Join us for a culturally relevant bird watching experience at a nature preserve in Sacramento County. This  beginner level walk, will introduce you to the natural wonders of the Sacramento region birds and their habitats. Learn to identify birds, and the importance of protecting their habitat. We will have some binoculars available, but if you have a pair, please feel free to bring them.

Location: Cosumnes River Preserve  13501 Franklin Blvd. Galt, CA

Bilingual (English, Spanish)

• Registration is required for this event. 
• All attendees will need to complete a waiver of liability to participate upon arrival.
• This event is open to all ages, identities, and abilities.

What to expect: 

• We will gather at the Visitor Center. 13501 Franklin Blvd. Galt, CA -Parking is free. 

• Program staff will be available at the arrival location to help guide you to the program area.

• To maximize your experience, please plan to arrive 15 minutes early to ensure we may begin on time.

• We will start with brief introductions and a safety briefing.

• Please contact parksandtranquility@saclibrary.org with any questions or accommodation needs.

What to bring:

• Water

• Snacks

• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.)

• Comfortable closed-toe walking/hiking shoes

• Charged phone

• Light jacket or sweater that can easily be rolled up and put in your backpack. 

Rules of the Cosumnes River Preserve

• Pets are not allowed.

• Stay on designated trails.

• Collecting is not allowed. Leave feathers, plants, rocks, animals as you found them.

• Bicycles are not allowed on the trails, but they can be locked up at the Visitor Center.

• Camping, smoking, and fires are not allowed.

• Hunting is not allowed.

Directions:  Cosumnes River Preserve Website

All Visitors please be advised of road closures in the area. The directions below will provide you with access to the Preserve. The Preserve will remain open during these closures.

Access from Interstate 5 from Twin Cities Rd.

1. Exit at Twin Cities Rd.

2. Take Twin Cities Eastbound for approximately 3 miles (Go over the railroad tracks)

3. Turn right onto Bruceville Rd.

4. Merge right onto Desmond Rd. Go over the railroad tracks.

5. Take a left onto Franklin and the Visitor Center will be 1 mile south on the left-hand side.

Access from Interstate 5 from Thornton 

1. Exit at Thornton Rd. Exit 493.

2. Go west on Walnut Grove Rd for approximately 1 1/2 miles.

3. Turn right onto Blossom Rd.

4. In approximately 3 miles turn right onto Barber Rd. Go under the freeway.

5. Turn left onto Cameron Rd.

6. In 2 miles turn left onto Thornton/Franklin Rd. The Visitor Center will be 1 mile north on the right-hand side.

Access from Highway 99

1. Exit at Stockton Blvd/Twin Cities offramp. Exit 277.

2. Take Twin Cities Westbound for approximately 7 miles.

3. Turn left onto Bruceville Rd.

4. Merge right onto Desmond Rd. Go over the railroad tracks.

5. Take a left onto Franklin and the Visitor Center will be 1 mile south on the left-hand side.

About Sol Collective

Sol Collective is a community-based organization whose mission is to provide artistic, cultural, and educational programming, promote social justice, and empower youth through art, activism, music, wellness and media experience. Our executive board and staff are made up of BIPOC artists, educators, business owners, and community mentors.

Sol Collective has been offering art, culture, and wellness programming for BIPOC communities in Sacramento and beyond for 19 years. The collective has organized several outdoor events that include Day of the Dead: Souls of the City, Global Local, and the Piñata Festival; as well as, nature walks, hikes, and camping trips. Sol Arts, Solistic Wellness, and Sol Outdoors, are some of our programs providing culturally relevant and  multi-generational programming designed to empower and engage our communities.

Facilitator

As the Community Wellness Director, Jesus Sanchez, LMFT,  leads and facilitates a number of trainings focused on building community wellness through arts, culture, and digital media with a number of our organization’s partnerships. Jesus also implements curriculum, contributes in fund development, and serves as an active committee member for existing partnerships within our region. Jesus is a beading and multimedia artist, as well as a Mexica Dancer. Jesus' work has focused on working with Indigenous communities, LGBTQ youth and adults. 

Jesus is currently working on identifying outdoor opportunities for those who are differently abled, as he navigated changes in his own physical health while supporting elders in the community.

Assistant Facilitator 

Luis Ramón Campos García (Lurac) is an artist, graphic designer, cultural worker, educator, outdoors enthusiast, and migrant from Mexico City. His work explores visual art, graphic design, and sometimes music to create worlds inhabited by fantastic creatures inspired by his life experience, culture, nature, and everyday life. He enjoys going outdoors for wellness, leisure, culture, and inspiration purposes. He is currently the Arts and Education Director, Gallery Manager, and Outdoors Program Co-coordinator at Sol Collective. As co-leader of the Sol Outdoors program, he organizes and facilitates culturally relevant outdoor exposure experiences for people to enjoy the outdoors, learn about the environment, and connect to nature.

This program is part of the Sacramento Public Library Parks and Tranquility Project and is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.