Recent News from our Blog

Two students from Westlake High School win COSF 2026 Eco Scholarships

Two local seniors, Anna Bronk and Tyler Limcaco, both from Westlake High School, are the recipients of the sixth annual Conejo Open Space Foundation scholarships. The $1,500 scholarships support students pursuing environmental-studies-related majors at two- or four-year colleges or universities. The scholarships, which provide up to $6,000 per student in total, are determined by a six-person panel. Anna Bronk, who is headed Read more

By Anne Russell, ago

Speaker Series discussion: How does climate change make you feel?

When you think about  Southern California’s climate-change-driven wildfires, how does that make you feel? Scared, angry, hopeless? You can talk about those emotions with Victoria Clayton, a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America and a trained Climate Café facilitator. On May 6,  Clayton will lead  two live online discussion groups about climate change as the second event Read more

By Anne Russell, ago

Irene Rowland explores why immersion in nature is essential to our mental and physical wellbeing—see her recorded presentation.

Irene Rowland, certified forest therapy guide and founder of Forest Needle Wellness, advised attendees to literally hug a tree during her March 4 presentation “Forest Bathing and Healing Landscapes: A Guide to Mindful Nature Connection.” Scroll to the bottom of this page to view the recording of her presentation. An expert in the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku—”forest bathing”—Rowland explains that the Read more

By Anne Russell, ago

The Annual Conejo Spring Trail Work Day will be March 21 on the Whole Access Trail

Come out to help fix up our amazing trails on Saturday, March 21, when the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency rangers will host the Annual Spring Trail Work Day! The work will be on the Whole Access and Los Robles Trails. The thank-you lunch and gift give-away for volunteers at noon are courtesy of COSF. Please register online so we Read more

By Steve Clark, ago
a coyote crosses the Rincon Trail in the Conejo Valley, CA

Winter ‘Four Seasons’ photo contest winner is David Filgas!

For our Spring ‘Four Seasons’ contest the challenge subject is sunlight beaming through Conejo Valley trees. Deadline for entry is May 31, 2026. If you would like to enter future contests, here are the rules: Every season, we’ll identify a specific phenomenon or item (e.g., “an oak tree”) for you to find within the Conejo Open Space. As long as Read more

By Anne Russell, ago

Speaker Series: Discover Forest Bathing with Irene Rowland March 4

On March 4 at 7:00 p.m., Irene Rowland, founder of Forest Needle Wellness and a certified forest therapy guide, will kick off our 2026 quarterly speaker series focused on nature and mental wellbeing. Her live online presentation via Zoom, “Forest Bathing and Healing Landscapes: A Guide to Mindful Nature Connection,” will examine the science behind the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku—”forest bathing”—which originated there Read more

By Anne Russell, ago

It’s New Map Monday: Windmill Canyon Trail in North Ranch

Highlights This easy route of only 1.6 miles with about 200′ of climbing is very pretty, meandering through grassy meadows and groves of oak trees. Windmill Canyon Trail is one of the segments of the 2026 Conejo Open Space Challenge (https://cosf.org/challenge) Description This is a really easy and pretty hike, suitable for beginners. There is no street parking at the Read more

By Steve Clark, ago