Event 2 Coyote Creek Volunteer Cleanup Day

Monday April 1, 2024 from 09:30 AM to 01:30 PM

Help keep Coyote Creek watershed clean for our local wildlife and drinking water by joining our FREE Coyote Creek Volunteer Clean Up Day at Hellyer County Park! Coyote Creek watershed is an important water source for rare plants that grow on serpentine soils and steelhead trout that mate in its waterways. All activities will be standing up and supplies and tools are provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water. This program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water. Image by Deb Kramer.

Location: Hellyer County Park, San Jose
Additional Benefits: Transportation, large hearty sandwich, snacks and water are included.


Event 1 Experience the San Jose Mining Era

Friday April 5, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

The small village of New Almaden was once a world famous quicksilver (mercury) mining community. The New Almaden Mine, first developed by Mexicans, produced mercury beginning in 1845, making it California’s oldest and most valuable mine, producing $70 million in mercury. The mine's mercury was used to process silver in Mexican mines and later gold in the California Gold Rush. Mexican, Chilean, Chinese and English immigrants as well as Americans worked together to extract the mercury from cinnabar. We will experience the diverse history of New Almaden, mining technology and the lifestyle of the mining families through a one hour tour of the artifacts and stories in the Mining Museum. We will break for a picnic lunch in the garden and then continue with a walking tour of the outdoor mining museum.

Location: San Jose CA 95120
Additional Benefits: Two tours and picnic lunch are included.


Day Trip 3 San Francisco Coast and Garden Day Trip

Tuesday April 9, 2024 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Start the day with fresh air and exercise as we walk along the coastline with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping to see landmarks and learn about the history of Lands End. After a hearty Korean lunch, we will tour the fragrance garden and explore the other 16 gardens at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. For more details and to register, please use this link www.bayareaolderadults.org/BAO-April2024-day-trip Images by Mick Haupt and David Clode from Unsplash.

Location: Bus pickup in Cupertino, CA 95014
Additional Benefits: Fee includes transportation, lunch, activities, gratuities and two tour leaders.


Waitlist Only Hike 5 Inspirational Wildflowers of Pulgas Ridge

Wednesday April 10, 2024 from 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM

Pulgas Ridge Preserve is known for its showy spring wildflowers such as warrior plume, hounds tongue, milkmaids, fetid adders tongue, giant trillium, checker lily and more. On this wildflower journey led by a California naturalist who specializes in wildflowers, we will view a spectacular display of flowers and learn about their intriguing characteristics. We stop for a social picnic lunch before heading home. This special program is hosted in partnership with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Image by Anne Ferguson.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate
Number of Miles: : 3.0
Location: Meeting location is Cupertino CA 95014
Additional Benefits: Transportation to and from the preserve and picnic lunch are included.


Waitlist Only Hike 6 Santa Teresas Serpentine Wildlife

Wednesday April 17, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM

Join us for a Spring wildflower hike in Santa Teresa County Park. Along the way, we will learn about the wildlife supported by this park's serpentine soils by a California naturalist. We will stop for a social picnic lunch at a reserved picnic area halfway through the hike. Image by Anne Ferguson.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate
Number of Miles: : 4.0
Location: Santa Teresa County Park
Additional Benefits: Transportation to and from the trailhead and picnic lunch are included.


Event 3 Alviso Volunteering Day

Friday April 19, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Join other BAO members for this FREE social and environmental volunteering event to help restore the wetlands for the vital birds, insects and mammals that live by the bay! Help with raking and mulching to prepare the area for native plants. All activities will be standing up and supplies and tools are provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water. This program is hosted in partnership with Valley Water and San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory.

Location: Alviso Marina County Park
Additional Benefits: Large hearty sandwich, snacks and water are included.


Waitlist Only Hike 7 Vistas and Wildflowers of Rancho San Antonio

Wednesday April 24, 2024 from 09:30 AM to 03:00 PM

This hike takes us along shady trails of a rancho from the early 1800’s. Along the way, we learn about the park’s natural and cultural history, wildflowers and the Permanente Creek flood protection plan. After a gradual climb uphill, we will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the bay, north to San Francisco and east to Mt. Hamilton. We head down to our picnic spot at 150-year old Deer Hollow Farm. After lunch, we spend a little time at the farm to see the newborn piglets, goats and sheep before our leisurely return through large grassy meadows and a 200 year old California Bay Laurel tree. This special program is hosted in partnership with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Image by Anne Ferguson.

Level of Difficulty: : Moderate-to-strenuous
Number of Miles: : 4.5
Location: Meeting location is Saratoga CA 95070
Additional Benefits: Transportation to and from the preserve and picnic lunch are included.