The City of Torrance Community Services Department in cooperation with the Friends of the Madrona Marsh, offers many special activities!

To register for Classes and Science camps that has a fee:

Community Services Department
West Annex, Torrance City Hall
3031 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90503.
Phone 310.618.2720
(Walk-ins are accepted)

Tour de Torrance -Searching for the Birds of the South Bay
1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesday of every Month at 8:30 am * Free
July 6 & 20, August 3, 17 &31, September 7 & 21, October 5 & 19, November 2, 16 & 30, 2010 
Take a stroll with Dave moody and Ron Melin as you identify the different species of birds at the Madrona Marsh Preserve, other parks throughout the City of Torrance and local South Bay birding "hot spots."

Morning On The Marsh - 2nd Tuesday of every month from  9:00 - 11:00 am * Free
July 13, August 10,  September 14, October 12 & November 9, 2010
Discover this hidden jewel, right in your backyard! Enjoy a leisurely stroll with tour guide, Bart Tendick... and learn about this fascinating vernal marsh.

Bird Walk - 2nd Wednesday of every month at 8:00 am * Free July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13 & November 10, 2010
Discover different birds every season and see if you can spot the over 250 species of birds that visit Madrona Marsh Preserve.

Native Plants in the Wild & in Your Garden - 1st Saturday of every month at 10:00 am* Free 
This Class will repeat the following Tuesday at 6:30 pm
Dr. Connie Vadheim (CSU Dominguez Hills) will discuss local native plants as part of the gardening series "Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden".  Featured will be plants native to the lowland areas of western L.A. County.  Class will include a walk in the Madrona Marsh Preserve/Gardens, where students can see the featured plants. This is the only series to showcase native plants appropriate for western L.A. county gardens - and it's FREE


Promoting Pollinators                                                   Saturday: 07/03/2010       &   Tuesday:    07/06/2010         
Woodland Wonders: Plants for Dry Shade                  Saturday: 08/07/2010         &  Tuesday:      08/10/2010     
September                                                                    NO CLASS
October                                                                       NO CLASS

All classes are held  Saturdays 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon and 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. the following Tuesday.
Madrona Marsh Nature Center
3201 Plaza Del Amo, Torrance
(310) 782-3989.
This is the only gardening series to feature native plants appropriate for the coastal areas- and it's FREE!

Nature Walks - 4th weekend of every month at 10:00 am
July 24 & 25, August 28 & 29, September 25 & 26, October 23 & 24, & November 27 & 28, 2010
Take a guided walk on the Madrona Marsh Preserve and learn about the flora and fauna that live in this captivating veral marsh. You'll see how living things interact in their habitat and learn the value of wetlands in our urban environment.

Service Learning for High School and College Students
Saturdays - 8:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Visit or call the Nature Center for more information at; (310) 782-3989.
Students can perform community service hours at this time to fulfill class or graduation requirements.
RAIN CANCELS ALL RESTORATION!

Habitat Restoration
Saturdays -  8:45 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Curious about how to tell the native from nonnative plants on the Preserve? Learn directly through weeding nonnatives and planting natives.
RAIN CANCELS ALL RESTORATION!

Tuesday and Wednesday Weeders - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Volunteer opportunity for those looking for pleasant company while accomplishing good work on the Preserve. Join the group for restoration every Tues. and Wed. morning and gain expertise about the weeds and native plants of the South Bay. This program is for adults willing to make a minimum 50 hour commitment.

A New Opportunity to Volunteer at the Madrona Marsh Preserve!
Join the Propagation Society as we plant seeds for the future of the Preserve!
Every Second and Fourth Thursday of Every Month  *   10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Learn how to:
*Prepare soil for planting on the Marsh
*Grow native plants for restoration and fundraising events at the Madrona Marsh
*'Pot up' plants to larger containers
*Collect and 'clean' seeds
*Prune native plants in the Nursery 

Artist Receptions & Exhibits

View the works of local artists & photographers portraying the beauty of the Madrona Marsh.
The community is invited to attend each artist's reception where the artist talks about his/her work and or gives a demonstration.
Snacks and beverages are included.


"A Study of Spring" An Exhibit of Paintings & Photography"
By:  Mark Christiansen & Tracy Drake
Exhibit on Diplay from july 13, 200 - August 27, 2010
Artist's Reception - Friday, July 30, 2010 * 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 .m.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

A Photography Exhibit by Beth Shibata
Exhibit on Display from August 31 - October 15, 2010
Artist's Reception - Friday, September 17, 2010 * 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

A Photography Exhbit by Paul Blieden
Exhibit on Dispay from October 19 - December 3, 2010
Artist's Reception - Friday, November 5, 2010 * 6:30 p.m. - 830 p.m.

Night Hike
Saturday, August 21, 2010 . 7:30 pm # 9:30 pm
Saturday, October 9, 2010 . 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 pm.
$5 per person/ $10 per family
Be on the Preserve as the sun sets - experience the coming of night!
This hike is limited to the first 25 people who sign up.
For reservations call the Madrona Marsh Nature Center  (310) 782 - 3989.

History of theSouth Bay-a Spanish Prespective
Saturday, August 28 * 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ages 12+ * Free
A representative from the Rancho Dominguez Mseum willbe here to talk about the
history of the South Bay  including stories about local Ranchos. 

Plein Air Workshop
Saturday, September 18 * 8:00 a.m.  11:00 a.m. * $30 per person
Pre-regisration is required. To register call (310) 782-3989.
Spend the day learning about or sharpening your skills with instructor
Ron Libbrecht. Open to all ability levels, ages 16 to adult.

Spiders-Our Eight Legged Friends
Saturday, October 30, 2010 * 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m. * Free
Come join Brent "The Bug Guy" Carner from the Natural History Museum
of Los Angeles, to learn about our eight legged friends.

Turtle & Tortoises
Saturday October 2 * 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Do you have a turtle or tortoise or are you thinking about
adopting one? Representatives from the California Turtle and Tortoise
Society will be here for this "hands-on" event with live turtles and tortoises
on display as well as some to adopt. Bring your own turtles an join us!






Friends of Madrona Marsh 2010 Celebration
"Moonligh Magic on Madrona Marsh"

Saturday, October 23 * 6:00pm.* $50 per person
The magic begins in the urban wildsof the Preserve and features
food, music and entertinment. The sundown and rising
moon festivities include tours, telescope star viewing, gift-basket drawings, live
and silent auctions of unusual items.

Tickets for this event are available at the Nature Center or at Wildbirds Unlimited in Torrance.

 

 

                                        

 

Are you looking for an interesting volunteer opportunity? The Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center is seeking volunteers for a variety of positions. Please call the Nature Center for further information and to request a volunteer application (310)782-3989.

Gift Shop Volunteers
Special Events
Docents
Habitat Restoration

For reservations and information regarding programs and/or for group tours please contact the Madrona Marsh Nature Center at (310)782-3989.

All activities and classes meet at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center, located at 3201 Plaza del Amo (between Maple and Madrona), on the north side of the street.