July Volunteer Activity at Red Rock Canyon State Park

Do you enjoy painting, hammering, and other hands-on construction play? Then come and volunteer at Red Rock Canyon State Park on July 11th for a picnic table repair/rebuild day. Several park picnic tables are in bad shape, so maintenance staff has hauled them into the shop and purchased all the materials needed to re-vamp them. Now they need your help! Some tables just need a little TLC here and there, and others have rotted out pieces that need to be completely removed and replaced.

Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 9 a.m.; bring work gloves, water and lunch (registered Red Rock volunteers may park in maintenance yard). And don’t fret about the heat- the maintenance building has air conditioning! There will be something for all levels of experience. Minors must have parent or legal guardian present, or youth groups may be approved in advance. Please RSVP to: Theodore.Reynolds@parks.ca.gov.

When: Saturday July 11th, 9 a.m. – noon.

Where: Red Rock Canyon State Park Visitor Center: end of Abbott Drive, off Highway 14 between Mojave and Ridgecrest.

Artists Raven and John Rivera Visit Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park

On Saturday, July 25, between 11 AM and 4 PM, American Indian artists Raven Magpie Rivera and John Rivera will demonstrate jewelry making and other traditional arts, play the Native flute, and answer questions about their regalia (traditional clothing) and culture. Raven’s jewelry will be available for purchase.

Museum admission is $3 for adults. Kids age 12 and under are free. The museum exhibits over 4,000 objects created by the American Indian peoples of southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Visitors also enjoy the nature trail, gift shop, and picnic area.

The museum is located at 15701 East Avenue M, in Lake Los Angeles, east of Lancaster, California. From the 14 Freeway in Lancaster, go east on Avenue K to 150th Street East. Turn right and go south for two miles to Avenue M. Turn left and go east on Avenue M for 1 mile to the museum. For more information, phone the museum at (661) 946-3055 (711 TTY relay service), or visit our website at www.avim.parks.ca.gov.

Take A Hike! At Tehachapi’s August First Friday Event

Want to take a hike this summer without getting hot? California State Parks and the Sierra Club are going to give you a chance to explore five different local parks in one evening!

At Tehachapi’s First Friday event on August 7th, you can explore the opportunities that await you at each local California State Park. Discover the colorful and dramatic scenery of Red Rock Canyon State Park, the wildflowers of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Saddleback Butte State Park’s panoramic views from the peak, the region’s trade routes spanning thousands of years at the Antelope Valley Indian Museum, and the rugged beauty of Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park’s Indian village site.

The First Friday event is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Imagine visiting five parks in such a short time! The Sierra Club will offer local hiking information, and you’ll stay energized during your adventure with free refreshments. View artifacts and displays illustrating the culture and life ways of the local Kawaiisu Indians, and there will be activities and hands-on displays for children. A variety of local gift items will be available for purchase, benefitting the Tomo-Kahni volunteer program and park projects.

Please join us at Tehachapi’s Community Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 100 East E Street in Tehachapi at the corner of South Green Street, to discover the adventure and educational opportunities that our local California State Parks have to offer! Visitors to Tehachapi can enjoy the popular First Friday Artist Receptions and Art Walks year round, and sample a wide variety of local Tehachapi art and services.

Where: Community Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 100 East E Street, Tehachapi (at the corner of South Green Street).

When: Friday, August 7, 5-8 p.m.

Cost: Free

Fall Tours at Tehachapi Native American Village Site

California State Parks is taking reservations 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 will be offered Saturdays September 26th through November 14th. Activities begin at 8:30 a.m. with an orientation at the Tehachapi Museum in Tehachapi and last approximately 4 hours, which includes travel time to and from the park (transportation is not provided). Weather at the high-elevation park is variable, so layered clothing is recommended. Adequate 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. 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 June 15th, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cost: Adults: $5, Children age 6-16 $3, Children under 5 free.

Reservations: $10 per party