Garden School Foundation hosts monthly Community Garden Days. These days are a wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over the city and spend a morning outdoors helping create and maintain garden classrooms for students at underserved schools. You don't need any experience to join in, just a love of nature and a willingness to get dirty!  In the garden, participants will build, plant, weed, water, mulch, and more. GSF will also host workshops, demos, and fun-filled arts and crafts activities for the whole family. 

For more info, please contact Elizabeth Hall, Volunteer Coordinator, at elizabeth@gardenschoolfoundation.org.

San Diego River Days

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 San Diego Park Foundation, 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.

Don’t miss the Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary’s 2017 “Weed Warriors” Saturday Volunteer Days! Weeds can alter habitats and have negative effects on wildlife. Volunteers help remove periwinkle, English ivy, and English plantain using non-chemical methods.

No experience necessary; training and tools provided. Please wear clothes that can get dirty, long pants, close-toed shoes and layers for changing weather. Bring snacks and a picnic lunch, if you wish. A personal water bottle, a hat and sunscreen are strongly recommended.

Adults and children ages 8 and older are welcome. Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults. It fulfills community service requirements

Please sign up via the link: https://goo.gl/forms/hOcNhQmHFzXUHdHm2

For more info, please email jrosales@audubo.org.

Schedule
January 21; February 11 & 25; March 11 & 25; April 8, 15, & 29 (1:30pm – 4:30pm); May 13 & 20
9am – 12:30 pm each date (*except April)

Beginning and Ending Time: In January, February, March and May the time is from 9 am – 12:30 pm. In April the time is from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm.

Create Now is hosting an arts festival on Saturday, May 13th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Venice Hope Park, located across the street from Create Now’s facility near STAPLES. Dozens of kids will perform in a Talent Show and earn prizes. 

There will be a DJ, fun arts and crafts activities, face painting, balloon twisters, popular children's characters and giveaways for the disadvantaged families in the local neighborhood. 

Come cheer on young performers, and then attend Create Now’s After-Party from 12:00-2:00 pm at their center where you can meet some of the youth and learn more about Create Now. For information about sponsorships, call 213-747-2777 x 1. If you'd like to have a table and share your company's products, please fill out the form at this link.

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.

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!

Each Monday morning at 10 am, we host a fun, hands-on service project at Big Sunday headquarters called MM@10 (Monday Mornings at 10).  It’s a great way for folks of all ages to get together to help others.  Join us for all the fun!  To RSVP for upcoming MM@10 events, please contact beenish@bigsunday.org. Click HERE for MM@10’s full schedule.

Become a volunteer for Meals on Wheels West (MOW) Los Angeles and help deliver meals between 10:15 am and 12:30 pm any Monday – Friday! Student volunteers are always welcome at MOW. Younger students can help with various tasks in MOW’s office or be paired with one of their regular drivers or with a parent to help deliver food to clients. High school and college students who already are licensed drivers are especially appreciated as reinforcements to MOW’s regular corps of volunteers. MOW is happy to record your community service hours and send that information to your school.

NOTE: This is an ONGOING weekly volunteer opportunity!