Regional Rendezvous 2025

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

Kick off the Regional Rendezvous by joining as a community and enjoying a book signing, poster presentations, tables from local environmental groups, and more! 

We invite you to share a poster about your Stewardship Project or other environmental/climate work you are involved in during the Friday Night Social, please fill out this form. 

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

Stories rooted in science, place, and lived experience in nature strengthen the movement for Earth’s stewardship—both within ourselves and in how we connect with others. In this keynote, educator, ecologist, and author Michael Kauffmann will share how experiences in the natural world are more than vessels of knowledge; they are bridges that connect people to landscapes, deepen awareness of ecological relationships, and inspire care. Through tales of ancient forests, rare species, and mountain trails, participants will discover new ways to share their own experiences and advocate for the places and natural wonders they love. In alignment with the conference theme, this talk affirms that conservation and restoration grow strongest when we cultivate connection and wonder together—reminding us that the movement for stewardship, and ultimately love for place, is also a movement of storytelling and community.

Michael Kauffmann is an educator, ecologist, and author based in Humboldt County, California. He manages the North Coast Redwood Education Program for Save the Redwoods League and leads the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, connecting youth and communities to conservation through stewardship. Michael has authored and co-authored several influential works, including Conifer Country, The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History, and California Trees: A Guide to the Native Species. Through his books, teaching, and fieldwork, he weaves science and story to inspire deeper connections to the natural world and a shared commitment to protecting it.

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

Panel and Community Connections description coming soon! 

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

Location: Arcata Community Forest

Join us for a 3-hour guided exploration of the Arcata Community Forest, led by a local forest expert. This immersive experience will take you through multiple forest layers, from the forest floor to the canopy, examining the rich biodiversity that thrives at each level. You'll get up close with the magnificent coast redwoods, learning about their unique ecology and the vital role they play in this ecosystem. This adventure, recommended for all ages, follows easy to moderate level forest trails which are steep in some places. 

Our expert guide will share the area's fascinating logging history and discuss how modern sustainable forestry practices help balance conservation with community needs. Along the way, keep your eyes open for salamanders and other amphibians and reptiles that call this forest home—you'll discover how these often-overlooked creatures are essential indicators of forest health.

The trip will proceed rain or shine - bring appropriate rain gear.
 

Location: Arcata Marsh

Discover the remarkable story of the Arcata Marsh during this 3-hour guided exploration led by a local expert. This unique wetland sanctuary is an easy walk on flat trails and boardwalks where you will see a fascinating blend of environmental innovation, natural history, and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.

Learn how this thriving marsh ecosystem came to be and explore its crucial role in Arcata's innovative wastewater treatment system—a pioneering example of using natural processes to clean water while creating valuable habitat. Your expert guide will explain how the marsh transforms the community's wastewater into clean water through a series of treatment ponds and wetland filters.

The majority of your visit will be spent birding along the marsh's trails and boardwalks, where you'll have opportunities to observe a diverse array of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds. Bring binoculars to spot everything from great blue herons and egrets to migrating ducks, sandpipers, and perhaps even a peregrine falcon. The marsh's varied habitats support over 200 bird species throughout the year, making it a premier birding destination on California's North Coast. Bring binoculars if you have them.

This field trip perfectly illustrates how human ingenuity and natural systems can work together to benefit both communities and wildlife.

The trip will proceed rain or shine - bring appropriate rain gear.

Location: Humboldt Coastal Nature Center

Join Suzie Fortner from Friends of the Dunes for this 3-hour exploration of Arcata's coastal dune ecosystem. Discover how these dynamic sand formations serve as our coastline's first line of defense against rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms driven by climate change. While amazing, this field trip involves moderate to challenging physical activity, including hiking 2+ miles on soft sand with several steep inclines. It is recommended for those physically able to meet the activity demands, please plan accordingly.

During this educational adventure, you'll learn about the critical role that healthy dune systems play in protecting inland communities, absorbing wave energy, and providing flexible barriers that can adapt to changing ocean conditions. Suzie will share insights into ongoing dune restoration efforts, highlighting how native plants, strategic management, and community stewardship work together to strengthen coastal resilience.

As you traverse the dunes, you'll also explore the unique plants and wildlife that have adapted to this harsh yet vital environment, understanding how biodiversity contributes to ecosystem stability and storm protection.

 The trip will proceed rain or shine - bring appropriate rain gear.

Location: Sue-meg State Park

Field Trip description TBD - description being provided by State Parks

Location: D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521

This special Saturday afternoon session is funded by the California Resilient Careers in Forestry project and is intended exclusively for Community College Students and Corpsmembers who are interested in entering the natural resources field. Industry professionals from the local UC Cooperative Extension office, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and College of the Redwoods will lead talks and experiential learning activities on topics such as forestry, fire ecology, interpretation, and mapping.

Location: Redwood Curtain Brewing Co. 550 S G St Suite 4, Arcata, CA 95521

Meet up with conference attendees at the Redwood Curtain Brewing Co. 

Location: Meet at Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center Parking Lot, 569 South G Street, Arcata

Participant Limit: 20 — Field trip slots are filled automatically on a first come, first served basis. 

Join experienced local birders for an exploration of Humboldt Bay's exceptional avian diversity, where the region's strategic location along the Pacific Flyway creates one of Northern California's premier birding destinations. This guided expedition will take you to multiple prime locations, each offering unique habitat types that support both year-round resident species and seasonal migrants.

The Humboldt Bay area's diverse ecosystems—from coastal wetlands and mudflats to riparian forests and grasslands—provide critical stopover points for thousands of birds traveling the migration corridor. Our expert guides will share field identification techniques and demonstrate how different habitat features support various species throughout the seasonal cycle.

This field trip involves walking up to 2 miles total, primarily on hard-packed trails suitable for most fitness levels. The varied locations provide excellent opportunities to observe how different bird communities adapt to specific habitats within the Humboldt Bay ecosystem.

• Cost: $20 per participant- not included with the registration fee, paid separately at event registration
• Meet at Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center Parking Lot, 569 South G Street, Arcata
• Bring binoculars and spotting scopes, if available or desired
• Please bring a bagged lunch

The trip will proceed rain or shine - bring appropriate rain gear.

Location: Meet at D Street Neighborhood Center,1301 D Street Arcata, CA 95521 for carpooling

Location: Meet at Madaket Plaza - 1 C St., Eureka, CA 95501

Participant Limit: 20 — Field trip slots are filled automatically on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Join us for an educational journey along the Humboldt Bay Trail, a scenic segment of the ambitious Great Redwood Trail that will eventually connect communities throughout the North Coast. This paved multi-use trail provides an exceptional outdoor classroom where you'll discover the intricate relationships between Humboldt Bay's diverse ecosystems and the rich cultural history of this region.

For this exciting field trip, we'll travel by bicycle along a section of the 7+ mile, paved trail system. We'll explore the dynamic world of tidal marshlands, observing how salt marshes and estuaries create vital habitat for countless species of waterfowl, shorebirds, and marine life. Our route offers prime viewing opportunities to witness the daily rhythm of Humboldt Bay's tides and understand how these natural cycles sustain one of California's most important coastal wetland ecosystems.

The trail also serves as a living timeline of regional history, showcasing Wiyot cultural heritage sites and the area's railroad legacy while demonstrating how former rail corridors are being transformed into modern recreational infrastructure. This innovative rail-trail connectivity now links Eureka and Arcata, creating new opportunities for sustainable transportation and outdoor recreation.

• Cost: $20 per participant, in addition to bicycle rental fee- not included with the registration fee, paid separately at event registration
  • $30 for standard bicycle, $60 for e-bicycle (participants will pay for bicycle rentals directly)
• Meet at Madaket Plaza - 1 C St., Eureka, CA 95501
• Please bring a bagged lunch

Rainy Day Alternative: If the weather doesn't cooperate, we'll explore Eureka's historic Old Town district on foot, visiting the Welcome Center, the Da Gou Rou Louwi' Wiyot Cultural Center, and the Clarke Historical Museum—all located within a single charming block that tells the story of this region's diverse heritage.

Location: Meet at Trinidad Head Trail Parking Lot, 925 Lighthouse Rd., Trinidad, CA 95570

Participant Limit: 20 — Field trip slots are filled automatically on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Join us for an exploration of Trinidad, one of California's oldest and most picturesque coastal communities. This charming seaside town offers a unique combination of maritime history and dramatic Pacific coastline, providing insights into centuries of coastal settlement and the natural forces that have shaped this rugged shore.

During our visit, you'll discover Trinidad's rich historical heritage as we explore how this small community has served as a vital coastal port since the mid-1800s. The town's strategic location on Trinidad Bay made it an important landing point for early settlers and lumber operations, and its story reflects the broader patterns of California's coastal development.

Our coastal exploration will take you through diverse marine terraces and beach environments, where you can observe how geological processes and ocean dynamics create the spectacular clifftop vistas and protected coves that define this stretch of coastline. The varied terrain offers opportunities to understand how coastal erosion, wave action, and sea level changes continue to sculpt these dramatic landscapes.

This field trip includes moderate physical activity with hill hiking and beach walking, allowing you to experience both the elevated perspectives of Trinidad's blufftop setting and the intimate scale of its sandy shoreline.

• Cost: $20 per participant- not included with the registration fee, paid separately at event registration
• Meet at Trinidad Head Trail Parking Lot, 925 Lighthouse Rd., Trinidad, CA 95570
• Please bring a bagged lunch

The trip will proceed rain or shine - bring appropriate rain gear.