Recession is when your neighbor loses his job; a depression is when you lose yours, according to Harry Truman. Would President Truman believe the price of gas or cost of a loaf of bread? With the talk of recession all around us, it is good to plan family activities that list “free” as the price of entry. Toss in the fact that you and your family will be engaged rather than passive in these free activities, and you have a winning combination.
On April 12, 19 and 26 ” three Saturdays ” from 8 until 10 a.m., veteran bird-watchers will take people, big and little, on a bird walk in Rose Canyon Park. These walks are easy for kids 8 and up, but younger “shoulder riders” might enjoy the walks with mom and dad. Meet at the dead end of Regents Road in South University City at 8 a.m. Bring binoculars, if you have them, and water. There are no bathrooms are in the canyon.
The April 12 leader, Bill Mittendorf, has been a Rose Canyon jogger for 24 years and a birder since age 13. Charley Herzfeld, a lifelong birder, will escort you on April 19. Claude Edwards’ credentials include being a San Diego birder, a field trip leader and nature instructor. He will be your guide on April 26.
Squeeze in a visit to free Earth Day activities at Balboa Park on April 20 when some 60,000 folks will celebrate good old Mother Earth instead of trashing her. Activities run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Check out www.earthdayweb.org.
Besides these free bird-watching walks and Earth Day, circle Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, for a Rose Canyon BioBlitz. It sounds like one of those new energy drinks, but, in truth, it is a 24-hour science/education/media event, increasing awareness of how many plants and animals reside in our own backyard, Rose Canyon. It will also be an opportunity to gather data about species in the canyon.
“Experts will conduct a 24-hour rapid assessment survey in Rose Canyon to count as many species as they can of plants, birds, insects, spiders, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fungus,” according to Debby Knight. The counting of the species will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and end at 3 p.m. Sunday. Some nighttime surveys will be done.
So what’s in it for you? Guided walks through Rose Canyon will be available for the general public. The price is right, so come on down or bookmark the Web site: www.rosecanyon.org. Booths with educational and informational material will also be operating for this not-to-be-missed freebie for the whole family.
Spreckels Elementary School in University City has benefited from a grant to Friends of Rose Canyon from the Linnie Cooper Foundation. This grant enabled “Friends” to work with fourth-graders on classroom lessons and a field trip to Rose Canyon under the direction of Aquatic Adventures. The fourth-grade teachers were trained, meeting the needs of California standards in life science. Aquatic Adventures teaches about wild wetlands and an ecosystem endangered. Besides involving Spreckels, first-graders from Curie Elementary have visited Rose Canyon, too.
Think back to your own school days. Can you remember when you learned to read, when you wrote a major research paper or when you understood a science experiment? Maybe. Then think about a field trip with the hands-on opportunity Spreckels students will experience in Rose Canyon, learning by doing after classroom lessons.
Another lovely, local event that is a free family event celebrating kids and reading is the San Diego Children’s Book Festival on Sunday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Nobel Athletic Complex and North University Community Library, 8820 Judicial Drive at Nobel. This event is for tots through teens. It will include author readings and signings, story telling, music, arts and crafts, face painting, food and drink, games, multicultural performances and children’s books on sale. Visit www.sandiegobookfestival.org.
Doyle, Standley and Nobel parks provide free activities for families. There are places to picnic and play, where toddlers and teens can kick a ball around or play catch, climb on a swing or sail down a slide. Families might want to see how many hours these recreation centers are open for free fun as well as paid classes. The budget will be coming up in front of City Council soon, and you might want to make your voice heard. Doyle, Standley and Nobel need to be open longer rather than have their hours slashed and their staffs decreased in number.
Bill Matheu, who used to be second in command in the San Diego Police Department before going over to Qualcomm, gave an inspirational speech to The Administrators Association of San Diego City Schools in February of last year. One of his comments resonated with the audience, especially those of us deeply involved in our local Park and Rec centers such as Doyle, Standley and Nobel. Matheu stressed the fact that the city shouldn’t take money from the Park and Rec Department for the police because “on the field, in the gym, these kids aren’t getting into trouble. Take money from the Park and Rec? How dumb is that?” he said. If you agree, tell the mayor and City Council at [email protected] and www, sandiego,gov/citycouncil.
On the evening of May 14, you may want to leave the kids at home, but you will want to be in the audience of University City High School at 6:30 p.m. sharp to hear the City Attorney candidates, including incumbent City Attorney Mike Aguirre, former Assemblyman and Judge Jan Goldsmith, attorney Amy Lepine, City Councilman Brian Maienschein and City Council President Scott Peters, who represents University City. University City Community Association is sponsoring this civic and civil event that will be moderated by The League of Women Voters. This is also a free event and one that should provide worthwhile giving up the television for an evening.
In the meantime, the outdoors in University City is just another room to us. Get out of the house and out of the car, into the canyon and parks and rec centers to enjoy the gifts of April and May.