March for Science is coming through LA. The March celebrates crucial roles science plays in economic growth, environment preservation, and public health. Beginning at Pershing Square, join fellow Angelenos (and Bill Nye!) for a dynamic day of marching for science. 

Learn more about the movement! And check out their cute pins!

Creek to Bay Cleanup

Back Country Land Trust’s list of spring events is now available!  This year, their theme is "spring cleaning" for Alpine.  With heavy winter rains, there has been an unusual amount of erosion on the trails, and trash washing down local creeks and streams. BCLT, in partnership with I Love A Clean San Diego, is recruiting volunteers to help clean up this winter's mess and improve local habitats for wildlife and recreation.

Join this community cleanup event this spring and help BCLT to keep Alpine looking it's best for residents and visitors alike. Please plan to arrive 15 – 20 minutes early for event check-in. Certified volunteer hours available for students / community service projects, etc.

Instructor: Crescent Farm Staff

Learn about water conservation and sustainable gardening, with hands-on experience! The Crescent Farm, located in the heart of the Arboretum just west of Baldwin Lake, is a reclaimed landscape where we explore new and ancient horticulture techniques for water conservation and food production. This is an educational training series.  Please bring gloves, drinking water; wear close-toed shoes and a hat.

April 22 – Pollinators

Crescent Farm provides amazing habitat where our local fauna thrives.  In the design and development phases of building Crescent Farm special consideration was given to plant selection and how these plants establish superior homes for native bees, birds and butterflies.  Introducing pollinators into your yard adds interest, photo and learning opportunities for the whole family.

May 20 – Weaving / Basketry

Learn to use your bio-mass (plant waste) to create garden structures.  Simple weaving techniques can use leaves as cordage, branches as trellises, tomato cages, shade shelters, and various long lasting leaves as weavers.  Design and build compost structures, plant guards and soil traps in your own Crescent Garden.

 June 17 – Crescent Farm Horticulture

Explore horticulture at Crescent Farm. Tour our choices for low water lawn alternatives, California native ethnobotanic plants of our local indigenous tribes, arid climate orchard trees and native wildflowers! Get ideas for your home landscape from our New California Landscape. Growing tips will also be discussed.

The Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

For Heal the Bay, every day is Earth Day, but in honor of the 47th annual worldwide observance on April 22, Heal the Bay is celebrating for a solid week!

Heal the Bay’s Nothin’ but Sand clean-up on Saturday, April 15, runs from 10 a.m. to noon on the north side of the Santa Monica Pier. All clean-up participants will be rewarded with free admission to the Aquarium, which opens at 11 a.m. that day.

On the following Saturday, April 22, special activities throughout the day will commemorate the official day to celebrate our planet, during the Aquarium’s regular hours of 12:30 to 5 pm. Make a biodegradable planter, enjoy a special Earth Day story time at 2 pm, or visit a wildlife station on the west end of the Pier. At 1 pm and 3 pm, join Heal the Bay for “Who Pollutes?”— an interactive lesson in keeping our waterways and ocean healthy. Best of all, admission to the Aquarium on Earth Day will be FREE courtesy of The Albright!

Schedule:

• 1:00-4:00pm – Wildlife Observation Station (West End of Pier – next to Harbor Patrol)
• 1:00pm – “Who Pollutes” Presentation
• 2:00pm – Story Time and live animal presentation
• 3:00pm – “Who Pollutes” Presentation (repeat)

Oil Painting: Capture the Beauty of Nature

Saturdays, (6 week sessions):
January 14 – February 18
February 25 – April 1
April 8 – May 13
May 20 – June 24
1:00pm – 3:30pm

Ron Pettie, Instructor
$69 Arboretum members / $79 non-members (includes Arboretum admission)
All materials are included.
 
Capture the beauty of nature! The instructor will guide a beginner to draw and paint with confidence. More advanced students will be able to paint independently at their own pace and will be able to choose their own subjects.
 
Each subsequent six-week class will explore other areas of painting such as landscape, still life, domestic animals, structures, deserts, and seascapes. Master artist Ron Pettie will guide you on this adventure.
 
At the end of a six-week session students will learn the following:

• Composition styles
• How to read a color chart
• Color mixing
• How to use the grid system and the rule of thirds
• Use of dark and light values and gray scales
• Learn a variety of techniques for painting , including using different brushes and the palette knife for texture and depth
• How to use the magic frame on photographs
• Self-Critiquing – Standing back and squinting
• Choosing a signature

 
Reservations REQUIRED; To register please call the Education Department at 626-821-4623.

One night per year, Members of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles join authors from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the historic Central Library after dark. Don’t miss this year's unique Bash where the 25th anniversary of the Library Foundation will be celebrated!

Bring a book with you and swap it out for a new one to take home; enjoy complimentary snacks, desserts, local brews, and delicious coffee while listening to the sounds of the live KCRW DJ; participate in some tequila tasting; and get home safely by taking a Lyft with a discount code!

RSVP now to throw all of the Library rules out of the window and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. Come for the legendary Book Swap, stay for the literary libations!

NOTE: Use password BDBVIP (case sensitive, no spaces) to unlock your VIP Admission RSVP!

Enjoy meeting other people while helping others? Like to cook? If so, Project Angel Food needs you to help prepare healthy meals for the sick! The organization’s devoted volunteers of all ages represent the diversity of Los Angeles. They are at the heart of all Project Angel Food does, so they pride themselves on the strong sense of community amongst volunteers and staff alike.

Kitchen volunteers join a fun-loving group of compassionate people each day to do everything from chopping, stirring, mixing, baking and packaging meals. You don't even need to know how to cook … only how to take direction from their kitchen chefs. They could use your valuable help!

Two shifts are available: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 12:30 pm and 1:30 – 3:30 pm. A weekend shift on Sunday is also available from 8:00 am – 12:30 pm.

Please sign up HERE or contact Project Angel Food at volunteers@angelfood.org.

NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!

The Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

300 Poets. 50 Schools.  1 Champion.

Join Get Lit at the largest youth classic poetry festival in the world!  Judges include Neil Hilborn, Duckwrth, Demi Adejuyigbe, & more!  A few happy, helpful volunteers are needed to pitch in with the 2017 Classic Slam and ensure its runs smoothly.  Interested?  If so, please contact Rachel Kilroy at 213-388-8639 or rachel@getlit.org for more info on how you can get involved.  All ages are welcomed!

Schedule of Events:

• 5 – 8 pm (Grand Slam Finals)

Shift:

• 3 – 9 pm