By KATY BRANDENBURG
The Union Democrat
It's not too late for kids who are bored over summer break, or parents who want to learn something new about the forest that surrounds us: The U.S. Forest Service's summer programs have something to offer.
Events are taking place on weekdays, evenings and weekends through the end of August.
Each ranger district — Mi-Wok/Summit for the Sonora area, Highway 120/Groveland and Highway 4/Calaveras — offers its own schedule of programs, so, for specific information, visitors should contact their nearest district.
On Saturdays through Aug. 16, Sonora visitors can take Earth Steward hikes — guided interpretive hikes from trail heads off Highway 108 that last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The hikes might include swimming in a local lake and eating a packed lunch in the woods, but they'll definitely include hiker participation in a "leave no trace" project, such as picking up trash or removing a campfire ring or structure.
"It's not a lot of labor, but these hikes stress that it takes each of us to take care of our public lands," said Phyllis Ashmead, head interpretive specialist for the Mi-wok Ranger District.
"Once school starts, everyone leaves Pinecrest, so the programs are limited to summer," Ashmead said.
One upcoming event: Aug. 23, visitors can meet at the Groveland Ranger Station and visit Bower Cave, a natural limestone cave that used to be a sacred place to the local Me-Wuks, possibly a dwelling for chiefs, legends say.
In Calaveras County, at the Sourgrass-Wakaluu Amphitheatre each Saturday morning through Aug. 16, visitors can learn about Me-Wuk traditions and culture with arrowhead-making demonstrations and nature walks describing uses of native plants and rocks. Saturday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m., families can gather around a campfire for Native American tales, or meet at Lake Alpine for programs about wild animals or a folk song sing-along.
Every Monday and Friday in August, from morning to afternoon, rangers from the Calaveras District also lead scenic fitness hikes to nearby lakes, vistas and scenic wildflower areas. Call the Alpine Ranger Station for more information.
Programs are led by naturalists knowledgeable about the area and sometimes specialize in a facet. Jim Mori is an expert on butterflies and led a series of insect hikes, Ashmead said.
Evening programs at the Pinecrest Amphitheatre, starting at 8:30 p.m., include a special presentation on bats Aug. 6, National Geographic photographer Phil Schermeister Aug. 11, and sing-alongs with Bill Roberson the next two Wednesday evenings starting at 7 p.m.
"Wild Things," the animal presentation, will be back at Pinecrest on Aug. 13.
Some of the evening programs especially are geared toward adults. The "Incredible Earthworks of 1858" hike, the first two Mondays in August, will take visitors on a tour of the local flume and ditch system built by gold miners to carry water from the mountains to Columbia. Starting at Summit Ranger Station, the trip will take about two-and-a-half hours, according to a schedule. But hikes like these can be a fun way to learn about the history of the area, Ashmead said.
"When you look at the forest, it just looks like a forest," she said. "But when you're with someone who has a trained eye, you can see a whole other period of time through that person's eyes."
In a generation where kids stay inside with television and the Internet most of the time, children can benefit from getting outside and exploring nature, Ashmead said.
Another evening program that was popular, before smoke from wildfires interfered, was Galaxy Gazing on Thursday nights. Two more such workshops are scheduled Aug. 7 and 14.
"Our programs provide people an opportunity to learn about their forest which is in their backyard," she said. "People gain inspiration by getting outside."
Contact Katy Brandenburg at kbrandenburg@ uniondemcrat.com or 588-4528.
