Activity Cards

Curious to learn about the plants among us, who’s sus and who’s not? For this Accessibility for All activity, join us for a hike in Limestone Open Space Preserve where we’ll look at local flora, talk about native and non-native species, and learn how different plants impact our ecosystem.

Accessibility for All activities are open to everyone! This activity is designed to include added attention towards accommodating a number of accessibility needs, including:

• Hiking on a paved, mostly level road
• Having an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter
• Hiking at a pace that works for the entire group

Be sure to bring water and all items needed to keep you safe during our hike. Hats and sunscreen are highly recommended as there is no shade along this route. If you need any specific accommodations, please email info@IRConservancy.org

In collaboration with United States Geological Survey, IRC staff and volunteers will be monitoring vernal pools located at Shoestring and Irvine Mesa. They will survey for activity in the pools and note down the status and conditions of the pools. The goal to give periodic updates on the pools to USGS and notify them when any spadefoot toads have reached the metamorph stage.

This activity is for the Shoestring pools and we will be meeting in Building D at the IRC office. Staff or volunteer driver will drive volunteers to the shoestring gate and up to the ponds if trails conditions allow. If transportation is unavailable, volunteers will be asked to hike in from Augustine staging or the Shoestring gate. Volunteers will be notified if this is the case.

There is one slot for a volunteer driver. If you happen to be a driver and the slot is filled but you still wish to help with the survey, you can still sign up as a normal volunteer participant.

Please sanitize your boots and any of your own equipment after visiting the pools, especially if you signed up to go to both shoestring and the mesa pools in the same week. USGS recommends a 16:1 bleach solution but alcohol and other cleaning agents will do. We will sanitize equipment that we provide such as waders, thermometers, and secchi disks.

IRC staff, local butterfly enthusiasts, and experts continue to monitor IRC’s butterflies every month! We will be recording number and types of butterflies encountered along the trails of Limestone Canyon. Our butterfly count will provide a benchmark estimate of diversity and number of these beautiful insects to compare to future local surveys and to larger patterns being compiled nationwide. Be prepared to share your appreciation and knowledge of butterflies. Bring close-focus binoculars and be ready to be out on the trail for the full morning.  Spaces are limited.