NATURE OUTINGS

FULL: Watercolors and the Outdoors — 9 a.m.-noon April 26.

Nocturnal Happenings — 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 2. A walk featuring experiential activities to help children (ages 8 through 12) and adults connect to what takes place in the canyon at night, among plants and animals.

A Sensory Experience — 9 a.m.-noon May 3. Activities designed to highlight one sense over another. For example, the group might walk in silence for a while, to heighten the sense of sound.

Native Plants: How They Survive — 9 a.m.-noon May 9. Get the low-down on some of the remarkable water-saving adaptations of the canyon’s native plants.

FULL: Yoga With the Elements: Wild Organic Movement — 9 a.m.-noon May 16.

Big Sur Overnight — May 23-25. At Big Creek Reserve, another part of the UC Natural Reserve System. This holiday weekend adventure features an introduction to the reserve, a natural history presentation, and plenty of hiking (moderate) and exploration. Participants are responsible for all travel and food. Sleeping accommodations (for Saturday and Sunday) have been made at the reserve for $40 per person. Or you can camp out. E-mail jfalyn@ucdavis.edu with questions.

Bugs in the Night — 7-9:30 p.m. May 30. With UC Davis Professor Phil Ward, who will use a black light and a white screen to attract a diverse range of insects.

By the Banks of Putah Creek — 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 6. Explore a private and remote section of Putah Creek, on an outing led by the property owners, Tom and Ginny Cahill. One-mile hike with an option for a longer distance paralleling the creek. Bring lunch and water.

Stargazing: Tour of the Night Sky — 8-11 p.m. June 13. After a 1 1⁄4-mile hike, settle into a meadow with guides from the UC Davis Astronomy Club. Wear appropriate clothing for evening; binoculars are optional.

Loop Trail: Summer Solstice at Sunrise — 5:30-10 a.m. June 21. Five miles of ups and downs with a 1,200-foot elevation gain. Many steps are interspersed with breathtaking views. Bring: sturdy shoes and at least a liter of water, plus sunscreen and a snack.

NATURE’S THEATER

Ages 4-8: Birdman May 9.

Ages 6-10: Trashman May 2, World of the Small May 31.

(May 17’s Mother Nature and the Toddlers, for ages 1 to 4, is full.)

All Nature’s Theater programs run from 10 a.m. to noon, except for Mother Nature and the Toddlers, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Stebbins Cold Canyon is a unit of the UC Natural Reserve System. All events are open to the public, and all events in the reserve and on nearby lands are free. Reservations are required for all events, and be advised: events fill up quickly. E-mail Jeff Falyn, jfalyn@ucdavis.edu, with your name, address, event date, and phone number and-or e-mail address, and indicate whether you need directions. More information: nrs.ucdavis.edu/stebbins.html.