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the community place and spirit by alan ehrgott current american river conservancy local river guides and trail enthusiasts it was like living shakespeare s midsummer s night dream the volunteer-prepared food and entertainment were spectacular a great sense of camaraderie was felt among the 520 guests who helped through a large auction and ticket sales raise $18,000 for local trail projects it is said that trailfest attendee community is the combined spirit of those involved i believe that it seems to me that each of us individually and collectively is always engaged in building creating and living in community without other people and other life forms there is no interaction no personal growth no joy no love i refer to other life forms here to remind us that the human species is just one part of our great community of life community can be seen as a mutual symbiotic relationship between life and place there is no greater joy nor greater responsibility than protecting and enhancing community and preserving those enduring relationships over the past 22 years thousands of donors have given their time energy and wealth to assist arc in protecting and preserving the important relationships within our community between natural areas and life even when money has been tight and the future less secure people have given i think generations yet to come will owe a huge debt of gratitude to all arc donors and volunteers known and anonymous you have contributed to the health of our american and cosumnes rivers have protected our populations of endangered species and have preserved the special scenic cultural and recreational places within our neck of the woods thank you all for your extraordinary efforts and for your sense of community never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world indeed it is the only thing that ever has margaret mead informational newsletter for autumn 2011 september october november this issue of the current is dedicated to celebrating our collective sense of place and community recently two very different local celebrations brought tears to my eyes and a sincere gratefulness of community the may 21st open house at gold hill and the june 13th trailfest the gold hill open house celebrated an historical collision of cultures where east met west on june 16 1869 on that date the first japanese colonists arrived in america to set up the wakamatsu tea and silk farm colony near placerville they brought living plants and seed that many in california had never seen before mulberry trees and silkworms green tea satsuma oranges persimmons hill rice sesame and bamboo the wakamatsu colonists became the vanguard of a larger migration in the 1880 s that helped build prosperity and diversity to the frontier state of california recently arc with the support of the japanese community public agencies california rice growers and local residents acquired the 272-acre gold hill ranch and completed the first phase restoration of the historic 1854 farmhouse the may 21st open house celebrated this nationally significant history with traditional japanese food dance music and cultural arts that have now become a part of mainstream california what i found so gratifying was how fervently local residents and japanese americans embraced each other to celebrate culture arts and the project s initial success it was a thrill and i hope that arc and our collective in this issue community will be feature article land update 1-2 able to make this an wakamatsu open house update 3 education update camp funnies 4-5 annual event tax wise giving article 5 on june 13th volunteer opportunities 6 during a perfectly programs calendar 7-9 balmy summer eveprogram hike leader thank you 10 trailfest update/winter dinner 10 ning i descended the volunteer profile 11 steps at the earthtrek americorps article 11 campground and was arc receives award 12 eddies-volunteer thank you 13 greeted by elves and local service-based groups 14 fairies the young facesummer supporters 15 painted children of become a supporter 16

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page 2 the current autumn 2011 september october november land conservation update new salmon falls trailhead parcel acquired on july 27th the american river conservancy completed the purchase of a 152-acre parcel north of the salmon falls bridge and east of salmon falls road this acquisition will allow arc and the blm to construct a new trailhead for the south fork american river trail which will provide equestrians and other trail users substantial parking and a staging area the property also has riparian habitat along acorn creek with extensive habitat for song birds black bear bobcat river otter and ring-tailed cat this purchase will allow arc to complete its commitment to the equestrian community in providing a trail and access point on salmon falls road stated arc executive director alan ehrgott when completed this trailhead will allow equestrians full access to the south fork american river trail from highway 49 all the way down river to salmon falls road previously state and federal agencies prevented equestrians from utilizing the last two miles of the south fork american river trail for two reasons 1 there was not sufficient parking nor safe ingress/egress to the state park s skunk hollow parking lot and 2 it was determined that horses might introduce invasive weeds that would compete with native rare plant populations the purchase of the new parcel will allow construction of a new staging area and a new trail route that will take equestrians and other trail users through shady oak woodland north of rare plant populations with the pine hill ecological reserve the acquisition was funded by a $738,000 competitive river parkways grant administered by the state natural resources agency an additional $20,000 was provided by the trail community through private donations this is just one more example added ehrgott where donations from a trail-loving rural community has allowed arc to leverage significant grant funding to create a world-class 26mile trail system through the scenic american river canyons arc will continue to seek donations and grants to complete the construction of the trailhead parking area and new trail segment for information on this new trailhead and trail project please contact elena delacy or alan ehrgott at 530 295-2190.

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page 3 the current autumn 2011 september october november the gold hill wakamatsu ranch is currently only open to the public through organized tours we are actively raising funds to pay off $1.2 million of loans needed to acquire the property please support the gold hill wakamatsu project see pages 8-9 for tour dates times and sign-up information photo by betty sederquist gold hill wakamatsu open house much gratitude to all the volunteers who have worked for months leading up to the gold hill wakamatsu open house it was a magical event with over 1,000 attendees arc staff has the utmost respect and gratitude for each volunteer s contribution this is truly a community project thank you to our sponsors california rice commission gekkeikan sake and barsotti family juices additional gratitude to placer ume taiko brian maeda jtown pictures mikuni restaurants mark michalski marshall gold state park brian hayes and sarah murray lotus bonsai uc davis japanese american student society david girard vineyards madrona vineyards susie strom origami kazuko matsuoka calligraphy gekkeikan ceremony participants fred kochi phil veerkamp penny humphreys and bob edwards california rice commission s sushi rolling competition participants robin center fred kochi and phil veerkamp historic panel phil veerkamp wayne maeda brian maeda myrna hanses and cathy barsotti sandy morgan gold trail student actors alan beilharz fuller ed allen and all the reenactment actors and event participants special thanks to the open house committee tyler schade teri mizuhara-smith cathy barsotti myrna hanses penny humphreys david unruhe jim morris and janet cohen additional thanks to the american river conservancy and wakamatsu colony foundation boards gold hill wakamatsu park planning survey results below are the results and rankings of the survey there were 106 surveys completed and 645 responses rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 11 12 of votes 72 69 66 65 57 47 46 46 45 34 34 30 18 16 trails for passive non-motorized recreational use restrooms with water service picnic grounds signage interpreting historic and natural history features farmhouse museum guided educational tours for school groups/other organized groups demonstration farm featuring crops grown by wakamatsu colonists/veerkamp family event facilities for organized groups restoration of wetlands enhancement of water fowl habitat community-supported organic farm other exhibits within historic veerkamp dairy and butcher shop paved parking facility restored barn for community events photo by betty sederquist

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page 4 the current autumn 2011 september october november education update summer camp a success about 120 youth participated in our energized by nature day camps this summer kids age 411 along with our teen counselors explored marshall gold discovery state historic park the american river and the nearby public lands in the coloma-lotus valley once again our 9-11-year-olds had an overnight camp excursion at greenwood creek we would like to send a special thank you to the 26 volunteer counselors for their help in serving as mentors to the young campers epic sierra underway-our ee staff concluded another season of epic sierra adventures this year s participants come from a diverse background ­ with our first international participants coming from germany and canada we also had representation from the east coast the south midwest great plains southern california bay area and sacramento regions even a few local el dorado county teens took part this year along the way teens spent two weeks exploring the sierra nevada range ­ from the western slope to the east side of the range we partnered with the tahoe resource conservation district on a water conservation community garden project in the area of the angora fire burn teens also assisted friends of the inyo in restoring native vegetation along some illegal trails in the inyo national forest yosemite national park biologists took us into the meadows of yosemite valley and had the teens help with invasive plant removal altogether we have served 25 high school youth a growth of 40 since our inaugural year in 2010 we could not have had the success without valuable partners from the outdoor industry rei royal robbins the north face and mountain hardwear all provided support for this year s program we hope to build on this momentum and provide opportunities for even more youth in 2012 school programs-it s august which usually means one thing school is back in session the education department is once again offering a variety of nature education programs to area schools all are standards-based but involve lots of time exploring the outdoors consider donating a program to a local classroom or encourage a classroom teacher to sign up for one this school year some programs offer scholarships so please talk to a conservancy educator for details and availability 2011 campers homeschool tuesdays homeschoolers new tuesday camp this year s homeschool program series energized by nature will have eight unique but related sessions modeled after a camp experience we will learn through activities games labs discussions and songs join us for a fun but educational camp details each session will be presented the third tuesday of each month starting september 20 except december parent attendance free is encouraged but not required call alice to sign-up at 530-621-1224 time 10:30 to 12:00pm recommended ages 6-11 cost for entire series 8 programs $115 arc members 135 non-members we accept vouchers from several charter schools including south sutter and american river charter school you may also pay for each session separately if desired energetic animals tuesday september 20th come explore food webs and predator/prey relationships both terrestrial and aquatic there will be games to drive the idea of energy transfer home and a more challenging carrying capacity activity for older children we will also try our hand at making flipping and/or racing origami frogs our amazing sun tuesday october 18th join us as we focus on the source of all energy the sun after learning some amazing facts about our favorite star help make and eat brownies in a solar oven students will also create an interesting solar art print using found nature objects sing about solar energy and conduct an experiment on whether sunscreen always protects or expires make and go home with a knotted solar bracelet working water tuesday november 15th investigate the tremendous power of water and see how humans have used it throughout history to do work invent a water machine to perform a simple task and learn how water can be used to create electricity students will design their own water turbine and watch as water makes it spin using our newly remodeled watershed model we will also explore how the energy of water molds our landscape upcoming winter and spring sessions will focus on wind energy electricity renewable energy plant energy and even geothermal energy see camp funnies pg 12

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page 5 the current autumn 2011 september october november film library open for business alice cantelow tax-wise giving to arc by david zelinsky attorney-at-law and cpa here are three tax-wise tips for giving to arc 1 for the over 70-1/2 crowd who are subject to the required minimum distribution rules 2011 may be a good year to have that required distribution go straight to arc particularly for those taking the standard deduction or whose adjusted gross income affects how much of their social security benefits are subject to tax this can be a real tax saver since the distribution does not increase your adjusted gross income 2 naming arc as the beneficiary for an ira or other pension plan can be a real tax saver compared to a bequest from other sources your heirs would have to pay income tax on the ira distributions while arc is tax-exempt if your estate is also subject to federal estate tax the total tax bite for a regular heir could easily be over half of the distribution it also is easier to draft an estate plan and administer an estate if there is one less beneficiary to take care of arc need not be mentioned in the trust or will because the gift to arc is covered by the beneficiary designation form for the ira or pension and not the trust or will 3 set up a charitable gift annuity through the sacramento regional community foundation arc account still to be setup in exchange for funding a gift you receive a fixed income for life that is partially tax free and generates a current income tax deduction for a portion of the gift just name a fund for the benefit of arc to be administered by sacramento regional community foundation as the beneficiary all of these ideas are only suitable for the charitably motivated and should be undertaken only with advice from a licensed tax professional did you know that arc has excellent films available for members use you may check these out free of charge for one week for either your own viewing or that of a classroom we only require that you yourself not charge anyone for their viewing to introduce you to some of these great films we will begin highlighting one for each edition of the current a powerful film by ana sophia joanes featuring michael pollan and other food activists this film explores our industrialization of food and argues that some things just shouldn t be made faster cheaper and bigger it also takes a closer look at the true costs of that cheap food although the images at first are depressing few are disturbingly graphic and the film moves on nicely to inspirational looks at farms which have stepped off the treadmill it also focuses on an amazing urban project that is bringing local fresh healthy food to inner city folk even if you ve read omnivore s dilema and are an avid locovore already the film is still well worth viewing i know it increased my own resolve and commitment to take my food choices seriously and left me feeling inspired and empowered to eat right always not just when convenient we have lots of other high quality dvd s for you to borrow too explore things like garbage the san joaquin river story big sheep reintroduction to the sierra mountain biking etc some of the films are specifically for kids some for family viewing and others more for high school and older funding for this film library has been provided in part by the sierra nevada conservancy an agency of the state of california expand your horizons and check one out we were born to unite with our fellow men and to join in community with the human race cicero

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page 6 the current autumn 2011 september october november volunteer opportunities wednesday september 7th sfar low water cleanup coloma to greenwood 9am to 2pm contact tyler@arconservancy.org saturday september 17th 2011 9am to 12pm sign up today el dorado county river clean-up day july 2011 the american river conservancy and the el dorado county and georgetown divide resource conservation districts in partnership with the sierra nevada conservancy invite you to participate in the 3rd annual great sierra river cleanup this region-wide cleanup of waterways is part of a state-wide effort to keep our rivers creeks beaches lakes and oceans free of trash and debris the great sierra river cleanup is about much more than picking up trash it s a day for sierra communities ­ and those from all over california ­ to demonstrate their desire for clean water and healthy rivers it s an opportunity to learn about california s water source and it s a time to come together with your families your neighbors your community and your friends to accomplish something vital and worthy on behalf of our great sierra rivers join us locally for a cleanup of seven sites in the american river and cosumnes river watersheds after the hard work join us for a zero-waste lunch in placerville to celebrate our accomplishments please sign up online at www.arconservancy.org click on the activities tab or contact tyler schade tyler@arconservancy.org 530 621-1224 for more information is your business or organization interested in becoming a sponsor of this event contact us we are seeking donations of cash gift cards and food yard work weeding at the nature center we are working on a tri-fold self-guided tour brochure of the native plants around the nature center please help us get ready by sprucing up the yard we have some non-native grass and weeds that need to be pulled and mulch to be placed we need help on an ongoing basis let judith know when you will be available to help with this project at judith@arconservancy.org boy scout troop 447 national trail day at cronan i leave you with a final thought the words ecology and economics come from the same root word oikos meaning a house or home ecology is the knowledge of home our community watershed and the world where we live economy refers to how we manage it clearly we ve ignored the eco in economics far too long and it s time for a paradigm shift if we ve learned anything from the last ten years it s that this shift is possible and essential -elyse hammond clif bar dir of env stewardship

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page 7 the current autumn 2011 september october november program calendar september 2011 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday october 2011 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday november 2011 sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 22 23 24 25 26 25 26 27 28 29 30 30 31 27 28 29 30 friday the 9th saturday the 10th saturday the 10th sunday the 11th wednesday the 14th saturday the 17th thursday the 22nd friday the 23rd saturday the 24th saturday the 1st sunday the 2nd sunday the 9th saturday the 15th saturday the 15th saturday the 22nd saturday the 22nd tuesday the 25th thursday the 27th saturday the 29th saturday the 5th saturday the 5th saturday the 19th sunday the 20th thursday the 8th 7-9pm 8am-3pm 9am-12pm 9am-2pm 5:30-7:30pm 10am-12pm 7-8pm 7-9pm 9:30am-4pm september 2011 moonlight hike-stagecoach trail lake margaret trail hike kdd-tracks scat and wilderness signs so fork trail hike ee camp slide show and reunion wakamatsu historic tour climate what s love got to do with it wine tasting under the stars-david girard natural dyeing workshop october 2011 10-11:30am kdd-little hikes for little folks 10am-1pm so fork trail-mountain bike ride 9:30am-12:30pm knickerbocker ranch hike 9am-3pm sugarpine reservoir hike 10am-12pm wakamatsu historic tour 10am-4:15pm trekking poles class 6:30-8:30pm wine tasting under the stars-fenton herriott 6:30-8:30pm considering the constellations 6:30-8pm above the arctic circle 6-9pm creatures of the night 10-11:30am 6-8pm 10am-12pm 10am-1pm 5:30-8:30pm november 2011 kdd-little hikes for little folks native american flute class and jam group wakamatsu historic tour so for trail-mountain bike ride december 2011 winter dinner-save the date non-profit member of the american river conservancy is a member of earth share of california providing charitable giving opportunities in the workplace for more information on how you can get involved with one or more of these programs contact the conservancy our mission the american river conservancy serves our community by protecting and enhancing natural habitats where wildlife can flourish through education and recreation we promote a broad ethic of stewardship ensuring healthy ecosystems now and for the future.

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page 8 the current autumn 2011 september october november programs plus kdd-tracks scat and wildlife signs left behind saturday september 10th 9 am ­ 12 pm join naturalist/photographer david rosen and learn how to become a better wildlife detective investigate a variety of methods to discover what wildlife lives around us even if you can t see the animals themselves we ll investigate animal tracks trails fur feathers pellets scat otherwise known as poop and other signs of wildlife on our walk we will check several baited track stations and discuss how you can set up a track station in your own yard we ll also check a remote game camera and see if it captured any photos of animals passing by we will also be able to make a plaster cast of an animal track to take home with them rain cancels age 8 welcome coloma area cost $5/members $10 non-members kdd little hikes for little folks saturday october 1st 9 ­ 10:30 am arc is starting a series of hikes for children ages 4-10 to provide great family experiences in nature these hikes will help introduce parents and their children to the outdoors and provide an opportunity for guided play and exploration together join sarah canfield outdoor educator credentialed teacher and coloma resident of 16 years for this walk at greenwood creek she will engage your little hikers in exploring fall changes which will include leaf rubbing art steady rain cancels pilot hill area free kdd little hikes for little folks saturday november 5th 10 ­ 11:30 pm join elena delacy arc biologist and mother of three for this little hike on the gold hill wakamatsu ranch we will engage your little hikers in a nature scavenger hunt a short hike and if you re lucky you ll get to catch a few frogs please come prepared for a ¾-mile hike that may require you to tote your little one rain cancels all adults must be accompanied by a child free so fork trail-hike sunday september 11th 10 am ­ 2 pm join tony cervantes arc volunteer and shingle springs tribal tanf family advocate tony will take you on a 4-hour hike on the so fork trail of the american river experience the fall beauty on this trail which includes grasslands oak woodland chaparral and riparian habitats a little bit of everything we ll share the trail with mountain bikers and equestrians too ages 10 welcome the difficulty of this hike is moderate with about 700 feet of vertical gain/loss steady rain cancels folsom lake/salmon falls area suggested donation $5/members $10/non-members wakamatsu/gold hill walk and historic tours saturdays sept 17th oct 15th nov 19th 10 am ­ 12 pm join arc trained docents for a firsthand look at the property recently acquired by arc this ranch is an interesting mosaic of springs streams wetlands blue and live oak forest sweeping vistas and prime agricultural soil ranch ponds and the small lake is a draw for wildlife particularly migratory waterfowl during the winter and early spring along with its beauty learn about the rich history of the wakamatsu tea and silk farm the 1st japanese colony site established in america in 1869 age 12 welcome gold hill area donations towards the wakamatsu project encouraged knickerbocker ranch hike sunday october 9th 9:30 am ­ 12:30 pm come join us for a little known trail in the southern section of knickerbocker ranch olmsted loop area arc volunteers donna orth and marcia paulson will lead this moderate five-mile hike with a 430 ft elevation change enjoy their company along with views of american river near oregon bar and manzanitas the size of trees half exposed half shaded ages 12 welcome cool area suggested donation $5/members $10/nonmembers sugar pine reservoir hike saturday october 15th 9 am ­ 3 pm approximately kay osborn arc volunteer and avid hiker will lead this easy lakeside trail around sugar pine reservoir 4.3 mi 3600 ft elevation minimal elevation change on trail rolling pine forest with open areas contribute to the pleasant setting of this small reservoir age 8 welcome rain or snow cancels cool or confluence area suggested donation $5/members $10 non-members creatures of the night saturday october 29th 6 ­ 9 pm join naturalist/photographer david rosen and discover the incredible adaptations that enable nocturnal animals to survive on this very leisurely stroll starting at sunset and ending well after dark on the walk we will discuss what types of nocturnal critters live in the area learn about our own night vision and how to see in the dark without a flashlight try some predator calling making sounds that may attract foxes coyotes etc listen for owls and try to get them to respond to calls on a tape practice moving stealthily through the night and of course talk about all the cool things we find along the way come explore the secret world of nocturnal critters beneath a dazzling canopy of stars reserve your spot early as space in this fun program is limited contact arc to sign up and for meeting location pilot hill lotus area suggested donation $5/members $10/non-members moonlight hike-stagecoach trail friday september 9th 7 ­ 9 pm tom petersen hike leader and author of trying to get lost off the divide will lead this hike with a unique perspective darkness if you ve never hiked at night you re in for a treat you get to hear and experience nighttime sights and sounds unlike a daytime hike this will be a moderate three-mile hike with some steep terrain responsible teens and adults invited auburn confluence area suggested donation $5/members $10 non-members lake margaret trail hike saturday september 10th 8 am ­ 3 pm join kay osborn on this easy 5 mile hike through aspen pine and fir across 2 creeks and a bridge to a lovely granite-lined lake ages 10 welcome rain cancels carpool from placerville suggested donation $5 members $10/non-members.

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page 9 the current autumn 2011 september october november wine tasting under the stars friday september 23rd 7:30 ­ 9:30 pm arc has joined forces with david girard vineyards and starforge astronomy group for a wonderful night of wine tasting and star gazing we ll be viewing the planets uranus neptune and jupiter prominent constellations will be pegasus sagittarius the archer the swan the dolphin the eagle capricorn the water goat aquarius the water-bearer and the shield all this while tasting award-winning wines at this beautiful vineyard in placerville wine will be sold by the glass or bottle complementary tasting ends at 5pm age 21 welcome rain or heavy clouds cancels gold hill area suggested donation $5/members $10/non-members so fork trail-mountain bike ride sunday october 2nd november 20th 10 am ­ 1 pm join tony cervantes arc volunteer and shingle springs tribal tanf family advocate will take you on a 3-hour mountain bike ride on the so fork trail of the american river this trail includes grasslands oak woodland chaparral and riparian habitats a little bit of everything we ll share the trail with hikers and equestrians too ages 13 beginners especially welcome the difficulty of this mountain bike ride is moderate with about 700 feet of vertical gain/loss steady rain cancels folsom lake salmon falls area suggested donation $5/members $10/non-members wine tasting under the stars saturday october 22nd 6:30 ­ 8:30 pm arc has joined forces with fenton herriott winery and starforge astronomy group for a wonderful night of wine tasting and star gazing we ll be observing the planets jupiter uranus and neptune the constellations pegasus pisces aquarius capricorn andromeda and perseus will be high in the sky we will also view the saturn nebula andromeda galaxy triangulum galaxy pegasus star cluster the dumbbell nebula ring nebula the great hercules cluster and other deep sky objects all this while tasting award-winning wines at this beautiful vineyard in placerville wine will be sold by the glass or bottle complementary tasting ends at 5pm age 21 welcome rain or heavy clouds cancels gold hill area suggested donation $10 considering the constellations tuesday october 27th 6:30 ­ 8:30 pm arc has partnered again with the community observatory in placerville for an evening under the stars their knowledgeable docents will focus on the fall constellations in their new outdoor amphitheatre with laser pointers they will outline these star clusters and discuss their history and ancient stories you ll also get to experience the observatory and their incredible telescopes rain or heavy clouds cancels suggested donation $10 half of the proceeds to go back to the observatory native american flute class and group jam saturday november 5th 6 ­ 8 pm come enjoy the music of greg kiefer and mike ely of the loping wolf flute clan they will teach you how to play the flute read simple music and experiment with several instruments they will also discuss the native american history of the flute if you own a native american flute drum or rain stick bring them along and jam with the clan coloma area suggested donation $5/members $10/non-members climate what s love got to do with it thursday september 22nd 7 ­ 8 pm followed by q&a doug grandt with theclimateproject.org will give this presentation which has evolved from the standard inconvenient truth he will give a little background on how fossil fuels were formed how burning fossil fuels is causing the planet to warm as well as information on the local impacts of climate change and innovations in energy his hope is that this will inspire local action in our community protecting the climate has been doug grandt s full-time job for five years he feels that he is just getting started fighting climate change he wants to combine his engineering background and his new skills in leadership and public speaking i am working full-time to promote environmental and climate change solutions he says responsible teens and older welcome coloma area suggested donation free/members $10/non-members vibrant rainbows and earthly mellows a one-day workshop designed as an introduction to natural dyeing on natural fibers saturday september 24th 9:30 am ­ 4 pm this workshop is about how to achieve a good working understanding of natural dyeing participants work hands-on in teams and by the end of the day they make lovely sample cards to take home generally with over 20 different hues the natural fibers that we dye are selected from silk mohair alpaca wool and more your instructor anni redding has worked with natural and synthetic dyes for over 20 years and has taught natural dyeing since 2005 14 welcome w/adult supervision greenwood area fees $50/members $65/non-members poles for hiking outdoor exercise field seminar hike saturday october 22nd 10:00 am ­ 4:15 pm learn how to significantly improve your performance on the trail hiking with poles is the ultimate whole body exercise optimal use of poles helps to save your knees on downhill and provides more power and endurance on uphill learn how to improve balance posture confidence and upper body strength as well as facilitate weight loss and prevent injury whether you re completely new to hiking or have years of experience this multi-level training will give you vital skills so you can feel the power of using your whole body while exploring nature our instructor jayah faye paley creator of 2 award-winning dvd s on how to use poles has designed a program for arc that makes learning to use poles easy and fun $25 special price for arc members 35 non-members or $50 for new membership class combined heavy rain cancels above the arctic circle adventure travel series iii thursday october 27th 6:30 ­ 8:30 pm spend an evening with john kipping biologist arborist photographer botanist boat captain long-time el dorado county resident and much more exploring the wild lands north of the arctic circle the gates of the arctic national park and preserve is one of the finest wilderness areas in the world with its labyrinth of glaciated valleys and rugged mountains covered with treeless slopes of arctic tundra a landscape so harsh yet so peaceful john will regale you with photos and tales of floating the wild and scenic rivers hiking the miles of valleys and tundra slopes the only trails are those made by the western arctic caribou herd the largest in alaska at 490,000 and viewing the local inhabitants grizzly bears wolves dall sheep moose caribou and wolverines suggested donation $5 members $10/non-members coloma area all programs require sign-ups please contact julie@arconservancy.org or 530-621-1224

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page 10 the current autumn 2011 september october november program hike leaders thank you i am so thankful to all these great volunteers who had something to show us this summer with such a hardworking and dedicated community trailfest 2011 was a fantastic party with a purpose jeff horn s culinary magic fed 509 folks the crowd grooved to the music of achilles wheel and the empty wallets thanks to jerry ashburn/earthtrek campground for the beautiful riverside venue café mahjaic for another year of delicious corn sierra nevada brewery and all the fabulous trailfest 2011 volunteers auction item donors and supporters work will begin on the henningsen lotus monroe ridge connector trail once the ceqa california environmental quality act is completed and approved special thanks to the trailfest 2011 committee for such a fantastic event kelly ahola jen calvin eric carter julie castro robin center faith cushman bob dalton michael dotson jeff horn hilary mulligan donna orth kay osborn tyler schade heather shakespeare maureen sorensen janice stanley rozsa romvari mari wells we had star gazing wine tasting moonlight horseback rides blood drive wild edibles class composting 101 kayak basics classes land preservations classes and biointensive garden tours many thanks to david girard vineyard starforge astronomy group cameron park rotary community observatory bloodsource california canoe kayak cck and arc volunteers candis cantin anni redding kay ostorn elena delacy and nikki duncan for making it all happen though the late snow postponed several hikes we still led hikes at stevens trail so fork trail monroe ridge trail hunters trail french meadows el dorado trail lyons creek ladies valley woods lake and desolation wilderness thank you thank you for making this another successful season of hikes kay osborn tony cervantes donna orth marcia paulson tom petersen howard williams keith atwater elena delacy noël robinson if you have an idea for a hike or program or would like to lead or teach one please contact julie@arconservancy.org or call 530-621-1224 winter dinner 2011 arc volunteer appreciation night and 2011 year-end update thursday december 8th 5:30-8:30pm i am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as i live it is my privilege to do for it whatever i can i want to be thoroughly used up when i die for the harder i work the more i live ~george bernard shaw shakespeare club placerville all members and volunteers invited to attend

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page 11 the current autumn 2011 september october november volunteer profile robinson boys help clean up sfar trail on spring break bring the sierra together through service by morgan fessler snap program director during spring break of this year declan and aidan robinson did more than just enjoy the break from school with their handy father seth robinson declan and aidan volunteered to retrieve a dilapidated table downstream from the greenwood creek area this table if it can be called that had washed ashore and rotted away beyond repair at a stewardship committee meeting at the nature center the table and the necessity of having it removed from site not only an eyesore a safety hazard was brought up seth a confessed local trail user was in attendance and later contacted arc staff about the table he felt it would be a good project for him and his boys to do with ingenuity and charm declan and aidan drafted a proposal of removing the table including two methods burning the table to the ground or chopping it up and dragging out via wagon the preferred method as expected from two boys was burning however after receiving permission from arc and blm it was the alternative method ­ chopping up that was executed thank you to the robinsons for not only volunteering their vacation time but for showing us that there are no age restrictions on expressing that volunteering spirit how does one keep from growing old inside surely only in community the only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need it also relieves us of the notion that we are indispensable robert mcafee brown right now across the country there are over 75,000 individuals serving as americorps members who have dedicated up to a year of their life to service to others and their communities these americorps members and the programs they serve strive to bring together communities by uniting community members around the ethic of service here in the sierra we are fortunate to have twenty-seven of those dedicated individuals serving our community you may have met them before organizing volunteer events such as the great sierra river clean-up or a scotch broom challenge conducting environmental education at local elementary schools monitoring conservation easements or recruiting volunteers to become stewards of the land these twenty-seven members are part of the sierra nevada americorps partnership snap the snap program was founded in 2007 as a project of the sierra nevada alliance the program s mission is to assess and restore impaired watershed habitats and to increase community stewardship of sierra nevada watersheds through education and volunteerism from mt whitney to the feather river members have contributed to sierra watershed health through a variety of service projects including conducting invasive species removal stream bank stabilization environmental education presentations such as trout in the classroom river clean-ups trail building and water quality monitoring the volunteers recruited for these projects come from all walks of life all ages skill levels and backgrounds and work together to improve our community along the way new collaborations and connections are forged bringing communities together in the spirit of service if you want to be involved and make a difference in your community get to know your local americorps members ­ tyler schade with the arc ­ and jessie olson with the el dorado county resource conservation distict and volunteer to serve!

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page 12 the current autumn 2011 september october november buy tickets to the 5th annual american river music festival and support the american river conservancy the 5th annual american river music festival september 16~17~18 presents the finest in americana with over 25 performances and workshops in 10 locations throughout our friendly river community of coloma this year s performers include legendary folk rocker james mcmurty truth and salvage voted the #1 band to see this summer by usa today ryan shupe and the rubberband the band of heathens nominated as 2010 americana band of the year coloma favorites keith greeninger with dayan kai blame sally elliot randall and the deadmen doing their country rock the brothers comatose and many more bill center right presents the capital river award to arc s alan ehrgott photo courtesy of friends of the river american river conservancy receives capital river award on may 19th arc s executive director alan ehrgott accepted the capital river award presented by friends of the river for the annual event honors outstanding river conservation in the american and sacramento river watersheds and brings together some of the most effective and influential activists working to preserve this region the north middle and south forks of the american river flow through spectacular wild areas the region provides some of the best river and backcountry recreation in california over 2 million people a year utilize these canyons yet development threats continue over 100 folks attended the event to celebrate the spirit and leadership which keep our rivers and canyons protected money raised at this event supports for s river conservation work and the awardees ongoing efforts to protect the entire american river for is dedicated to preserving and restoring california s rivers streams and watersheds as well as advocating for sustainable water management go to http www.americanrivermusic.org tickets.php you will receive $5 discount on their purchase of any adult tickets and arc will receive a portion of the proceeds the festival offers something for everyone with riverfront camping a whitewater river trip a guided riverfront hike great kids activities live art an art market jams learning workshops excellent food and beverages and an incredible showcase night the festival is the project of american river music inc a charitable organization based in lotus with a mission to teach inspire and enjoy music arc wish list red white blue poker chips small rowboat or canoe snack bars back-up generator energy-efficient light bulbs dot matrix paper carport cover work gloves assorted sizes for more wish list info visit the arc website at camp funnies molly we saw 3 short-legged buzzards on our way here after song about short-necked buzzards mini-camper counselor says to camper your eyes are very sharp camper feels his eyelids and looks alarmed no they re not my eyes aren t sharp -mini-camper look at all the allergies i collected camper finding algae www.arconservancy.org

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page 13 the current autumn 2011 september october november eddies volunteering in summer 2011 a huge thank you to all who volunteered their time to the american river conservancy in the months of may june and july 2011 for a currently recorded total of over 2,000 hours this total includes public programs and hikes bluebird monitoring trail work river clean-ups gold hill/wakamatsu open house and property preparation trailfest blood drive gold hill wakamatsu docent tours and research hours mass mailings nature center maintenance office work and docent assistance nature camp counselor hours have not been turned in and recorded as of this date but based on last year s hours it will bring the total up to 3,500 hours thanks to our amazing last quarter volunteers achilles wheel ahola brett eric kelly molly aldridge kate allen ed and joanne allyn cathy carl anderson terry andert julie atwater keith barmeyer toby barsotti family juices barsotti cathy bean mike bean miles beilharz fuller alan bennett sarah benn-hansen jinnah blacet danielle and 12 cub scouts blackmore randy blaskovich amy blood source botto chris bower caitlan boyes lynee boyes rebecca brennan erin brown dawn burkhardt bryant burkhart annie burton bryce burton forrest burton shawn butler alice butterfield laura california canoe and kayak california rice commission callaway danny calvin jennifer cameron park community observatory campbell sharon cantin candis carlisle jolie glen elizabeth carpender vivian tom carr liz and rod carr tam carter eric castro julie center bill robin cervantes tony chadd scott chavez raul edith and ardith ciofalo catherine clark bryan chris scott clifford colleen coen andrew &matt cohen janet coke beverly collins clint collinsworth judy cornell john-robert costello dean cotton barbara coyle daniel mari coyne marjorie-venturing crew crandall dan cromwell molly cruse brent cullinane mike cunningham katie curtice cliff curtin jericho cushman faith bob scott dahms margretta dallam pat dalton robert davell chateau david girard vineyards davidson erin davis sean deason shannon delacy elena densmore jill denz josh dereimer mary diez randy dylan jayden dodson brandy dohallow sylvia donohue shannon dotson michael dumsmore jill duncan david judy duncan nikki edwards bob sara edwards laurie ehrgott alan cindi ellsworth kathy engell ann erickson sarah evans pam loyd faubion chris findley david foster kenna frame colin freer heather freer tom gallardo frank galloway dan garcia samuel garvin robert geggatt joanne gekkeikan sake giles john gold trail student actors gossett judith grady melissa granados marceleo griffis bob guglieri wendy ha peck halper mike hansen bob denise hanses myrna harris michele hayes brian hayes emily hayes eric heizelman bobbi henry alice hoffman amy hopwood tamara horn jeff pamela horton joanne housand bobbie hoyt ann jerry hucklebridge molly hughes michaela humphreys penny hutchens angel a steven hyman rob iso julie itogawa gene jacobs cory jahn greg jenkins hillary johnson mikey johnson tim jorgensen alice judy tom ketelle liz kiefer greg king amanda king jeff king larry jessica jennifer kipping john klamont fred klein clarence kochi fred krenzler erik julia lora kushwaha gita lahey pat lamar rosie lashley dana leahy jenna lee barb jeff lee lee mike architect leimbach julie linker elana lobach melissa lotus bonsai loyd brian lubeley laura lubetkin lester eliza mackler robert madden tim madrona vineyards mae doni maeda brian j-town pictures maeda wayne maliff mary mansfield amanda marco s café marques james marquez melissa martin bev mason deb matin susie matsuoka kazuko matto kathie mchatton shannon mcreynolds jeremy mcvicar moira rachael shannon meadows steve metropulos gina and john michalski mark michelson dan minihan ryan moffitt andy monzo pat morgan sandy morris jim mulligan hilary murray sarah neal michaela needham john sherri noccetti darel obando albert olson jessie orth donna thom osborn kay paulson marcia pecci heather brea perry jessica peters cathy petersen tom phillips caitlin pietraczyk linda pingle ray pizano irma placer ume taiko plaugher joe pratsinak george proctor rachel pugliese christie and dominic ragle frances rand bonnie and jim rathbun dan rewick stephany ritzman paige noelle robinson aidan declan robinson noël seth rocha de chavez edith rocke elizabeth rockwell ann romvari rozsa rubin spencer kite michelle kate salazar david sanford linda santa maria steven schade tyler schwartz kendall sara schweitzer hilde seckington kurt sederquist betty semansky nick semenson matt sequeira caroline shakespeare heather sharp jordan sherman fid john sifford jerry silverman elana skinner ryan smith austin mary smith julie smith william sorensen maureen spencer rubin spletzer gretchen stanley janice stanley julie starforge stark monica stephens garth stewart janeen stiles tara stowe pat strom susie stroud amy jaime sundquist midori walker symons rachel sweetman derek tahl marilyn tanimoto herb tassanari gina tassanari olivia taxiera amber taylor alicia tharratt tina the empty wallets thomas david thompson patsy richard thorsen chris ti jennifer toner sheila tull deb ucdavis japanese american student society underwood scott unruhe david vail scott vicky van gilder nick van zandt gina vanderpol john vastola kati veerkamp brian lori rachell veerkamp phil vrechek maya vugrenes kohner wacher adam wall candy walrond cece wang roslyn warner denise weaver judy whiteman alana widroe greg williams greg williams howard wills kate wilson gail winkler nora winn cheryl winsett harmony nick wofford ann wright tim zuschlag karen

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page 14 the current autumn 2011 september october november we sent a call out for local service-based groups that felt they would be of interest to our members we received responses from several worthwhile groups that all play a valuable part in our community we hope you enjoy learning more about them featured group sierra wildlife rescue sierra wildlife rescue swr is an all-volunteer totally nonprofit donation-funded organization licensed by the california department of fish and game since 1992 to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals in el dorado county and return them to the wild swr home rehabbers care for up to 1,500 mammals reptiles amphibians and birds each year additional volunteers are needed each summer to feed the hundreds of baby songbirds brought into swr s baby bird nursery members of the general public are responsible for the majority of our animal rescues we could not do what we do without their compassion care and support swr volunteers maintain a hotline 24/7 to direct the public to rehabbers and to provide other information and assistance with wildlife swr educates the public and potential rehabbers through classes throughout the spring and fall and also gives numerous educational presentations annually to schools senior centers church groups hobby organizations businesses and other groups featuring several unreleasable education ambassador hawks and owls swr depends entirely on membership dues donations from the public grants and fundraising events which are held in spring and fall volunteer rehabbers contribute thousands of hours per year to caring for the animals and other members volunteer in a wide variety of other capacities sierra wildlife always needs and welcomes additional volunteers and rehabbers for further information on membership donations rehabbing classes educational programs or volunteering please visit our website www.sierrawildliferescue.com el dorado backyard beekeepers-your local social and educational backyard beekeeping club www.beekeepers.com folsom historical society the chan house project howard sr and mabel chan museum www.friendsofchanhouse.org friends of lakes folsom and natoma folfan the mission of folfan is to expand education and recreation opportunities and protect the natural and cultural resources of lakes folsom and natoma www.folfan.org the el dorado chapter of the california native plant society our website www.eldoradocnps.org describes local wildflower hotspots that people can easily visit on their own the upper american river foundation uarf founded to conserve and protect the unique qualities of the upper american river watersheds in placer and el dorado counties www.upperamerican.com fatrac ­ folsom auburn trail riders action coalition can be found working on area trails once or twice every month assisting land managers like state parks blm and land trusts like the american river conservancy www.fatrac.org sarsas save auburn ravine salmon and steelhead we work with individuals agencies and foundations to coordinate collaborate and plan the retrofitting of dams and canals on the auburn ravine ar www.sarsas.org peak adventures is an outdoor recreation program of associated students at sacramento state dedicated to getting you started in outdoor adventures 916 278-6321 or peakadventures.org friends of the river protects and restores california rivers by influencing public policy and inspiring citizen action www.friendsoftheriver.org

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page 15 the current autumn 2011 september october november thank you american river conservancy summer supporters new members bush family callahan family butin family dyer family friddle family strom family viegas family wood family gekkeikan sake inc coloma village renewing members the following families adamson anderson bean bitzer brickel burt canfield cicero coco md deriemer dillon fisler frevert gallardo galloway gershon gossett gravina haley harrigan heyward hori huston kitani knappman knost lamar leasure meagher meek meyer miller mizota mobus morgan o farrell peach rebman redding roberts ruse schlanze scott smith sperber steiner tassinari taylor tarcy taxler tryon utberg vangorp vincent white wilcox winkler wright in-kind other donors alameda family bancroft family carroll family cushman family deaquino family dereimer family donation line douglass family el dorado community foundation earth share of calif foster family graham family hoffman family johnson family kinsch family larue family mike lee-architect maeda family maheffey family mccombs family miloslavich family osborn family pearson family pingle family pnp construction raty family santucci family sifford painting sierra disposal services starns family stuart family swerdlow family tillman family toothmaker family vail family west-trust family wilson family nagahisa niergarth okamoto proctor rose rusk sawamura schmudlach scribner smith strom strogh taguma tanaka tsukamoto veerkamp walrond williams wilson yamashiro the following businesses barsotti juice california rice commission el dorado equestrian trails foundation gekkeikan sake inc madrona vineyards placer ume taiko artc trailfest donors air addict paragliding school alan lubanes dds albert shafsky bed breakfast alice jorgensen american river pizza grill andie thrams auburn bike works auburn printers integrated marketing auriga cellars bagley berry black bodywork barbara jeff lee bella vista b&b beth don canardo betty sederquist bill robin center black oak animal hospital bobbie housand boeger winery brian hayes pottery café mahjaic cali product calstar camp lotus capital public radio carol caldwell carver family cascada restaurant carol caldwell casita del oro catherine underwood cathy ciofalo california canoe kayak cck center chiropractic sports medicine charlie kyleen cornell chateau davell bou tique winery chiropractic sports health center chloe karina hand crafted bath beauty products coloma club cool deli cozmic café cullumah village books bargains current adventures cliff curtis cushman family crystal basin cellars david girard vineyards dawn brown dennis eagan diane mc carthy donna orth earth dancers pack goat co earthtrek expeditions eden vale inn erin davidson cmt fairbanks family findleton family friends of the river gail wilson giant things in wood metal-ericahola global good gold hill vineyards golden gecko garden center golden spoke bike shop grace patriot wines granberg training ctr gringo s café heather freer heyday café hilary mulligan holiday fine foods home depot hotshot imaging inc howard penn in season publishing jackson kayak jan charlie rose janet manieri jennifer calvin jensen family jim anderson john dillon jollity farms judy huestis julie tom castro julie leimbach katie rutherford karl weiland kelly ahola mosaics kenna foster kimberlee shining star petree koll family koru designs ­ spencer rubin kris moore latitudes restaurant lee family lighthouse nature garden gifts linda whitney in-home parties lotus bodywork ­ heather freer lotus valley natives louis debret madrona vineyards manny pedroza margaret welty marty smith matt semonsen maureen sorensen mike bean mikey juarez mo daley molinari family monsters of massage munger family nettie fox oars-river trips olde coloma theatre orangevale meat shoppe osborn family pace family pachamama love paul cockrell photography penny humphreys pesko family pingle family pitsenberger family placerville bike shop ponderosa resort rafferty s candies raley s rei reeves family rita cook rose family rozsa romvari sandy follett photography sara schwartz kendall scott vickie vail scott wager sequoia restaurant shackleton family shepherd family chiropractic sierra disposal service sierra outdoor center sierra nevada brewery sierra nevada house sierra rescue skinner vineyards winery smart family sowell family studio kristiana chunks of heavensowell family steve conley steve gorman studio 9 studio kristiana sue fox pottery take a bite deli tastingroom.com terry anderson the empty wallets the front yard nursery the paint spot the morgan hotel the river store shuttle the yoga place thom orth thoma family timewell family tillman family tom petersen valencia carniceria tacqueria vargas family venezio vineyards winery victory velo bike shop waterdrop jewels waterfall salon and day spa welty family wild yoga wirewrapcellar ­ wofford acres vineyard wakamatsu donors the following families anderson barsotti bartholomew berardy bitzer bonser buckwater carpenter clement crow daniels dewerk the american river conservancy is located in the dotson feagans american river nature center gabig hanson inside the marshall gold discovery state historic hayes murray at 348 hwy 49 coloma ca haydon hoff humphreys huston the nature center book store are open to the public ito thursday thru sunday from 11 am-3 pm key knoshita knappman our offices are open to volunteers and kusaha supporters monday thru friday from 9 am-5 pm lai lee and weekends from 11 am-3 pm lethridge lipton we can be reached by phone at 530 621-1224 or magneson matsumoto online at www.arconservancy.org militello mortimer park

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