COUNTY ANNOUNCES MARCH EVENTS IN EAST COUNTY PARKS

March 6, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The County of San Diego is hosting a variety of unique events at parks countywide, include several East County and inland area locations: Agua Caliente Regional Park in the Anza Borrego Desert,  Lake Morena, Lakeside Community Center, Spring Valley Community Center,  Sweetwater Summit Regional Park and Campground in Bonita, Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch Preserve, Vallecito County Park, Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve, Wilderness Gardens Presere, and William Heise County Park in Julian.

Scroll down for detailed listings of activities at each park. For information on park locations and more, also see http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/

LAKE MORENA

2550 Lake Morena Dr

Campo | (619) 579-4101

Fees: Free for campers, $3 day use fee

NATURE HIKE

Saturdays, March 23

2:30 pm

Take a relaxing and easy hike at Lake Morena County Park. During the hike you will learn about native plants in the area, and how the Kumeyaay Indians utilized the natural vegetation in their daily lives. You will also learn the history of Lake Morena. The hike lasts about an hour. Call in advance to verify the hike start time.

LAKESIDE COMMUNITY CENTER

9841 Vine St 

Lakeside | (619) 443-9176

GYM TRIX GYMNASTICS CLASSES 

Tuesdays 

Call For Times 

Our gymnastics classes by Gym Trix include tumbling, basic motor skills, cre­ative movement, and all-around fitness in a fun format that will offer your child new enthusiasm for a physically active life! Children will use mats, ropes, balls, balance beams, and other equipment. Help your child increase flexibility, fit­ness, coordination, self-esteem, and con­fidence. Fee is $40 a month per child.

BOOTCAMP FITNESS 

Tuesdays and Thursdays 

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm 

Get fit with a class that incorporates cardio, weights, yoga and kick-boxing into a one hour-long session. Exercises vary each class, so sessions are never boring and participants get a full body workout. Most sessions are held on the patio surrounded by the scenic views of Lindo Lake Park. Participants range in fitness levels and ages, and the class is tailored to individual abilities.

PICKLEBALL

Tuesdays and Thursdays

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Pickleball is a fun game that is played on a badminton court with the net lowered to 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic baseball (similar to a wiffle ball) and wood composite paddles. It is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into  a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. Join us for fun, friends and lots of laughter.

SPRING VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER

8735 Jamacha Blvd

Spring Valley | (619) 479-1832

GLUCK CONCERT SERIES

Every fourth Friday of the month through May 24

10:30 am 

The UCSD Gluck Concert Series are concerts that bring the joy of live music to seniors.

SPRING CAMP

Week One: Monday – Friday, March 25 – 29

7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Week Two: Tuesday – Friday, April 2 – 5

No camp April 1

7:00 am – 6:00 pm 

Enjoy two weeks of fun-filled holiday activities during the holiday break for children ages 5-14. Spring camp consists of games, holiday crafts and more.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY

Saturday, March 30

7:30 am – 9:30 am

Breakfast with the Bunny includes pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee and milk, all served by the enthusiastic Kiwanis! Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children 12 years and under. Breakfast will be held in Ketell Hall.

FREE EGG HUNT

Saturday, March 30

9:00 am

The entire family will enjoy a special visit from Spring Valley’s own “bunny.” The egg hunt is for ages 2 – 10 and starts at 9:00 am sharp. Picture taken with the bunny are $5.

SPRING VALLEY GYMNASIUM SPORTS FACILITY

838 Kempton St 

Spring Valley | (619) 667-6833

YOUTH OPEN PLAY

Monday – Friday

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm 

Sunday

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Subject to change daily based on gym rentals and/or programs that conflict. Please call ahead of time to check availability. To participate, youth must bring the release form completely filled out and signed by parent or guardian. This form puts your child on the open play checklist, where the child must check in every day they participate. Children must wear gym appropriate clothing. No jeans. Kids under 10-years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Age requirement is 17 and under. Free for all youth.

ADULT OPEN PLAY

Monday – Friday

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Sunday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Cost $1/day, $5/month, or $20/year for an annual pass Subject to change daily based on gym rentals and/or programs that conflict. Please call ahead of time to check availability. To participate, adults must fill out the release form. This form puts you on the open play checklist, where you must check in every day that you participate. Player must wear gym appropriate clothing. No jeans. To check out equipment, adults must bring a form of personal identification such as a driver’s license. Age requirement is 18 years and older.

ADULT MEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Thursdays 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Game times vary)

(8 games plus playoffs)

Cost $300 per season plus $24 per game for referee fees

Come participate in the best men’s basketball league offered in East County. With over 16 teams spanning 2 divisions, this league has been expanding rapidly. Game times begin at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm, and 9:00 pm. There is a ‘B’ division and a ‘C’ division with 8 teams per division. Stats are kept for league leaders. For more information please email Brandon Schroeder at brandon.schroeder@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 619-667-6833. Information needed to sign up include a team name, a team manager and phone number, division preference, and a team roster.

SPORTS CONDITIONING

Tuesdays and Fridays

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Cost $55 per month

Are you looking to improve your quickness and agility? Do you want to build your strength and increase your vertical jump for basketball? Become a better athlete by joining the Sports Conditioning class. Class is open to people ages 13 and up.

YOUTH INDOOR SOCCER

Saturday games, weekday practices

Practices begin March 25

Games begin April 6

Practices after 5:00 pm

Games: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Cost $65 for a 7-week session

Required Skills Assessment on Saturday, March 16. Volunteer coaches wanted! Registration deadline is March 15.

SWEETWATER SUMMIT REGIONAL PARK AND CAMPGROUND

3218 Summit Meadow Rd 

Bonita | (619) 472-7572

RED HILL PROGRAM PARK RANGER LED WALK 

Saturdays and Sundays 

9:00 am – 11:00 am 

Come out and experience a Ranger-led program at Sweetwater Summit Campground. It's a fun hike at Red Hill, featuring 1.5 miles of walking and wildlife enjoyment, including birding and native plants. Bring water, a hat and binoculars. Groups and clubs welcome.

SYCAMORE CANYON/GOODAN RANCH PRESERVE

16281 Sycamore Canyon Rd 

Poway | (858) 513-4737

STAR PARTY 

Friday, March 15

Sunset 

Join the San Diego Astronomers Association (SDAA) volunteer astronomers and park staff at the Hwy 67 staging area for a night under the stars. Come experience the chance to view our galaxy using the same technology used by the professionals. Viewers will get a chance to see many amazing sights, which they wouldn’t normally see without the trained eye. Bring sturdy shoes and a jacket. Clouds or rain the event will be cancelled. Free to the public.

VALLECITO COUNTY PARK

37349 Great South Stage Rte 1849 

Julian | (760) 765-1188

VALLECITO DAYS 

March 16 – 17 

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Experience life on the 1860’s frontier in San Diego County. Tours will be given of the historic Vallecito Stage Station, and

re-enactors will demonstrate tomahawk-throwing and frontier cooking along with soap making and weaving. Antique firearms will also be on display. A camp will also be set re-creating the adventures of trappers and hunters who traversed the Southern Overland Trail. Visit a mountain man camp and view demonstrations and exhibits on outdoor cooking and frontier equipment, and greet California Civil War soldiers at their campsites. This is a free event fun for the whole family!  For more information download the event flyer.

VOLCAN MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS PRESERVE

1209 Farmer Road 

Julian | (760) 765-4098 

SUMMIT HIKE 

Saturday, March 23 

10:00 am 

Take in the panoramic views while hiking the Five Oaks trail. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Julian, where on a clear day you can see the buildings in downtown San Diego and islands off the coast of Mexico and Southern California. 

From the summit you can enjoy an incredible view of San Felipe Valley and the desert. This hike will include an elevation gain of approximately 1000 ft in 2 miles.

Please dress in layers as the temperature can change dramatically as we reach the summit. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and carry plenty of water. Bring a snack or lunch for the summit. We will meet at the Hubel gate, located approximately 300 feet up the gravel road from the Volcan Mountain parking area along Farmers Road. Inclement weather will cancel hike.

WILDERNESS GARDENS PRESERVE

14209 Highway 76 

Pala | (760) 742-1631 

Fees: Parking is $3 per vehicle

A LOOK BACK IN TIME 

Saturdays, March 16 

9:00 am – 11:00 am 

The 1.5 mile interpretive walk is an easy to moderate hike that begins at the staging area and proceeds along the main trail. The Ranger will speak about the first settlers of the early American period. During the hike, we will discuss geography, history, and the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The hike will conclude at the Ranger Station with a tour of the Museum. Please bring hiking shoes, drinking water and snacks.

WILLIAM HEISE COUNTY PARK

 4945 Heise Park Rd 

Julian | (760) 765-0650

RANGER LED HIKE 

Every Sunday

10:30 am – 11:30 am 

Join park staff for an easy to moderate hike through the trails of Heise Park. Weather permitting, these hikes will be in the winter, so bring a sweater, jacket, gloves, water, and snacks. All hikes will start at the Ranger station. Free of charge for campers or $3 day use fee.

ALL ABOUT HEISE 

Saturday, March 9

10:00 am 

Come listen to Ranger Roger talk about the gold boom in Julian, the development of the area and what happened to the bears. Learn why the oak trees are dying and what we know and what we are doing about it. Come and learn and ask questions. The event is open to all ages and is free to campers, or a $3 day use fee. 

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Saturday, March 9

2:30 pm 

Explore an undeveloped area of Heise Park & observe the forest’s life and death struggle to survive. Fires and invasive bugs have threatened this intricate ecosystem. Join us on a 90 minute walk to see how Rangers maintain the park behind the scenes and how everyone can help or hinder the preservation of these natural settings. Wear sturdy shoes as we will not be on a trail. This program is best suited for ages 10 and up.

TRAIL VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Saturday, March 16

2:30 pm

If you enjoy hiking and good hard work, join Park staff in repairing and enhancing our existing trails. Trail maintenance projects include pruning, erosion control, post installation, trail improvements and new trail construction. This is a great way to see the parks! You can expect to be hiking/working in warm weather so be sure to bring lots of water, small lunch, sunscreen, long pants, gloves and hiking boots. All tools will be provided and all levels are welcome. We will meet at the ranger office at 10 am and will be out till 2pm.

CANYON OAK CONNECTION

Saturday, March 23

2:30 pm – 4 pm

Connect with many natural wonders that escape the casual hiker’s notice. On a 1.7 mile loop of moderate difficulty, this trail passes through several eco-systems. Discover many secrets of animal and plant interactions as they rebound from the Cedar Fire of 2003. This slow-paced Walk–N-Talk is geared to inexperienced hikers but interesting for all. Explore, observe, appreciate, and connect with the amazing classroom of the outdoors. The event is open to all ages and is free to campers, or a $3 day use fee.