LARPD Ranger Staff

Calling all nature lovers! Join us at Spring Nature Camp during one of the most beautiful and fun times of year at Sycamore Grove Park. See birds building nests, hunt for ladybugs in the grass, and stop to smell the wildflowers all while learning about the natural world around us through age-appropriate programs and activities.

Hiking, playing games, exploring nature, plus lots of fun for those who join up to be a Jr. Ranger. The program will meet 8 Sundays from January to April. Call 925-960-2400 for more information about the program or to get a copy of the proposed meeting schedule. First Meeting will be at the Sycamore Grove Park Reserved Picnic Area.

Junior Rangers (Ages 9-12) – Homeschool Groups

If you are interested in learning more about our Junior Rangers programs for Homeschool Groups, please contact the Rangers at natureprograms@larpd.org or (925) 960-2400.

Calling all nature lovers and outdoor explorers! From pursuing an interest in STEM and the outdoor industry to adventuring and recreating in nature, this program geared towards young teens will give them a sense of independence, a community of peers, and a calling towards stewardship. Meeting one Saturday a month for 5 hours, each session will show teens a different side of our local wildlife and open spaces. First Meeting will be at the Sycamore Grove Park Reserved Picnic Area.

*Times vary. Please contact the Rangers at natureprograms@larpd.org or (925) 960-2400 for more information about the program or to get a copy of the proposed meeting schedule.

Explore the big world with your little ones at Sycamore Grove Park! Every other week we'll meet at Wetmore and get to know the natural world through hands-on activities, sensory play, and outdoor exploration related to the session's theme.

Sycamore Sprouts: Messiness

Messy play is the best kind of play (especially since the Rangers will do the cleaning up afterward!) Let's splash in some puddles, dig in the dirt, and get our mitts messy, learning about the natural world. 

Meeting every other week: 2/13, 2/27 3/13, 3/27 

Sycamore Sprouts: Big World of Bugs 

Calling all bug lovers! The park will have pollinators, ladybugs, dragonflies, and so much more amazing bug life. Let's meet some of the many small critters who all Sycamore Grove Park home. 

Meeting every other week: 4/10, 4/24, 5/8, 5/22

Sycamore Science Camp: On the Move

Wildlife is always on the move, from the tallest mountains to the deepest oceans. But how do snakes travel without legs? How do seeds disperse across grasslands? When and why do migrating visitors stop in our region? Why did the turkey cross the road...and how can we help animals cross streets, highways, & cities?  Join us to learn how nature moves in this session of Sycamore Science Camp!  Meets weekly for four weeks.

Sycamore Science Camp: Birds 

Sycamore Grove is home to many species of birds: ducks wading and diving in the creek, flycatchers swooping down from their perches amongst the trees, woodpeckers, and sapsuckers drilling into branches and trunks for sap and bugs, and hawks and eagles soaring above watching for prey!  Learn about these amazing animals and how important they are to our local ecosystems in this session of Sycamore Science Camp.  Meets weekly for four weeks. 

Sycamore Science Camp: Scientists Around Town

Livermore is home to a wide variety of habitats and plant communities.  LARPD manages parks spanning many of these different ecosystems, and we want to showcase a few of them! Join us at 4 ALL NEW locations for Sycamore Science Camp "Scientists Around Town."  We will meet at the Wetmore entrance to Sycamore Grove Park, the Blue Oak Canyon of Holdner Park's dry creek bed of Robertson Park, and Alkaline Wetlands near Marlin Pound Park.  Meets weekly for four weeks.

The optional field trip will be to the stunning north side of Brushy Peak to explore big sandstone rock formations.  

Scientists Around Town Meeting Locations:

• Week of 4/26
  • Sycamore Grove Park, Wetmore Entrance: 1051 Wetmore Road, Livermore, CA 94550
• Week of 5/3
  • Marlin A. Pound Park: 2010 Bluebell Drive, Livermore, CA 94550
• Week of 5/10
  • Holdener Park: 2995 Hansen Road, Livermore, CA 94550
• Week of 5/17
  • Robertson Park: 3200 Robertson Park Road, Livermore, CA 94550

Sycamore Science Camp – Homeschool Groups

Please call the Ranger Office at (925) 960-2400 or email natureprograms@larpd.org for more information.

Science Campers can join the LARPD Rangers for a special, optional session at a new location that expands on the science camp theme.  Priority registration is given to enrolled participants in the current Sycamore Science Camp.  NO ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR FIELD TRIPS: please call the Rangers office at 925-960-2400 or email natureprograms@larpd.org. 

Science Camp Field Trip - On the Move 

Meet a new location at Sycamore Grove Park to explore our Nature Area, a special part of the park designed especially with wildlife in mind. 

Science Camp Field Trip - Birds 

Join the Rangers on a field trip to Springtown Preserve in North Livermore, an amazing birding hotspot! This unique ecosystem draws resident and migratory birds alike, and we hope to see some shorebirds and waterfowl rarely seen at Sycamore Grove Park.  Bring binoculars if you have them; we'll also have some you can borrow.  

Science Camp Field Trip - Scientists Around Town

Go behind the scenes with the Rangers to some of the most amazing ecosystems we have in the Livermore Area... the Sandstone Hills, Vernal Pools, and Oak Savannahs of Brushy Peak! Members of the public can only visit this park of the peak managed by LARPD through Ranger Programs like this one, so we hope you'll join us for this very special field trip! 

Mushroom Madness

Join LARPD Rangers and the Bay Area Mycological Society for the return of our annual SGP Mushroom Hunt!  We will crawl under trees, wander through meadows, and look at rotting logs to see how many different fungi we can find. Please remember that you may take lots of photos, but mushrooms may NOT be removed from the park! This event will happen rain or shine.  

Living with Fire: Fire Ecology

Join Naturalist Dora and Open Space Volunteers on a hike in the hills to see the impact and recovery of the park from the 2020 lightning-strike fires.  We’ll visit the site of our volunteer-led “Burned Oak Project” to study the effects of wildfire on our native and non-native plants.  Come learn about how native wildlife has adapted to live with fire, the connection between more extreme fires, droughts, and climate change in California, and what role open spaces play in the fight against climate change. Approximately 5-mile hike with slight elevation gain at a leisurely pace. 

Brushy Peak Adventure

Brushy Peak Regional Preserve (Meet at RLCC)

Explore the magical parkland known as Brushy Peak Regional Preserve. This strenuous hike covers approximately 4-miles over dirt and rocky trails with an elevation gain of 800+ feet. The hike includes an exploration of unique sandstone rock formations, an introduction to the Native Ohlone, Bay Miwok, and Delta Yokuts cultures associated with the site, and an opportunity to view the plants and animals that live or visit this area.

Participants must stay with the group. Under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Canceled if raining. 5-hour trip. Carpooling encouraged. Meet at the bigger community center parking lot next to the pool at 491 Loyola Way.

Beyond Sycamore: Explorations                                

Sycamore Grove Park is our backyard! We all make the trip out to walk the trails and bask in its splendor, but what about all the other parks in the bay area?  Join Ranger Eric on an adventure to discover more of our wonderful nearby parks to expand your hiking horizons. Springtime is the perfect time to visit another park to immerse fully in its beauty and biodiversity.  First, we will be driving to the northern ridge of the Livermore Valley to hike in Morgan Territory under the oaks and through the grasslands.  Then we will be traveling farther, out to Black Diamond Mines, to hike up the canyons and past some of the old mine entrances.  Both hikes will be around 5 to 6 miles with elevation gain, so come prepared!  Bring plenty of water, snacks and/or lunch, sturdy hiking boots, and sun protection.  Ages 13 and up are welcome, but adults must accompany children under 18. 

Pancake Breakfast with the Rangers 

Hungry? Love oversized pancakes? Bring your appetite to Sycamore Grove Park and join Ranger Seth with a fun-filled large-sized pancake breakfast. You will get to choose you style of pancake: Original, Blueberry, Banana, or Chocolate Chip! Ranger Seth will cook some of the biggest pancakes you've ever had! Then, we will discuss some of the more unique local wildlife and fun facts about Sycamore Grove Park.  Please bring your own beverages. (No alcohol permitted.) 

Spring Egg-Stravaganza 

Join the Rangers at Sycamore Grove Park for a spring-themed eggstravaganza! We will learn all about egg-cellant adaptive eggs! There will be egg hunts, a look at some of the local bird nesting habits and egg specimens, and some egg-citing eggs-periments! Candy and other prizes will be awarded for eggs gathered. Only egg hunt participants need to register and pay the fee. An adult must accompany all minors. Canceled if raining.   

Earth Day at Sycamore Grove Park 

There is no Planet B... so best we take good care of this one! Come celebrate Earth Day at Sycamore Grove Park while taking action to help protect our planet.  We'll have drop-in crafts and activities for kids and adults, guided hikes in the park, and volunteer projects to directly better our ecosystems. 

LARPD Ranger Staff offer public programs, many of which are free!  Check out LARPD.org or call (925) 960-2400 to learn about upcoming programs.  You can also subscribe to receive “Valley Wilds,” LARPD Open Space’s monthly newsletter, and be the first to know about interpretive programs.

Subscribe to Valley Wilds

JANUARY

CANCELED - The Search for Garfunkel 

Saturday, January 14th 2:00 PM 
Amphitheater, Sycamore Grove Park, Wetmore Road Entrance (1051 Wetmore Road) 
Something has been scurrying around Sycamore Grove Park, causing mild mischief but also leaving little gifts for visitors. It's been hiding in the tall grass and always just out of sight of the Rangers. We are not sure who, or what this thing even is. The only fact we do know is it is small but very quick and goes by the name Garfunkel. Please help Ranger Seth by joining him to try and solve this mystery. The search will be a short hike in the park looking for clues along the way. This is perfect for families and children 4 and older. The search will start at the Amphitheater. Please RSVP by calling (925) 960-2400 or emailing Ranger Seth at seddings@larpd.org.  

Snake Secrets  

FEBRUARY

LARPD & Livermore Public Library: Birdwatching for All at Civic Center Library 

Saturday, February 4th 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 
Civic Center Library, 1188 South Livermore Avenue 
Free all-ages intro to birdwatching program. A Ranger will share tips with the audience then take the group outside to look and listen for signs of local birds. In Community Rooms A and B at Civic Center Library. Space is limited, so registration is required. Participants may register at any library information desk, or by calling (925) 373-5500. For more information, please contact Librarian Caitlyn Lung at cmlung@livermoreca.gov. 

Acorns 

Holdener Hills!

Wildflower Walk 

MARCH

LARPD & EBRPD: Wildflowers of the Arroyo

Español in the Stars: Bilingual Astronomy & Mythology

APRIL

Cryptozoology and Other Myths

Cattail Pond Hike

LARPD & Livermore Public Library: Nature Storytime at Sycamore Grove Park

LARPD & Livermore Public Library: Rock Talk at Springtown Library

Nature Programs for Groups

Do you have a group and are interested in a special nature program with the Rangers?  From Girl Scout and Boy Scout groups working towards badges to special interest groups wanting a guided hike of the park, LARPD Ranger Staff are excited to create a custom program for your group.  Please contact the Rangers at natureprograms@larpd.org or (925) 960-2400 for information, availability, and pricing.

Brushy Peak Group Adventure

Do you have a group that wants to explore Brushy Peak Regional Preserve?  Groups of up to 15 people can be accommodated for a tour of Brushy Peak (see description above).  Please contact the Rangers at natureprograms@larpd.org or (925) 960-2400 for information and availability.  $450 per group.