! You're invited to join California Naturalist for a natural history extravaganza in Cambria, California August 16-18. Have you ever seen the largest flying bird in North America soar, the California Condor? Harvested an oyster from your kayak? Visited the largest mainland elephant seal rookery in the world? Are you an avid birder that would enjoy your own "Big Day" with the area's premier birding authority? Do you enjoy the serenity of ocean bluffs and coastal forests and the unique plant communities they host? Would you like to learn how to harvest an entire (roadkill) deer using traditional stone tool methods? Are you interested in the natural history of raptors, falconry, and meeting powerful birds of prey? We have something for everyone at the Rendezvous! A variety of field trips with preeminent local nature experts, speakers, a natural resource professional panel, fireside programs, resource & skill exchange, meals, and camp lodging are all included in this fun, packed weekend. All nature-lovers welcome! Read on for details.
5PM Saturday-12PM Sunday. No one-day tickets will be sold.
Download the agenda here (PDF).
| DAY | TIME | EVENT | LOCATION |
| Friday | 3-5PM | Registration | Outside Craft Lodge |
| 5-5:45 | Dinner | Dining Hall | |
| 6:30 | Welcome speakers | Fireside Lodge | |
| 7:00 | Plenary speaker Dr. Peter Alagona | Fireside Lodge | |
| 8:30 | Campfire program | Rainbow Bridge Amphitheater | |
| Saturday | 6:40AM | Optional morning outing | Meet outside the Dining Hall |
| 8-8:45 | Breakfast | Dining Hall | |
| 9AM-4PM | Field trips | Meet outside the Dining Hall | |
| 4-5 | Happy hour appetizers & adult beverages | Fireside Lodge Deck | |
| 5-5:45 | Dinner | Dining Hall | |
| 6-8 | Resource exchange & nature journal share | Pines Lodge | |
| 8:30 | Campfire music, insects & bats | Rainbow Bridge Amphitheater | |
| Sunday | 6:40AM | Optional morning outing | Meet outside the Dining Hall |
| 8-8:45 | Breakfast | Dining Hall | |
| 9-10:30 | Morning panel discussion | Fireside Lodge | |
| 10:30-10:45 | Coffee Break | Fireside Lodge | |
| 10:45-12 | Naturalist lightning talks | Fireside Lodge | |
| 12PM | Closing event | Rainbow Bridge Amphitheater |
Welcome Speakers
Greg Ira Director, UC California Naturalist Program
Andrew Boyd-Goodrich Director, Camp Ocean Pines
Don Pierce, Jr. Salinian Tribe Elder. Born and raised in the mountains above Morro Bay he comes from a long line of ancestors traditionally located north of the Chumash. Mr. Pierce is presently the Salinan Chairman, Public Relations lead, Education lead, MBMM Board of trustee's, Native American liason for the Maritime museum and Navigators circle.
Dr. Katherine Soule University of California Cooperative Extension Director and Youth, Families, & Communities Advisor of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Dr. Soule’s programs integrate health education with community engagement, improving equity for marginalized populations.
Natural Resources Expert Panel
What are the pressing issues facing land stewards and agencies today? What should naturalists know about engaging meaningfully and connecting with organizations that share a conservation ethic? We have invited a panel of the area's top natural resource experts- bring your questions!
Panel Speakers (more to be confirmed):
Daniel Bohlman, Deputy Director, The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
Heather Holm, Interpretive Planning and Program Section Manager for California Department of Parks and Recreation
Adina Merenlender, Conservation Biologist, UC Berkeley Adjunct Professor, UC ANR Cooperative Extension Specialist.
Scot Pipkin, Director of Education, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Panel Moderator:
Chris Cameron, former Director and lead California Naturalist instructor, Camp Ocean Pines
Lightning Talk Schedule
| Helen Doyle | Elephant Seal mating in the #metoo era | In our roles as naturalists and interpreters, we want to share our knowledge of and passion for the environment yet we can be challenged by fresh questions from kids or by the differing perspectives of people who don’t share our backgrounds. Together we’ll brainstorm ways we can improvise to adapt our interpretation to our audience and to be sensitive and effective as educators while remaining true to our commitment and training as naturalists. |
| Jacqueline Deely | Photography as a Conservation Tool | Accomplishing my capstone project of a photography exhibit and talk about Western Snowy Plovers at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. How photography can help us learn about the natural world and open our eyes to conservation issues, but also make a difference. |
| Melina Sempill Watts | Tree: 229 years in the life of a California Live Oak from the point of view of the tree | Using magical realism as a key to access the interrelated emotional realities of the many species that share one pristine valley in Topanga, California, grass, birds, other trees and animals come to life on the pages. The evolution of four human civilizations (Chumash, Spanish/Mexican, Yankee and new money Hollywood) each leave their mark upon the landscape and upon Tree. Tree will change how you see nature. |
| Michael Hubbartt | Ancient Traditions Forge Modern Connections | Humans have always gathered around the fire to listen to elders share stories about tribal history, shared morals, values and beliefs, connection to the land and its animals, and to instruct and teach. Storytelling is a uniquely human characteristic that is “hardwired” into all of us. This lightning talk focuses on the ancient roots of spoken tradition and storytelling and how their modern application can be used as a powerful interpretation tool today. |
| Adina Merenlender | Curriculum gaps for adult climate literacy | Syllabus content analysis from 74 undergraduate general climate change courses reveal a dearth of content related to climate change solutions and communication. Also, impacts of climate change on biodiversity and its role in regulating climate are missing from the majority of the syllabi. We recommend educators include a broader array of inter-disciplinary topics, place-based information, communication strategies, and mitigation and adaptation solutions to bridge the gap between climate science and literacy. |
| Elaine de Man | Dare to Suck! And other steps to becoming a CLIMATE ACTIVIST. | Effective ways to advocate for the environment on the local and regional level. You may not win the battle. But no matter. You are one step closer to winning the war. |
| Susie Claxton | California Naturalist: Finding my TRUE SELF outside | Personal journaling through California Naturalist |
| Kat Montgomery | Bridging the Gap: From Camp to Capitol Hill | My naturalist journey has taken me from summer camp to environmental education to academia and now to the world of policy. I will talk briefly about how I hope to use my background as a naturalist and educator to bridge the gap between science and policy with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. |
| Cindy Roessler | Get Plastics Off The Menu | To protect wildlife from swallowing or otherwise being harmed by plastic waste, learn these facts and techniques to quickly convince people to stop using single-use plastic items when dining. Develop your elevator speech to get plastic off the menus for both humans and wildlife. |
| Sarah Angulo | It’s About the Process, Not the Product | So many naturalists are nervous to incorporate extensive illustration into their nature journaling practice. Where does that anxiety come from, and how can we overcome it? Dabble in a few observations on the topic from California Naturalist staff, Sarah Angulo. |
You may stay on site in Camp Ocean Pines cabins or off site. Cabins have beautiful hand-crafted bunk beds, a toilet room and a shower room. Lodging is shared, with cabins holding 10 people apiece, with mixed-gender and single-gender spaces available. Sorry, but private cabins are not available. You may also stay on site in your own tent (same price, access to toilet and shower rooms included).
The California Naturalist program is committed to building an inclusive community. We have implemented equity pricing that we hope will serve the community better and allow us to recover the costs of holding this event. Be sure to register ASAP for early bird pricing and if you are low income or have extenuating financial circumstances; we have a limited number of subsidized tickets available. Equity pricing for this event allows you to pick the registration fee (options 1-3) that works best for you, based on your income. We suggest you use the below chart, based on to find your household number, corresponding income bracket, and suggested registration option (1-3) below. Please note there are a limited number of subsidized options available.
| San Luis Obispo County HUD Incomes | |||
| Household members | Option 3 (High Income) | Option 2 (Medium Income) | Option 1 (Low Income) |
| 1 | $69,900.00 | $58,250.00 | $46,600.00 |
| 2 | $79,900.00 | $66,550.00 | $53,250.00 |
| 3+ | $89,850.00 | $74,900.00 | $59,900.00 |
The registration rates are as follows:
On-site lodging: Option 3 is $315 (standard price), option 2 is $260 (partial subsidy), and 1 is $175 (equity price)
Off-site lodging (meals at Camp Ocean Pines are included in this price): Option 3 is $265 (standard price), option 2 is $210 (partial subsidy), and 1 is $125 (equity price)
For more information about Camp Ocean Pines or if you have questions, please contact Luann at luann@campoceanpines.org or call 805-924-4016. Deadline for registration is Monday, August 12th.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Natural History Book/Information Exchange
Also, we'll have a nature journal share. Bring yours and open it to your favorite page! Pretty or accurate drawings are welcome but definitely not necessary- we're all at a different place with our skills and practice abilities!
In addition, California Naturalist will have sweatshirts, tee shirts, journals, patches, and hats for sale at the event, for cash only. The Camp Ocean Pines store will also be open periodically throughout the Rendezvous.
Camp Ocean Pines is located at 1473 Randall Drive, Cambria, CA 93428. Cambria is a seaside town in San Luis Obispo County midway between San Francisco (driving time ~3:45) and Los Angeles (driving time ~3:30) along California State Route 1. Home of the UC Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve, Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria State Marine Conservation Area and White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area, Cambria has a lot to offer nature-loving visitors!
TO BRING LIST:
- A journal - an empty notebook, with or without lines or grids, for you to begin your nature observations. And a favorite page to share for the Saturday night journal share.
- Colored pencils to write and sketch in your nature journal
- Your cell phone or iPad or laptop for iNaturalist observations
- Things you like to bring on the trail - none are required: daypack, water bottle, pocket knife, binoculars, magnifying glass, watershoes...
- Clothes - I'm not going to tell you what to wear, you're all adults! You will be living in that narrow band of perfect coastal weather - high of 76 and the low of 45. Some will be on a kayak, but don't expect anyone to fall in - so a bathing suit is not required. I do encourage water shoes to walk on the mud in the bay and a good rain jacket is always a good idea.
- Sleeping bag or sheets/blankets, pillow (chocolate for the top of your pillow)
- Towel and toiletries
- Your own special food or snacks if you have unusual tastes or extra special allergy needs
- Optional: something for the resource exchange
WE PROVIDE:
- Cabins with bunkbeds, toilet, shower, sink, electricity (see pics here)
- Good meals, drinks, healthy snacks
- Meeting rooms, great speakers, amazing field trips
- Washer/dryer if you need to wash clothes
- Wifi
About our Partner, Camp Ocean Pines
Camp Ocean Pines was established in 1946 to serve the community as a non-profit camp and a conference center. A jewel on the Central Coast, the camp sits on thirteen donated acres of Monterey Pine forest that nearly meets the ocean shore. Camp Ocean Pines has made memories for more than 100,000 campers – with generations more to come!
Camp Ocean Pines is a truly unique place to visit! Wildlife abounds, with seals and otters swimming by, and deer roaming through the property. They have ten beautifully designed straw bale cabins engineered for passive solar efficiency, and timbers and siding milled from on-site wind-felled trees. By staying in these cabins, people experience facilities that use natural resources wisely. The campus can house 100 guests.
Mission Statement
The mission of Camp Ocean Pines is to foster enjoyment and appreciation of the natural world among people of all ages through creative activities in a residential camp setting.
Maps
Click here to view/download a Camp Ocean Pines campus map (PDF). And here to view/download a map of fun nature stuff to do on your own around campus.