Geology Walk
2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Hosted by Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve
Kody Shellhouse, a geologist with the Bureau of Land Management, will take us on an easy two-mile stroll along old roads and trails near Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve. That will give us the opportunity to discuss Cretaceous geology and the mining history of the area.
* * * This hike meets at the yellow steel gate, on the south side of Clear Creek Road, about 6 miles west of highway 273. (1 mile east of HCCP parking area.)

Sloppy Joe Naturalist Hike
2026-04-12 09:00 - 12:00
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Time: 9am – 12pm
Where: Intersection of Sunglow Dr and Winter Green Ct
Sign Up HERE
Join naturalists Juliet Malik and Ren Redlich for a plant and wildlife identification hike along Sloppy Joe and other connected trails. We will explore both riparian and oak woodland habitats that support a number of native woody plants, wildflowers, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. With the Shasta County City Nature Challenge coming up at the end of the month (April 24-27), we will offer guidance and demonstrations on how to make iNaturalist observations to any who are interested.
This field trip will cover about 3 miles depending on our route. Most stream crossings have bridges, but if there has been recent rainfall, the trail may truly be “sloppy,” so wear appropriate shoes. The trail crosses over a couple of ridges and some trail sections are steep, rocky, and uneven.
Please come prepared with water, sun/rain protection, sturdy footwear, hiking poles if desired, a snack, and anything else you like to use to observe nature, i.e. binoculars, hand lens, etc. If you are interested in making iNaturalist observations on this hike you can get prepared by downloading the app on your phone and creating your account.
*Only service dogs on a leash please. This is a narrow trail that is popular with mountain bikers too.
Severe weather cancels. Please fill out this form to sign our waiver and be added to the contact list for updates.For any questions, email juliet@ecoshasta.org.

Gold Rush History Walk
2026-04-12 10:00 - 12:00
Hosted by Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve
The community of Horsetown was established near the second major gold discovery in California at Reading’s Bar on Clear Creek during the gold rush of 1849. Enjoy a pleasant spring walk with a view of that site with Preserve Board Member Cathy Scott. Learn about our local gold rush history and Horsetown. Bring some friends and walking shoes.

Wild Trout and Fly Fishing in Clear Creek
2026-04-19 10:00 - 12:00
Hosted by Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve.
Join local angler Mark Clausen as he discusses fly fishing and watch from the beach as he demonstrates the technique of casting a fly on beautiful Clear Creek. He will share facts about wild trout on Clear Creek and some of the equipment used on the sport. Mark has been tying his own flies and fishing this stretch of creek for many years. NOT limited to fisherman.

Moth Party ~ Lightsheeting Event
2026-04-24 21:00 - 23:00
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 9pm – 11pm
RSVP HERE
You’re invited to the Moth Party! What is a moth party? Well, if you shine a bright light at a white sheet… this is heaven for moths and other insects. This strategy makes it easier for us to photograph creatures that are usually fluttering about, making for blurry pictures.
Our Goal:
Attract and photograph moths and other insect species to record for the Shasta County City Nature Challenge.
What is the City Nature Challenge?
Each year, various counties and cities participate in recording observations of wildlife in the iNaturalist app in order to document biodiversity in specific areas. This is a world-wide project that encourages the average person to look at nature around them and report back on what they see. Do you need to be a scientist or an expert to take part in this Challenge? Absolutely not! All you need is a phone, the iNaturalist app, and curiosity.
Why a Moth Party?
When you think of “Pollinators” you probably picture colorful butterflies or buzzing bees. But did you know that on a global scale, there are twice as many species of pollinating moths as there are bees, and six times as many pollinating moth species as butterflies? While most creatures are asleep, moths work the night-shift, which is why they are often overlooked. If this didn’t convince you, they are also very cute and fuzzy and nice to look at!
Please RSVP for location and event details
*Note: this event will be held in a more remote location than the light-polluted city center in order to encourage a more successful turnout (of insects)
For any questions, contact ren@ecoshasta.org

Salmon Monitoring on Clear Creek
2026-04-26 09:00 - 11:00
Hosted by Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve.
Join Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve alongside Fish Biologists from the US. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to learn more about their juvenile salmon conservation and monitoring projects in our area. This is a family friendly event where you can view USFWS rotary screw trap operations on Clear Creek, a project that helps track and monitor populations of our local Chinook Salmon. We’ll start at the China Garden Trailhead. USFWS will then lead us down to Clear Creek where we will be able to learn about and observe USFWS rotary screw trap and juvenile fish handling operations, conservation and monitoring of Chinook Salmon and steelhead trout, as well as restoration and management efforts happening within the watershed.
This hike meets at the China Garden Trailhead, (the first BLM trailhead on Clear Creek Road from highway 273).

Whiskeytown City Nature Challenge Bioblitz Event
2026-04-26 09:00 - 12:00
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 9am – 12pm (Carpool meeting time is 8:15am at the Grocery Outlet on Eureka Way)
Where: Crystal Creek Water Ditch Trail
Sign Up HERE
***Please note that trailhead parking is limited so we are organizing a carpool.***
Shasta Environmental Alliance is excited to offer a bioblitz event for this year’s Shasta County City Nature Challenge project at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area! Join SEA naturalists Juliet Malik and Ren Redlich along with guest naturalist Ross Schaefer on April 26 for a fun community activity in which we will contribute to the documentation of our region’s amazing biodiversity.
What:
The City Nature Challenge is an annual four-day international bioblitz that invites people around the world to document wildlife in their region. The event is organized globally by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences, with local partners leading efforts in their communities. This is Shasta County’s second year participating and is co-organized by Point Blue Conservation Science, Western Shasta Resource Conservation District, and Shasta Environmental Alliance.
Why:
Participating in CNC events provides valuable data that helps scientists and communities better understand and protect nature globally. Plus, it is a fun activity that provides the opportunity for community connection and learning about local biodiversity.
How:
We will be conducting an iNaturalist bioblitz, a community science activity in which participants document as many species as possible within a specified location and time frame. Observations are made and submitted by using the user-friendly app and platform iNaturalist.
Who:
Anyone! All that is needed is a mobile phone with the iNaturalist app downloaded onto it.
To Participate:

Sign up HERE
Download iNaturalist onto your mobile phone and create an account.
Familiarize yourself with how iNaturalist works. Check out this page for tutorials.
Bring your hiking essentials including water, sun/rain protection, and a snack.

If you cannot attend this event, you can still contribute to the project by submitting iNaturalist observations within Shasta County during April 24-27, 2026. Your observations will automatically be recorded in the Shasta County 2026 CNC project. For any questions email juliet@ecoshasta.org.

Native Plant Identification and Uses
2026-05-03 13:00 - 15:00
Hosted by Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve.
Join native Wintu Ted Dawson on a spring walk while he locates, identifies, and explains medicinal and general uses of native plants. Ted consulted and provided technical support at Turtle Bay for Native American exhibits. Today’s presentation will include making a natural poison oak remedy. Bring a jar to take some home.

Butterfly Walk
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00
Hosted by Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve.
Hobbyist lepidopterist Jasmine has an affinity for all things butterflies. She will guide us on a walk to discover species of butterflies at the Preserve. She worked within Turtle Bay’s seasonal butterfly exhibit for two summers, where her knowledge of butterflies grew.
She will be graduating this May with an associates in Natural Sciences then going to Humboldt to get a bachelors in Forest Restoration.
We have close-focusing binoculars for sharing the experience.

Wading into the Water: The Hidden World of Aquatic Insects
2026-05-30 10:00 - 12:00
Hosted by Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve.
Discover the big role tiny insects play in our aquatic ecosystems and how they survive in a bug-eat-bug world. Join AmeriCorps member Kristina Krajcik from the Western Shasta RCD for a family-friendly day of turning over rocks, wading in the stream, or simply watching from the shore. We’ll spend the day sampling for aquatic invertebrates and explore the mysteries of the underwater world. We will bring extra nets and tools to allow guests, big and small, the opportunity to gather insects.

Phillips Brothers Mill Tour
2026-05-31 09:00 - 14:00
Phillips Brothers Mill Tour
Date: May 31, 2026
Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm
Where: Mt. Shasta Mall, near Chase Bank parking lot for carpooling
Sign up: HERE
Cost: $15 per person/ Children are free
We hope you’ll join us for a very special field trip to tour the last fully steam-powered sawmill in the United States located right here in Shasta County! The Phillips Brothers Mill, located in Oak Run, has been operating since 1897 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It sits on over 900 acres of timberland that has been placed in a conservation easement with the Pacific Forest Trust to ensure this property remains protected and sustainably managed in perpetuity.
The tour will be conducted by the mill’s manager, Gregg Hendrix who has been part of this family owned and operated business since he was a child. Gregg will guide us through the operation from the mill pond through the first cuts of the logs to the finished products of custom-cut lumber and wooden boxes. It will take about two hours and we will have an opportunity to purchase some of their box factory products. Afterwards, we can eat lunch before heading back. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring water and a lunch or snack.
To join this tour you MUST fill out this form as we are limiting this field trip to 30 people. We will meet at Mt. Shasta Mall near Chase Bank to carpool and caravan to the mill. You may prepay via PayPal or bring cash or check the morning of. The full amount of the fee goes to the Phillips Brothers Mill, but we would greatly appreciate any amount above that price to support our mission to protect our local environment through stewardship, education, and advocacy.
For any questions, email juliet@ecoshasta.org

Adopt-A-Swim Beach Program At Whiskeytown Lake
2026-06-07 08:00 - 10:00
Shasta Environmental Alliance is proudly participating in Whiskeytown’s Adopt-A-Swim Beach clean-up program, and we invite you to join us in showing our beloved recreation park some TLC. We have committed to at least one morning during each of the summer months to roll up our sleeves, put on some gloves and clean up our adopted swim beach. We hope you’ll join us in our efforts to provide safe clean beaches for summer recreating. Donuts may be involved!
All materials will be supplied by WNRA, all we have to do is show up with our can-do attitude. To volunteer please fill out this FORM.
For questions contact juliet@ecoshasta.org

The Extraordinary Caterpillar
2026-07-12 14:00 - 16:00
Date: July 12, 2026
Time: 2pm-4pm (Doors open at 1:30)
Location: Riverfront Playhouse, 1950 California Street, Redding, CA
Cost: FREE with suggested donation
**Seating is limited and you MUST register HERE to reserve a seat.
Looking for a fun family event to escape the summer heat? Join us in an exploration of nature’s tiniest superheroes.
We’re hosting a special screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a beautifully shot 60-minute documentary that reveals the vital—and often overlooked—role caterpillars play in our ecosystems.
Watch the trailer here! https://vimeo.com/1117213704
From blooming meadows to city parks and backyard gardens, this inspiring film celebrates the magic of nature while showing families practical ways to make a difference.
Along the way, you’ll see the groundbreaking work of The Caterpillar Lab, entomologist David Wagner, and Doug Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park.
Doors open at 1:30pm. Come early to explore information from local environmental organizations. After the film we encourage you to stick around for a Q&A session with local experts.
