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