Free to members and the public
UC Sedgwick Reserve

The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society will celebrate its 25th Anniversary on Saturday, April 26 at UC Sedgwick Reserve from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of outdoor activities, including a variety of natural history hikes, a nature walk for all ages, a tour of the Reserve’s Field Station, and opportunities for nature journaling. A visual retrospective of our 25 years of trips and lectures will be ongoing in the Reserve’s Clarke Hall.
This celebratory event offers you a chance to spend time among family, friends, neighbors, and members of the Society, including some of its founders and most popular field trip leaders. It’s also a day to learn new things and share your knowledge and observations of the natural world with others.

The gates to the Reserve will open at 2:00 p.m. and organized walks and hikes will begin at 2:30 and last until 4:00 or 4:30. Following the hikes and walks, everyone is invited to enjoy the picnic area under the oaks, where cold beverages (for adults and kids) and snacks will be available at no cost. At 5:00 p.m. we’ll honor five individuals who have had a major impact on our educational programs over the past 25 years and follow that with servings of our special anniversary cake. You are welcome to bring a picnic supper, and you can stay up until 7:00 p.m.

The following short hikes will be offered, and all of them begin at 2:30 p.m.
“Family Friendly Nature Walk” with Nikki Evans. This stroll to various sites around the Field Station will introduce a variety of topics to naturalists of all ages, including animal tracks, bone identification, and feathered friends.
“Fire Ecology and Recovery at Sedgwick” with Tina Collins. A level 2-mile roundtrip hike on Figueroa Canyon Road will examine burned and unburned areas at the edge of the Lake Fire, with ample time to discuss the role of fire in Mediterranean climates.
“Oak Tree Natural History” with Margie Popper and John Evarts. This moderate 2-mile hike — with one steep uphill section over the highly scenic Arroyo Willow Trail — will cover basic oak identification, oak woodland ecology, and an overview of California’s oak habitats and the challenges they face.
“Sedgwick Field Station Tour” with Dennis Beebe. Here’s a chance to learn about the rich history and fascinating research at Sedgwick on a tour that includes the Sedgwick family house, historic barn and history room, and the LEED certified Tipton House.
“Bird Life at Sedgwick” with Tim Matthews. Bring your binoculars or spotting scope to join this birding walk to the Sedgwick pond, home to the County’s largest population of tri-colored blackbirds, as well as other species such as soras, rails, and common yellowthroat. You will also bird around the ranch house and other nearby spots to sample the rich avian fauna at this recognized birding hotspot.
“The Rocks Tell a Story” with trip leader Susie Bartz. This 1-mile hike will introduce the geologic processes that have helped define the Sedgwick landscape and will focus on the streambed of Figueroa Creek, which holds rocks from various origins dating back nearly 200 million years.
Look for more detailed information to follow via emails to members and friends and here on our website.

How to Register

Event date: Saturday, April 26, 2025, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Advance Registration is required at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 895 693-5683 beginning March 26.