Conejo Open Space Foundation

View Dr. Sean Anderson’s talk about the impact of ‘global weirding’ in the Conejo Valley and what you can do to slow it

For COSF’s first 2022 Speaker Series virtual presentation on March 2, conservation ecologist Dr. Sean Anderson examined the multiple threats posed to the Conejo Valley by global warming—or “global weirding,” as he calls it because of the bizarre weather events it causes. Dr. Anderson, who chairs the Environmental Science and Read more…

By Anne Russell, 3 years03/05/2022 ago

Accomplishments Where in the Conejo

Randy Wagner wins 2021 ‘Where in the Conejo’ Contest Grand Prize!

In 2021, we revised the rules of COSF’s popular, long-running “Where in the Conejo” contest to encourage a wider range of entrants by offering more diverse subjects to identify. We also created a Grand Prize, so that even people who had already won would have an incentive to keep playing. Read more…

By Anne Russell, 3 years12/27/2021 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Speaker Series Video Animals Wildlife

Wildlife-friendly tips from the California Wildlife Center and the video “Wildlife in Our Neighborhood” presented by Jenn Guess

Jenn Guess gave her COSF audience a very enthusiastic and spirited talk to address common ways wild animals get injured and end up at the California Wildlife Center for rehabilitation, where she works. The CWC receives 30,000 phone calls a year about injured wildlife, and takes in 4,300 animals annually, Read more…

By Anne Russell, 3 years12/19/2021 ago

Accomplishments Environment Fundraising Wildlife

COSF Completes $10,000 Wildlife Crossing Pledge; Adds Bonus Gift

Thanks to generous donations from members and supporters, COSF was able to add $6,800 to the $10,000 donation already pledged to fund the construction of the $87 million Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing over the 101 freeway. The additional money came from the Julia Osborn Gourley Memorial Fund, which COSF created Read more…

By Steve Clark, 3 years11/05/2021 ago

Accomplishments Trails

Listing of New and Updated Hiking and Riding Guides

To make it easier to find routes for hiking or riding that will appeal to open space enthusiasts, we are updating and adding to our hiking route pages. The new guides are in PDF format with just two pages so they are easy to download, print and take along with Read more…

By Steve Clark, 3 years11/02/2021 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Plants Native Speaker Series Video Plants

Read the synopsis, then watch the recording of the “Native Plants Demystified” Speaker Series event from October 14, 2021

Native-plant experts Laura Pasetta, Jenn Rodriguez, Antonio Sanchez and COSCA Administrator Brian Stark spoke from their extensive knowledge and experience of developing a garden of native Southern California plants. The video recording and a photo gallery can be found below this brief synopsis of their presentations. Laura Pasetta (Clinical herbalist, Read more…

By Steve Clark, 3 years10/16/2021 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments

COSF Receives Nonprofit Awards Recognition

The Conejo Open Space Foundation was honored to be a finalist this year in State Senator Henry Stern’s Nonprofit of the Year Awards. Held July 27 via Zoom, the awards ceremony featured multiple nonprofit categories, including Climate, Environment, and Wildlife Protection, in which COSF was nominated. COSF President Jerry Westby spoke Read more…

By Anne Russell, 3 years08/05/2021 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Environment Fundraising Wildlife

COSF Contributes another $2500 to the wildlife crossing of the 101 Freeway at Liberty Canyon

Most of us think of the wildlife crossing as only for the benefit of mountain lions, so that lions from different regions can mingle, reduce interbreeding and strengthen the gene pool of the population. In reality, the wildlife bridge will benefit many more species, including plants and birds! COSF is Read more…

By Steve Clark, 4 years06/14/2021 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Environment Speaker Series Video Animals Wildlife

Watch the recording of the talk: Changes in Bird Populations due to Urbanization over 25 Years

Dr. Daniel Cooper, who spoke to us via Zoom on Thursday evening June 10th, gave a scholarly presentation of his research into the changes of bird populations over the past few decades due to expanding urban areas. He finds that some species thrive in cities, some avoid them, and others Read more…

By Steve Clark, 4 years06/12/2021 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments TED Updates

COSF produces a video of the Trails Education Days workshop on Our Animal Neighbors

To help the Conejo Valley Unified School District Grade 4 students get a full appreciation for open space and why it is so important, we are expanding and updating the videos we have made to aid their learning. The latest video, “Trails Education Days Native Animals Workshop,” was released in Read more…

By Steve Clark, 4 years05/04/2021 ago