Volunteer Highlight

Field Trip To Carpinteria

Santa Paula Unified School District students enjoyed a day at Carpinteria State Beach. The trip occurred during a low tide, allowing students to enjoy searching for several intertidal animals. VCRCD staff and students were able to find jellyfish, striped shore crabs, anemones, mussels, and wavy top snails.

This field trip was the last of series of field trips for Santa Paula 5th graders funded by a grant awarded to VCRCD from the Coast Commission's Whale Tail grant program.

Pollinator Alerts

VCRCD sends out seasonal updates on monarch butterflies projects, population surveys, and shares resources on creating healthy habitats for local pollinators.

If you are interested in learning about alternatives to pesticides, what plants are best suited for different pollinator species, and how to help restore pollinator habitat in Ventura County subscriber to Pollinator Alerts newsletter below.

Water Talks Summit

Last March, our staff attended the Water Talks Summit held on ancestral Tongva territory, presently known as Los Angeles. The Summit brought together diverse voices to reflect on a 5 yearlong grant funded by the Department of Water Resources. This grant focused on generating and increasing community involvement among disadvantaged communities and tribal members in planning a sustainable water future for California. Panelists included government agencies, tribal representatives, and community organizers and non-profits local to Los Angeles and Ventura County. To learn more visit WaterTalks.org

Planting Day Success

Two additional monarch and pollinator habitats were created on unused open spaces on the Oak Park high school campus. One site near the ball fields has old growth oak trees and we received volunteer help from employees from local company Cabeau. They learned how we use cardboard to smother weeds in a natural way and got 165 pollinator plants placed in the ground. Monarch caterpillars have already eaten some of the new milkweed!

The California Poppy

In 1903 the California Poppy became the State Flower of California. This drought tolerant, fast growing flower can be seen blooming in Spring and Summer. Despite being associated with California, this flower can be seen in many other states, including Oregon and Washington. These plants attract many pollinators with their bright colors and abundance of pollen. You may occasionally find a white California Poppy, their lack of color is attributed to a genetic mutation.