California Naturalist Alumni Reunion
Dates: Friday, August 16th to Sunday, August 18th, 2024
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Planned Itinerary:
1. Friday, August 16, 6-9pm ($75). Fancy Dinner with Dr. John Menke. Many people are requesting a personal presentation on a life full of adventures and service. John Menke has learned important things along the way, touching many lives. Enjoy a nice dinner, some opening sharing from CalNat grads, and a presentation by John Menke.
2. Saturday, August 17, 9-2pm ($50). Driving Tour of the Geology of San Luis Obispo with Dr. David Chipping. David has actually written the “Geology of SLO” book! Carpool with friends, bring a sack lunch, and be ready for an eye-opening day featuring the Franciscan Mélange! Subducting ocean sediments, moving plates, and mixed up igneous and metamorphic creations – geology has its faults! Learn all about them.
3. Saturday, August 17, 9-2pm ($50). Kayaking Morro Bay. Paddle the Morro Bay National Marine Estuary with friends – out to the Grassy Bar oyster farm to see how humans and the environment can work together. Then cruise above eel grass beds, past otters, osprey, curlews, and sea lions, over to the sand-spit to enjoy the view of the best kept estuary on the coast.
4. Saturday, August 17, 5:30-9pm ($65). Storytelling at the Rainbow Bridge with Dean Thompson. After a good dinner, hear updates from fellow CalNat grads, along with “moth style” storytelling led by Dean Thompson. Make campfire snacks along with memories for a night to remember. The NEW CalNat class will be joining us as they enter into this crazy “community of practice.”
5. Sunday, August 18, 9am-2pm ($50). Birds and Botany with Mike Bush. Bring your sack lunch and join our county’s second-best bird watcher to hot spots for birds on the north coast. Possible spots are: Fiscalini Ranch, Elephant seal beaches, Cambria cemetery, the Chinese Temple riparian area, Estero bluffs, Whale Rock Reservoir in Cayucos, ending at Sweet Springs Preserve in Los Osos. You should easily see over 60 different bird species on this casual big day of birding.
6. Sunday, August 18, 9-2pm ($50). Kayaking Morro Bay – Repeat of Saturday. Paddle the Morro Bay National Marine Estuary with friends – out to the Grassy Bar oyster farm to see how humans and the environment can work together at the. Then cruise over eel grass beds, past otters, osprey, curlews, and sea lions, over to the sand-spit for an overview of the best kept estuary on the coast.
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Event fees: You can pay for individual events at the price listed above - especially good for those who live nearby and have their own food and lodging. OR you can pay for a package deal to save some money. The package costs are below. You get to choose when you take the next step. Click the "register now" link below to finish up your registration.
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$200 = NO lodging, Fri/Sat evening dinner and programs, plus choice of Sat/Sun, day programs with no lunch.
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$344 = 2 nights, 6 meals AT CAMP, plus Fri/Sat evening programs and choice of day programs.
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$948 = Full weekend PLUS room/board at camp Aug 17-23 to audit CalNat course for free
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Costs and Cancellation Policies: Creating the CalNat reunion is a commitment to Camp Ocean Pines, our lodging facilities. The cancellation policy helps insure those costs are covered.
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A 20% non-refundable registration fee is required to sign up for the REUNION, with 50% due at 90 days (May 18, 2024), and 100% due 60 days (June 27, 2024) before the event.
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The REUNION requires a minimum of 10 paid students. If there are not 10 paid students 30 days prior to the start date (July 16, 2024), the event will be cancelled. All monies will be refunded if cancellation occurs. The event will NOT be canceled for weather. If Camp Ocean Pines cancels for weather, all monies can be refunded.
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If you must cancel, please contact us as soon as possible. If canceling between thirty (30) and sixty (60) days of arrival date (June 27-July 16, 2024), there is a 50% cancellation fee. If you cancel within thirty (30) days of arrival date (July 17, 2024), the cancellation fee is 100%