Volunteer Outside at Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve

Remove invasive French broom in the Santa Cruz Mountains! Join us at Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve, a Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve, to remove invasive plants and support resilient habitat. We will spend our time together using weed wrenches to remove an invasive woody shrub called French broom, in order to reduce fire fuel loads and promote native biodiversity. Participants can expect to walk with 10 to 12 lb. tools through an exposed and hilly terrain for up to 1 mile. Visit Grassroots Ecology's Bear Creek Redwoods page to learn more about the ecosystem and accessibility considerations at Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve. Waivers/Registration: All participants must register & approve the online waiver through this Eventbrite page. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Volunteers age 12 and under require an accompanying adult. Parking/Meeting Space: NEW MEETING LOCATION! Our meeting location is at the Summit Road and Bear Creek Road intersection. Please drive carefully and allow for extra travel time on winding roads, and look for Grassroots Ecology Event signs. Download driving directions ahead of time as cell service can be unreliable. From Bay Area: follow Highway 17 south and take the Bear Creek Road exit. Turn left at the stop sign to head west on Bear Creek Road. Follow the road for 3 miles, passing the main parking lot. Turn left at the Summit Road intersection and immediately enter the gate on the left. From Santa Cruz: follow Highway 17 north and take the Summit Road / CA-35 exit. Turn left to head west, then turn right after the overpass to stay on Summit Road. Follow the road for 2.5 miles. Enter the gate on the right just before the Bear Creek Road intersection. After driving down a short dirt road, parking in the small dirt lot. Please follow event facilitators' parking instructions as space is limited. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. There are no facilities on site; however, there are all-gender pit toilets at the main parking lot (2 mile drive). We recommend using the restroom and refilling water prior to arriving. We will be working in a closed area of the preserve, and the gate will be open for volunteer access between 1:15 and 1:45 PM. Please arrive on time. Alternate Transportation: The preserve is only accessible by car. Prepare for Working Outdoors: • Long sleeves and long pants are strongly encouraged for this event. This area is shaded and additional layers are recommended. • Water bottle filled with water • Sturdy close-toed shoes that can get dirty • Hat/sunscreen or rain gear/boots • Plan for potential exposure to sun, poison oak, ticks • Prepare for limited to no cell reception, limited bathroom access, and no available drinking water Event Cancellations: We are committed to the safety of our staff and volunteers. In the event that we must cancel a workday due to extreme weather conditions or poor air quality, a Grassroots Ecology staff person will reach out via email no later than 5:00 PM the day prior to this event. Join Us! Grassroots Ecology encourages people from all identities and backgrounds to participate in our programs. Many of our programs are outdoors and involve moving and working in a variety of landscapes. If you have accessibility concerns (i.e., allergies, limited mobility, learning differences), our projects are flexible and we are happy to work with you. Please reach out to the workday facilitator so we can best prepare for your participation. Accessibility concerns? Questions? Cancellations? Email [email protected]