Conejo Open Space Foundation

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

By Anne Russell, 2 weeks12/01/2025 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Environment Speaker Series Wildlife

Wildlife researcher Ellie Bolas reveals the private lives of local mule deer—see her recorded presentation

Visit China Flat, Conejo Canyons, Rancho Sierra Vista or Satwiwa as the sun is rising. Watch in anticipation as it casts delicate morning light on the open canopy of the oak savanna, the frosted tips of wild oats and desiccated sagebrush—and wait. You just might see the unmistakable glimmer of Read more

By Anne Russell, 4 months07/31/2025 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Environment Plants Native Speaker Series Video Plants

Forest expert Kim Corella discusses new threat to our Conejo Valley oaks—see her recorded presentation

Kim Corella, who is Cal Fire’s Forest Pathologist with the Forest Entomology and Pathology Program for Southern California, addressed what could be a slow-moving disaster for our Coast Live Oaks in her Speaker Series talk “Oaks in Peril” on April 16. Having served with Cal Fire for the past 17 Read more

By Anne Russell, 8 months ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Speaker Series Wildlife

Wildlife educator Dana Stangel examines how humans and coyotes can peacefully coexist—see her recorded presentation

Dana Stangel, founder and executive director of Teranga Ranch Wildlife, shared her expertise and advice about how to live side by side with our most visible urban canid, the coyote. On January 29, 2025, as COSF’s first 2025 Speaker Series guest, Stangel presented “Coyotes Among Us.” Scroll down to watch Read more

By Anne Russell, 10 months02/04/2025 ago

Man and children examine pollinator game at UCCE Master Gardeners Plantpalooza booth

Accomplishments Environment Plantpalooza Plants Native Speaker Series

Third Annual Native Plantpalooza & Eco Fest Drew Enthusiastic Crowds

COSF launched Native Plantpalooza & Eco Fest in the fall of 2022 with the goal of producing a free outdoor live event to celebrate and support the Conejo Valley’s rich biodiversity. The community festival’s goal is to educate and inspire attendees about native plants, water-wise gardening and more sustainable living. Read more

By Anne Russell, 1 year10/03/2024 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Speaker Series

Dr. Thom Davis Reveals the Conejo Valley’s Explosive Geologic History. See the Recording Here

Dr. Thom Davis, a California State registered geologist and founder and director of the nonprofit Geologic Maps Foundation, was the second guest in COSF’s 2024 Speaker Series on September 18, with his presentation “Trail Geology: A Look at Rock Formations, Faults and Landscapes in the Conejo Open Space.” He began by noting our open Read more

By Anne Russell, 1 year ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Environment Speaker Series Wildlife

Hummingbird expert Dr. Julie Morley explains how you can help these tiny birds—view her recorded webinar presentation here

Dr. Julie Morley’s talk focused on understanding hummingbirds’ biology and habits so people can cultivate safer and more welcoming habitats for them.

By Anne Russell, 2 years ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Environment Plants Native Speaker Series

Landscape Expert Shares Guidelines for Gardening with Natives—and Why. See the Recording Here

Erik Oberg, owner of native-plant landscape design company Acorn Design Studios and chair of the Conejo Valley Audubon Society’s Conservation Committee, gave a talk in December 2023 about native plant gardening to a group of COSF open space enthusiasts. He walked the audience through his “Top 10 Reasons to Go Native,” as Read more

By Anne Russell, 2 years12/12/2023 ago

_Special Announcement Environment Speaker Series

Water expert Jennifer Lancaster explains ‘weather whiplash’ phenomena –plus a recording of the presentation.

On June 28, Jennifer Lancaster, MS, appeared as COSF’s second guest in the 2023 Speaker Series as part of our special “Sustainability” theme. In “Water: Where it comes from, how we use it, where it goes—and why it matters” Lancaster, who is the principal resource specialist at the Calleguas Municipal Water District, Read more

By Anne Russell, 2 years07/03/2023 ago

_Special Announcement Accomplishments Speaker Series

How to do your garbage right: Tips from our Speaker Series “Trash Talk” experts, and the RECORDING of the presentation

If you took away nothing else from COSF’s March 29 Speaker Series panel “Talkin’ Trash: How to Do Your Garbage Right,” we hope you at least memorized these three numbers: 1-2-5. Those represent the types of single-use plastics that actually are recyclable. If you see a 1, 2 or 5 Read more

By Anne Russell, 3 years03/31/2023 ago