Get Out In Mission Viejo: OC Parks Events

MISSION VIEJO, CA —Now that the days are long and spring has sprung, it's time to think about getting out in Mission Viejo.

OC Parks announced a whole slew of scheduled events for the month of April designed to get Orange County residents out and engaged with all of the natural beauty the county's parks, beaches and trails have to offer.

Here's a rundown on the schedule of OC Parks events for April across Orange County:

• April 3 – Adaptation Spotlight: Bees and Honey
  • 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Join OC Parks naturalists and learn about bees! We will discuss the life history of bees, go on a short hike to view wildflowers and learn how bees make honey! This program begins at the James Dilley Preserve parking lot and is designed for ages 7 and older. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring plenty of water. Please note: This program allows participants to taste honey. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, please notify park staff upon arrival. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

• April 4 – Hiking 101: Trail Tips for Beginners- Saddleback Wilderness
  • 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Saddleback Wilderness

Hiking 101 will help you understand gear, build your knowledge and skills and provide tips to assist you out on the trails. You will learn the basics of hiking: defining your hiking goals, packing appropriately, understanding and minimizing risks and practicing proper trail etiquette. The activity will include a packing demonstration and hike through Saddleback Wilderness, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. The hike is up to 3 miles with minimal elevation gain. Please wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and bring water, sunscreen, a hat and any other necessary equipment to stay safe on the trail. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 5, 12, 19 & 26 – Toddler Treks
  • 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Bring your young ones and join OC Parks staff to learn all about Upper Newport Bay. Toddler Treks is offered every Friday from 10-10:45 a.m. and includes a story time, age-appropriate hike and themed craft. Each week will focus on a different topic that encourages young ones to learn about the outdoors. The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for ages 2-5, but all are welcome to attend. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 5 – Morning Hike at Saddleback Wilderness
  • 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. | Saddleback Wilderness

Learn about native plants and animals that call the area home and experience some of the best views the canyons have to offer. Wildflowers in this area are generally in full swing during March-April hikes. This moderate hike on unpaved dirt trails will be approximately 2.5 miles round trip with 200 feet of elevation gain. Highlights will include Saddleback Park racetrack and the habitat’s remarkable recovery since its closure almost 40 years ago. Participants should come prepared with water, snacks, sun protection and sturdy walking shoes. Rain will cancel the program. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 5 – Wildflower Hike
  • 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Santiago Oaks Regional Park

The heavy rains of winter have lifted and revealed a beautiful bouquet of California wildflowers. Join us for a moderate yet slow-paced climb along the Pacifica Trail and Windes Nature Trail and be rewarded with scenic views of Santiago Oaks Regional Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. Along the way, we will peruse the petals of some of our favorite blooms currently sprouting this spring season along with some of the year-round activities. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is recommended.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 10 - Wilderness Access Day: Limestone Canyon
  • 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Limestone Canyon

Designated trails will be open for self-guided exploration in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. Trail routes vary in distance and level of difficulty with choices ranging from easy one-hour walks to strenuous 15-mile cardio treks. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 10 - Critter Investigation: Clever Cottontails
  • 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

This program includes a story time, age-appropriate hike and themed craft. Activities will begin at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for the preschool and kindergarten level (ages 2-6), but all are welcome to attend. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 10 - Adaption Spotlight: Our Five Senses
  • 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Join OC Parks naturalists in exploring how you use your five senses to interpret the world around you. We will put your senses to the test, hypothesize reasons for why plants smell so nice and why deer have such large ears, all while enjoying a short hike along Mary’s Trail. The program will meet at the Nix Nature Center amphitheater and is designed for ages 7 and older. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

• April 11 - Animal Art I Preschool Program
  • 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park

This program is for ages 3 to 4 only. Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts, and meeting zoo creatures up close! Cost is $5 per child (one parent included). Parent must accompany child for entire program. Phone registration is required. Parking is $3 per vehicle on weekdays.
Registration: Call (714) 973-6846

• April 12 - Wildflower Walk For All
  • 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park

Join OC Parks for an accessible stroll on paved trails as we follow the flow of Santiago Creek through Irvine Regional Park. Along the way, we will peruse the petals of some of our favorite blooms currently sprouting this spring season along with some of the year-round favorites. Walk-ins welcome, but advanced registration is recommended.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 12 - Morning Mountain Bike Ride at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
  • 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Gypsum Canyon Wilderness

Join us for an intermediate-level ride on OC Parks’ newest trails in the recently opened Gypsum Canyon Wilderness. This ride will be moderately paced and will include a mix of sustained singletrack climbs and fun twisty descents. Periodic breaks and trailside interpretation will be sprinkled in along the way. The ride will cover 6-7 miles with 900 feet of elevation gain. Participants must bring their own mountain bikes and should come prepared with water, snacks, sun protection and any other gear needed for a ride in a remote area. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 13 - Wilderness Access Day: Gypsum Canyon Wilderness
  • 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Gypsum Canyon Wilderness

Come explore OC Parks’ newest trails at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness through this self-guided opportunity. Located within OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space, Gypsum Canyon Wilderness features 6-miles of new trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Two lookout points offer sweeping views of the surrounding canyons and unique prehistoric rock formations, while seven new trails provide multiple loop options that vary in distance and range from easy to moderate in difficulty. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 13 - Backyard Bugs
  • 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Join OC Parks on a family-friendly trek around Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park to learn all about these amazing animals who have perfected the art of ecological specialization. Insects may have a reputation for being icky, but they're essential pollinators needed to sustain life on our planet. Minors age 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times. Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring snacks and water. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

• April 17 - Springtime Bird Walk
  • 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Peters Canyon Regional Park

Join an experienced OC Parks Volunteer as you stroll through Peters Canyon searching high in the trees for our flittering friends and low in the scrubs for bouncing birds. Bring your binoculars, sun protection, comfortable shoes and an eye for spotting our feathered friends! This walk begins next to the Peters Canyon Ranger Station. Walk-ins welcome, but registration is recommended.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 18 - Preschool Paleontology: Art & Storytime
  • 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Ralph B. Clark Regional Park

Listen to a story, take a walk, make a craft to take home and enjoy a morning at the Interpretive Center at Clark Park. Activities are designed for ages 2 to 5 but all are welcome. Space is limited; parents must register themselves and each child. Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian at all times.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities

• April 19 - Tot Walk
  • 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Join OC Parks naturalists and bring your young ones (infant to age 3) to explore Aliso’s wild backyard. Take a leisurely stroll through the garden and the creek. We will see bugs, plants and birds while exploring! OC Parks staff may even lead a game or introduce a local resident to the children. Come join the fun! This program begins at the Aliso and Wood Visitor Center at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring snacks and water. Please note most of the trail is not stroller friendly. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

• April 19 - Nature Creativity - Native Plant Tea
  • 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Learn how to identify native plants, what an invasive plant is and then make your own native plant tea to enjoy! This program is for ages 12 and older. The program will meet at the Nix Nature Center amphitheater near the bathrooms. Please note: This program involves making and drinking tea made from sustainably sourced native plants. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, please notify park staff upon arrival. Advance registration required.

Registration: ocparks.com/events

• April 20 - Earth Day at the Bay
  • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy invite you to attend our annual celebration: Earth Day at the Bay. This free, family-friendly event features environmental-themed exhibits from community partners and local artists. Booths will feature activities which include arts and crafts, science discovery and educational information. There will be live music throughout the day as well as a scavenger hunt complete with prizes. Be sure to enter the opportunity drawing as well. Food trucks will be on-site with tasty treats available for purchase.

More information: ocparks.com/events

• April 25 - Magnificent Mammals Preschool Program
  • 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. | OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park

This program is for ages 3 to 4 only. Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts and meeting zoo creatures up close! Cost is $5 per child (one parent included). Parent must accompany child for entire program. Phone registration is required. Parking is $3 per vehicle on weekdays.

Registration: Call (714) 973-6846

• April 26 - Nature Journaling: Wildflowers
  • 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
    

Each session will cover the basics of nature journaling, including basic art principles and journal anatomy. Monthly prompts will help guide your eyes and ears to the wonders in nature. Bring a nature journal and your own art materials such as pencils, pens, or watercolors. A portable chair is recommended along with sun protection, water and snacks. Be prepared to move along the trail a short distance and sit to document the beauty around you. This program is geared for ages 12 and older. No experience necessary! The program and parking are free. We will begin on the patio of the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Adverse weather may cancel the program. Advance registration required.

Registration: letsgooutside.org/activities