Currently classes meet at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa, Ladybug Park in Rohnert Park, or at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve in Penngrove.

 

Spring Lake

Spring Lake classes meet at the Howarth Park boat launch area. Howarth Park is a 152-acre community park located at 630 Summerfield Road in eastern Santa Rosa. The park includes a lake, picnic areas, and miles of walking paths and trails, which connect to the Bay Area Ridge Trail (including paths to Spring Lake and Annadel State Park). The dominant habitats here include oak woodland and pond communities.

Strollers can be accommodated at this location. Parking is free in the Howarth Park parking lot.

 

Fairfield Osborn Preserve

Fairfield Osborn Preserve classes are held on this 411-acre nature preserve, situated on the northwest flank of Sonoma Mountain, at 6543 Lichau Road, Penngrove. The preserve is not open for the general public and is owned and managed by Sonoma State University. There are eight plant communities within the property, oak woodland being the dominant type, chaparral, Douglas fir woodland, native Bunch grass, freshwater marsh, vernal pool, pond and riparian woodland. The flora is extremely diverse including many native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, lichens and mosses. A diverse fauna inhabits this area including black-tailed deer, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects.

Due to occasional narrow trails and uneven terrain, strollers are not recommended at this site. Parking is free, albeit limited.

 

Ladybug Park

Ladybug Park classes meet at the group picnic site at the far side of this 5-acre park (farthest from the parking lot), at 8517 Liman Way in Rohnert Park. Parking is free in the parking lot, and limited parking is also available closer to the group picnic site at the junction of Loretto and Lakewood Avenue. Classes at this park will include walks along the Laguna de Santa Rosa which ends at the park, where more wildlife and plants can be spotted than in the park itself, including birds, insects and spiders, a variety of trees and other plants, and during parts of the year, frogs and other amphibians. Strollers are not recommended at this site, although they can be accommodated if necessary.