Plantpalooza exhibitor chats with attendee

Plantpalooza celebrates Year 5 with record new exhibitors and attendees

Native Plantpalooza & Eco Fest returned for a fifh year on October 10 to Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks. Focused on sustainable living and gardening, the event drew around 1,000 attendees who enjoyed interacting with the 45+ exhibitors at the free educational festival. New features this year included Pedals & Read more

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 Read more

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 Read more

Ojai Raptor Center barn owl release

Raptor expert Jaclyn DeSantis warns about dangers hawks, owls and eagles face—from us! See her recorded presentation

On November 19, Jaclyn DeSantis, education program manager at the Ojai Raptor Center presented “Wild Neighbors: Raptors, Rehabilitation, and the Human Connection” as the final talk of 2025 in COSF’s popular Speaker Series. DeSantis is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and she has seen a lot of injured birds during her 15 years Read more