Looking for something different this summer for your child? Do you find it difficult to commit to weeklong camps because of scheduling conflicts or preplanned vacations? Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens offers a fun half day camp with exciting daily topics built around your schedule. Sign up for individual days based on your availability and your child’s interests. Do something different this summer – explore the natural world right in downtown San Jose!

August 3 – 7
Tuesday:  Cultural Food Exploration!
Wednesday: The Sun is a Star!
Thursday: Who lives in our Park?
Friday: Bike Adventure along the River! (7-10year olds only)

August 10 – 14
Monday: Orchard Pioneers!
Tuesday: Seeds, Soil, Buds and Bugs!
Wednesday: Dig and Discover!
Thursday: Build your Bodies!
Friday: World Record Exploration! (7-10year olds only)

All sessions are $40, see registration form for more details. To register by phone, call 408-298-7657. To view the .pdf registration form, click the link below. For session descriptions, scroll down or view form.

SummerCampReg09.pdf, (355 KB .pdf file)

Click here to read more about the sessions!

The City of San Jose’s sixth Annual Trail Program Report is posted on the program’s website - www.sjparks.org/trails, (click on “Reports”).

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The Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan Update
is creating the blueprint for the City’s future growth and development. The July meeting was dedicated to the topic of parks, with Guadalupe River Park & Gardens acknowledged as San Jose’s central park. The 2040 Task Force is continuing to meet and would like your input.  Through an online “wikiplanning” site, you can help shape the future of San Jose over the next 30 years! 

Complete the survey and you will be eligible to win complimentary tickets from San Jose’s arts, entertainment, and cultural organizations!  You can also learn more about the Envision San Jose 2040 city planning project, provide feedback, or post and comment on your own and others’ photos.

Follow these simple instructions to participate:

1)      Go to WWW.WIKIPLANNING.ORG
2)      Enter your e-mail address
3)      Use the password 2040

For more information on the Envision San Jose 2040 process, you can go to http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/gp_update/default.asp

Trail Update
The railroad trestle north of Julian St. is being replaced, resulting in the closure of the east trail and a detour on the west side between Julian St. and Coleman Ave. The project will start this month and finish early next year. A detour route hasn’t been finalized - check our website later this month for additional information. Also, the City of San Jose has secured funding to pave the Guadalupe River Trail from Hwy 880 to Gold St. in Alviso. The project is scheduled to begin later this fall and could cause a nine-month trail closure. Guadalupe River Park Conservancy will advocate for the least disruptive schedule possible and looks forward to the completion of this project.

Education
For more information, contact our Education Coordinator, Linda McCabe

Fool Proof Flower Arranging
Saturday, August 8th
1:30 - 3:30pm
$10.00/ members, $20/non-members
Summer is here! You’ve gathered a marvelous bundle of colorful summer flowers and foliage, now what? Join Master Gardener, Milli Wright and Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens for a workshop on the basic principles of floral design. Bring a vase, to take home your own creation with materials provided. You will also learn creative ways of combining colors, unique foliage fillers and tips and tricks for harvesting, preserving and sharing your flower arrangements. Surprise yourself with an easy workshop designed to bring out your inner Floral Designer.

All events will be held at the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center, located at 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose.  Reservations are required for all programs and space is limited so reserve your spot early by contacting us at education@grpg.org or 408-298-7657.

Volunteering
For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Lucy Perez

Office Volunteers
A variety of volunteer opportunities exist in our office at the Visitor & Education Center.  Activities include clerical work, answering the phones, organizing the library, preparing materials for educational programs, greeting visitors, etc. We presently have openings Monday and Wednesday afternoon and anytime Thursday and Friday. Please call us to review a convenient schedule for you. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00.

Coastal Cleanup Day
Join Guadalupe River Park Conservancy for Coastal Cleanup Day Saturday, September 19 from 9:00 am -12:00 pm. Pick up trash, remove debris and see what strange and interesting items have been deposited along the rivers banks. Advanced registration is required. Please wear close-toed shoes, long pants, and sun protection and be ready for a morning of handy help and hard work. We’ll provide litter sticks, bags and gloves. For more information or to register for this event call (408) 298-7657. Or register on-line! This event will meet at the Visitor & Education Center located at 438 Coleman Ave, San Jose, 95110.

Volunteer Profiles

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Board Member: Bill Ryan Bill earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and has over 25 years experience in real estate. He is a Vice President at Barry Swenson Builder, where he has directed more than 3 million square feet of construction and development projects.  He was involved in the River Street Historic Project where nine structures were moved to make way for the federal flood control project on the Guadalupe River and restored to create a unique retail/office project. During the past 20 years Bill has been a member of Rotary International, San Jose Downtown Association, YMCA, San Jose Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and the Association of Silicon Valley Brokers.

Meet John Rizzi! John Rizzi was born in New York City and was transferred to California by IBM in 1974. After 35 years in computer software development at IBM, Tandem and Compaq, John retired in 1999. In July 1999 he started volunteering at the Heritage Rose Garden and rapidly took on different volunteer projects. He became the unofficial “plumber”, doing the retrofit to the current irrigation system. You could also follow John in the Heritage Rose Garden during a tour or find him working with the rare rose propagation program. In 2003 John became a Santa Clara County Master Gardener. Now he divides his time doing Master Gardeners activities, the Grant Ranch Rose Garden, Heritage Rose Garden propagation, home vegetable gardening with wife Sue, and visiting three grandchildren. We really appreciate John’s many and varied contributions to our organization.