American Indian Celebration at Antelope Valley Indian Museum SHP

The annual American Indian Celebration at Antelope Valley Indian Museum returns on Oct. 15 and 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults (cash only). Children age 12 and under are free. Parking is free. Proceeds from the event will be used by Friends of the Antelope Valley Indian Museum to support museum programs.

The dance arena will feature the Little Creek Lodge Singers Northern Traditional-style drum group. This year we will also welcome the Changing Spirits drum group. Native dancers are encouraged to join us and should contact the museum at 661-946-3055 prior to October 15 for complementary admission.

Ted and Dennis Garcia will share traditional stories from their Chumash culture. Visitors interested in southern California tribal culture will not want to miss the Serrano Bird Singers on Sunday.

Hungry visitors will enjoy Cecelia Begay’s Indian tacos and fry bread.

Native artists will sell jewelry, beadwork, gourd art, paintings, and crafts at the event. Artists you will meet include Paul Begay (Navajo), Judy Einboden (Panamanian), Nadiya Littlewarrior (Potawatomie), Ester Lugo (Yaqui), Maria Martinez (Yaqui), Marc and Matt McMasters (Cherokee/Creek), and Michael Chas Williams (Wichita). Mike Thompson will demonstrate flint knapping.

The museum will be open and staffed with knowledgeable museum docents. Families will enjoy working with clay and trying their hand at pounding acorns and pine nuts at the touch table exhibit in Joshua Cottage.

For more information, phone the museum at (661) 946-3055, 711, TTY relay service, or visit our website at www.avim.parks.ca.gov.

When: October 15 and 16, 2016, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m

Where: Antelope Valley Indian Museum, 15701 East Avenue M, Lancaster, California. From the 14 Freeway in Lancaster, go east on Avenue K to 150th Street East, then follow the signs to the museum.

Cost: $8 for adults (cash only). Children age 12 and under are free.

Contact: Peggy Ronning, 661-946-6900

*****

National Public Lands Day Event:

Saddleback Butte State Park Habitat Cleanup

Celebrate your public lands by giving back to your local parks! As part of the 23rd Annual National Public Lands Day, Saddleback Butte State Park is leading a park habitat cleanup on Saturday, October 22nd from 8 a.m. to noon.

Litter in the park, dropped by careless visitors or blown in from the road, is dangerous for wildlife and unsightly. Volunteers are needed to remove wrappers, cups, balloons, and other debris tangled in bushes near the campground and along the fenceline; those who wish to trek farther should be sure to arrive early.

Check in at the campground for registration and litter pickup supplies. Bring lunch, water, layered clothing and sun protection; bringing your own gloves will help conserve our resources. This activity involves walking through soft sand for the distance of your choice, and please note that dogs are only allowed in the campground, picnic area, and park road. Parking fees will be waived for participants, and you will receive a complimentary Saddleback Butte State Park patch to thank you for your stewardship!

Through National Public Lands Day, the National Environmental Education Foundation works to connect people to public lands in their community, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage use of public lands for education, recreation, and general health. Visit www.NEEFUSA.org for more information about NPLD. The official NPLD, sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales USA, is September 24th; please note that the event at Saddleback is on October 22nd.

Pre-registration is not required, but participants may RSVP in advance at www.Facebook.com/SaddlebackButte. For questions about this event, call 661-946-6900 or email Jean.Rhyne@parks.ca.gov.  For information about the park, visit www.parks.ca.gov.

When: Saturday, October 22nd, 8 a.m. to noon

Where: Check in at Saddleback Butte State Park Campground, 17071 East Avenue K in Lancaster (at 170th Street East, near Lake Los Angeles).

From Hwy 14, follow Ave K east past 150^th St. East. Road becomes K-8; make a left on 170^th Street East back to Avenue K. Make a right, and campground entrance is on the left.

Contact: Jean Rhyne, 661-946-6900

*****

Camp Hosts Needed at Saddleback Butte State Park

Do you or someone you know have a trailer and love camping in the desert? We are looking for volunteer camp host(s) to stay at Saddleback Butte State Park, near Lancaster at the western end of the Mojave Desert (an hour north of LA).

The host campsite has full hookups, and duties include greeting visitors and campers, selling firewood, light grounds maintenance, light restroom cleaning, weekend visitor center staffing and cleaning as needed, and opening/closing gates.  It’s a small campground in a quiet park, but spring may be busy if we have a good wildflower bloom. Daily work hours depend on park visitation (but generally about 5 hours a day), and days off are flexible. Camp hosts can also be trained to give interpretive programs if interested. A small town and the State Park Sector office are located only 4 miles away.

The 3-6 month position is currently available from now through December, and from April forward. This is not a paying position, but hosts are compensated with a free campsite and hookups. Camp hosts must provide their own trailer or RV, and pass a background check. More info about the park can be found at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=618.  Email Jean.Rhyne@parks.ca.gov for questions or to receive an application packet.

*****

Fall Tours at Tehachapi Native American Village Site

California State Parks still has a few spots left for the fall tour season at Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park in Tehachapi. Although no structures remain on this Kawaiisu Native American village site, the area’s rich history comes alive through the trained volunteer tour guides and the clues that the inhabitants left behind.

Tomo Kahni means “winter home” in Kawaiisu, and rock rings mark the locations of many of the kahni, or homes, that were built of juniper boughs.  Hundreds of mortar holes in the park tell of a very active past. The tour also includes Medicine Cave, Nettle Springs and a cave with pictographs- a sacred place of the Kawaiisu.

Due to the extremely sensitive nature of the site, visitation is only permitted on a guided tour, which involves a moderately strenuous 3-hour hike.

Fall tours are offered Saturdays through November 12th.  Activities begin at 8:30 a.m. with an orientation at the Tehachapi Museum in Tehachapi and last approximately 4 hours, including travel time to and from the park (transportation is not provided).

Please note: Those with heart conditions or breathing problems should NOT take this tour. Weather at the high-elevation park is variable, so layered clothing is recommended.  Ample drinking water, sun protection, and sturdy walking shoes are also necessary.

Tour fee is $5 for adults, and $3 for children ages 6-16 (age 5 and under are free, but not recommended on tours).  Tours are limited to 15 people and fill up fast so reservations are highly recommended for an additional fee of $10 per party, at least two weeks in advance.  To make a reservation or for more information, call (661) 946-6092 or email Mojave.Sector@parks.ca.gov.

Where:  Tehachapi Museum, 310 S. Green Street, Tehachapi

When:  Saturdays through November 12th, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cost:  Adults: $5, Children age 6-16: $3, Children 5 and under free.
Reservations: $10 per party

*****

Help With Trail Beautification Project

at Red Rock Canyon State Park

Join Red Rock Canyon State Park staff and volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. for a trail beautification project. The public is invited to help with repair and restoration of the Desert View Trail, such as realigning rocks, fixing eroded areas, and litter pickup.

Check in for this event at the park Visitor Center at the end of Abbot Drive, off Highway 14. Volunteers of all physical abilities are welcome. Bring work gloves, water, your lunch, and layered clothing. A hat and sunscreen are also recommended. Minors may participate if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or youth groups may be approved in advance.

Red Rock Canyon State Park is located on Highway 14 between Mojave and Ridgecrest. Hundreds of movies and commercials have been filmed at this park, known for its dramatic scenery and colorful geology.  For more information about the park or this event, visit www.parks.ca.gov, or www.Facebook.com/RedRockCanyonStatePark.

***

Upcoming Events (more info to come):

* November 5^th: Holiday Sale at the Poppy Reserve

* December 3^rd, 5-8 p.m.: Holidays on the Homestead at Antelope Valley Indian Museum

* January 1^st:  First Day Hikes at Saddleback Butte State Park and Red Rock Canyon State Park