Park Happenings for February

Celebrate Black History Month with Programs and Black History Walks. Join East Bay Regional Parks in February for stories of contributions of individuals and groups through naturalist-led programs and Black History Walks. For more information, visit our Black History Month webpage. 

Exploring Black Environmentalist History at Coyote Hills in Fremont, Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m.

Get to Know Black Conservationists, plus visit the Mobile Fish Exhibit! Lake Chabot in Castro Valley, Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m.

Celebrating Black History Walks. Thurgood Marshall Regional Park—Home of the Port Chicago 50 in Concord, Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 15-16 at 10 a.m. Heavy rain may cancel. Registration required.

––––––––––

Enjoy 2025 Trails Challenge with a Nature Date! In February, connect with your special someone while exploring one of the 20 Trails Challenge trails. Tag photos #NatureDateEBRPD and #TrailsChallengeEBRPD on social media. For more information, visit our 2025 Trails Challenge webpage.

––––––––––

Love, East Bay Regional Parks Style. Join naturalists for fun and educational Valentine’s Day programs. 

Love, Nature–DIY Cards: Love is in the air...and on land and in the water! Discover different relationships in nature, like western grebe courtship, and the coyote and badger's friendship. Create a nature-inspired valentine card to give to someone special. Del Valle Visitor Center in Livermore, Friday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 8–9 & Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. 

Valentine's Day Bird-Loving Chocolate Tasting: Learn about and taste samples of organic, bird-friendly chocolate. In cocoa-growing regions, some cocoa is now grown under and alongside the shade of native trees, providing food and shelter for birds and other wildlife. Show love for birds while also loving chocolate! Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove in Alameda, Friday, Feb. 14, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

––––––––––

California Newt Programs in Regional Parks. Venture into the Regional Parks to search for and discover these amorous amphibians. Don’t miss peak season for observing California newts.

Nifty Newts: Search for these fascinating amphibians while learning about them and their lifecycles through stories and art. Registration required. Las Trampas in San Ramon, Saturday, Feb. 8, 1 to 3 p.m.

Newt Exploration: Learn about the amorous adventures and amazing adaptations of newts and search for these amazing amphibians in their natural habitat. Registration required. Las Trampas in San Ramon, Sunday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Great Newt Search: When rain falls on the East Bay, many people rush indoors to stay dry… but not newts! Look for newts on the move near the creeks. Registration required. Del Valle in Livermore, Saturday, Feb. 15, 10 to 11:30 a.m. 

The Over-the-Hills Gang: Old Briones Road: Hikers 55 years and older interested in nature study, history, fitness, and fun are invited to join this series of monthly excursions exploring the Regional Parks. Newts are a star attraction at the Briones ponds! Briones in Martinez, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

––––––––––

Free Saturday Nature Lectures at the Botanic Garden. The Wayne Roderick Lecture Series at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden brings presenters and topics related to plants and natural history to the garden’s Visitor Center auditorium. Presentations take place on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and are enjoyable for beginners and professionals alike. Upcoming February presentations include:
•    Beartooth Range in Montana, Saturday, Feb. 8
•    The Chemistry of Weeds, Saturday, Feb. 15
•    Calochortus Treasure Hunt, Saturday, Feb. 22

––––––––––

Presidents Day Mine Tours at Black Diamond Mines. Celebrate Presidents Day at Black Diamond Mines on Monday, Feb. 17. The Greathouse Visitor Center is open and offering four Coal Mine Experience tours throughout the day. Learn about the toils, triumphs, and tragedies of 19th-century people from around the world who arrived here in search of a new life and new opportunities.

No advance registration is available. Tours can be booked in person at the Greathouse Visitor Center. Must be age 7+ for mine tours. Tour times are 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., with a maximum of 15 people per tour. 

––––––––––

Del Valle Community Campfire & Visitor Center Open House. Bundle up and gather around the fire and discover Del Valle at dusk. Naturalist staff will have interactive activities on local wildlife and the night sky, and the Visitor Center will be open to explore. After enjoying s’mores, head out on a short night hike as the sun sets. Temperatures are often colder in the valley, so remember to dress in warm clothing. Heavy rain will cancel the event. A $5 parking fee applies. Del Valle in Livermore, Sunday, Feb. 23, 4-6:30 p.m. 

––––––––––

All Abilities Day at Big Break. Explore nature at your own pace and in your own way at Big Break’s All Abilities Day on Tuesday, Mar. 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free drop-in program is inclusive, offering something for people of all abilities. Travel along paved trails to visit stations to touch fur, listen to birds, draw wildlife, sit on benches to scan the water, or paint the view. American Sign Language and Spanish interpreters will be on site.