WDCP Best of L.A. – November 17th – 30th

WDCP Best of L.A.

November 17th – 30th

Animal Acres will be hosting their Celebration for Turkeys on November 22nd

Our hearts go out to all the families who have lost their homes in the recent fires.

Week of Monday, November 17th – November 21st

Tuesday 11/18 bring your teens to learn a little more about reptiles and amphibians from an L.A. Zoo expert. As part of the Chautauqua Series, Ian Recchio will share his scaly-creature knowledge at Temescal Gateway park from 7:30 – 9pm. Call for info 310-858-7272 x115. Meet at Woodland Hall.*

Wednesday 11/19 take a “Walk on the Wild Side” with the San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association through Marshall Canyon in La Verne at 9am and learn more about the beautiful Sycamore-filled canyon. Check the link for a map and meeting location.*

Thursday 11/20 spend a little time at Marsh Park in the Elysian Valley area of Los Angeles.  You can learn more about the natural infiltration systems of the LA River Greenway as your child enjoys the nature-themed children’s play area.*

Friday 11/21 it is a perfect time to see the camellias which are in bloom at Descanso Gardens! Your child will also enjoy spying on the koi fish in the Japanese Tea Garden, or riding on the train along the “Enchanted Railroad”. It is always a good time at these beautiful gardens!

Weekend

Saturday 11/22 Placerita Canyon is beginning a Jr Rangers program on the 4th Saturday of every month  from 9:30-11am. There will be a new topic covered every month! Contact Frank Hoffman (661) 259-7721 for more info.*

There is also a “Celebration for Turkeys” at Animal Acres Animal Sanctuary from 12-4pm. You will get a tour of the farm where you’ll meet the cows, pigs, and other creatures of the sanctuary. There will then be a “Feed the Turkey” ceremony followed by a Vegan Thanksgiving Feast! Cost is $35 per person (children under 3 free) and you must reserve because last year sold out!

Sunday 11/23 Malibu Lagoon State Park is leading a Birdwalk for Young Children and Parents from 10-11am. No binnoculars? No problem! They will provide them!*

There is also another Family Birdwalk in Spanish (ON SAT 11/22) at beautiful Deb’s Park in Highland Park from 8:30-10:30am. They hold their family walks on a regular basis, so check their website for dates.*

Week of Monday, November 24th through November 28th

Happy Thanksgiving!

Because of the holidays there are not too many events this week, so please check my “links” on the right for park suggestions and my “tips” section for activity ideas!

Friday 11/28 is a big shopping day, which is fun for parents but can bore the brains out of a child. Kidspace is here to help! They are offering a Holiday Day Camp from 9am – 5pm for children ages 4 – 7 years. Your child will be entertained with games, crafts, and gardens! They have two sessions 9am-1pm ($60), 1pm-5pm ($60) or the Full Day ($110). Purchase tickets at their website.

Weekend

Saturday 11/29 Deb’s Park Audubon Center will offer a chance for children to explore “Art and Nature” from 9am – 12pm and then dance under the trees to the Old Time String Band from 1-4pm.*

Sunday 11/30 Vista Hermosa Park in downtown LA will host their weekly “Sundays with a Naturalist” program from 1-3pm where your child can learn something new about nature every weekend and maybe even take home a project!*

*FREE

-Ilana Gustafson Turner

WDCP Best of L.A. November 4th-16th

WDCP Best of L.A.

November 4th – 16th

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. - Frank Lloyd Wright

Week of Tuesday, November 4th – Friday, November 7th

Tuesday 11/4 take yourself and the family on a moderate election day hike in Malibu Creek State Park and soothe your voting nerves. From 9am – 1pm, call 310-822-6848 for more info.

Wed 11/5 – Friday 11/7 head to a new park each day! Here are my recommendations; Whittier Narrows has a nature center that is open every day from 9:30am until 5pm, a community garden, hiking trails, bicycle trails, picnic areas, an equestrian center and more on it’s 1500 acres of parkland. Echo Park Lake is a great place for a picnic, some bird watching, and a stroll around it’s namesake. Another recommendation is a walk through Eaton Canyon to see the Sycamore trees show off their fall color.  Now, I know these are all located on the “Eastside”, but you will notice that most of the parks that typically hold events are located in the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu.

Weekend

Saturday 11/8 your child can train to be a Young Naturalist at Headwaters Corner. Every 2nd Saturday of the month children ages 8-12 can learn about the ecology and natural history of the area from 9:30am – 12pm. Registration required, $15 per child. Call 818-591-1701 x 181 for more info.

Sunday 11/9 is “Ape Awareness Day” at the L.A. Zoo! Spend the day learning more about these incredible creatures through demonstrations, games, crafts, and a firsthand look at the primates themselves, from 10 am to 4pm.

Later in the day you can enjoy the autumn evening during a hike through Elsmere Canyon in the Santa Clarita Woodlands from 3pm – 5pm.*

Week of Monday, November 10th through Friday, November 14th

Monday 11/10 there are no events planned so I suggest a walk to your local park or backyard, find some mulch, weeds, or a patch of thick grass and have your young one set out on a bug search. Check here for a list of common local bugs. *

Tuesday 11/11 again, no events are planned so I suggest a walk through the neighborhood collecting colorful fall leaves – they DO exist in Los Angeles – and then have your toddler practice identification by asking him or her to seperate them into color groups when you get home. *

Wednesday 11/12 take your child on a “bloom hunt” at The Arboretum of Los Angeles County. The Arboretum website regularly updates their “What’s in Bloom” page. See if your little nature buff can find the dwarf pomegranate or Brugmansia as you wander their garden paths.

Thursday 11/13 it’s time for another Full Moon Hike! Howl at our faithful satellite on a moderate hike through Charmlee Natural Area from 5pm – 7pm. Reservations req. (310) 317-1364, $4 parking, meet at the upper parking lot.

Weekend

Saturday 11/15 the wildlife rescue “zoo” and environmental center known as Star Eco-Station is hosting a Trash to Treasure Kids Fair from 11am to 2pm. There will be games, costume contests, and information about how to reduce, recycle, reuse our trash for our youngest stewards of the Earth! $8 adults, $6 children $7 seniors.

Sunday 11/16 you can begin the morning learning the meditative moves of nature-inspired Tai Chi at Deb’s Park from 8:30 – 9:30am. Then head over to Satwiwa Native American Cultural Center where your child can hear BigStone-Cree Nation member Tom McCormack share native songs and stories from 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm. *

*FREE

-Ilana Gustafson Turner