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
July 1, 15 & 29, August 5, 19, September 2, 16, 30, October 7, 21 * Free
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 8, August 12, September 9, October 14
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 9, August 13, September 10, October 8
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!

More Flights of Butterflies - July 5 & July 8
Planning With a Wild Heart: Some Like it Hot - August 2 & August 5
The Children's Garden - September 6 & September 9
No Class - October

All classes are held from 10:00 - 12:00 noon and 6:30 - 8:30 pm 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 26 & 27, August 23 &24, September 27 & 28, October 25 & 26
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 am - 12:00 pm
Students can perform community service hours at this time to fulfill class or graduation requirements.

Habitat Restoration
Saturdays -  8:45 pm - 12:00 pm
Curious about how to tell the native from nonnative plants on the Preserve? Learn directly through weeding nonnatives and planting natives.

Tuesday and Wednesday Weeders - 10:00 am - 12:00
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.

Artist Receptions & Exhibits
Come view the works of local Artists and Photographers inspired by and portraying the beauty of the Madrona Marsh. The artists will usually provide a lecture and slide presentation, highlighting their works.

                                  

Emile Fiesler - "An Intimate Look at the Madrona Marsh Preserve," A Photography Exhibit
Exhibit Display from July 8 - August 23, 2008
Artist's Reception - Friday, July 25. 2008 * 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm * Free

Ivett Garray - "Winged Whimsy: Avian Visitors of Madrona Marsh," An Exhibit of Drawings
Exhibit Display from August 26 - October 11, 2008
Artist's Reception - Friday, September 12, 2008 * 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm * Free

Joannie Spring - "Reflections in Words and in the Wild," A Photography & Poetry Exhibit
Exhibit Display from October 14 - November 29
Artist's Reception - Friday, October 24, 2008 * 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm * Free

Second Sunday Science - 2nd Sunday of every month from 2:00 - 4:00 pm * $5 person/ $10 family 

Butterflies with Ron Melin
July 13, 2008

Raptors a Closer Look with Ann Lynch
August 10, 2008

Spiders, there is Nothing to be Afraid of ! Come learn why! with Jess Morton
September 14, 2008

Fall Migration with Ron Melin
October 12, 2008

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Astronomy Programs

Star Party
Saturday, September 6, 2008
7:30 - 9:30 pm * Free
Don't miss this chance to explore the spring sky with Paul Livio and the Riverside Astronomical Society.
Register early, as a maximum of 25 people can attend.

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Children's Activities
Many Lands, Many Stories, Nature Stories, Nature Stories from Around the World
Saturday, October 11, 2008 * 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm * Free
Will it be a heart-warming story about living with nature or a tall tale of mythic proportions?  In any event, stories will be told. Come and join us.

Tyke Hikes
1st Thursday of Each Month
 July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, 2008
10:00 am * $5 donation
Hey kids!  Come see  some of the plants and animals on a guided tour of Madrona Marsh Preserve.  Meet at the Madrona Avenue Gate. 

Junior Naturalist
Wednesdays * 10:00 am - 12:00 pm *June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30 * $5 per person
Hey kids! Think you might like to be a Junior Naturalist? Then come on over to Madrona Marsh and see if you have what it takes! During this series of classes. students will learn about nature and develope observation and documentation skills so that they can understand the natural world.
Ages 8 - 13+.

Einstein for Kids
Tuesday through Thursday
August 19, August 20, August 21 * 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm * $30 for the 3 class series
This class is especially designed for kids interested in science. Most students finish the class with a clear understanding of Einstein's General and Special Theory of Relativity as well as some of the history that lead to these impotant theories.

Bugs Kids Love
Saturday, August 9, 2008 * 10:00 am - 12:00 pm * Free
One local middle school student has become an expert! Join her in exploring the Preserve and finding some very interesting bugs!

 

Cheveron Corner Transfer Ceremony!
Saturday, July 19, 2008 * 10:00 am
Bus from Nature Center to Cheveron Corner will leave at 9:30 am

Night Hike
Saturday, August 2, October 4 * 6:30 - 8:30 pm * $ 5 per person/$10 per family
Take a relaxing evening stroll on the Preserve.       

Painting Outdoors at Madrona Marsh - A Plein Air Workshop
Saturday, July 20 & August 24 * 10:00 am - 3:00 pm * $25 per person
Spend the day learning about or sharpening your skills with instructor Ron Libbrecht.  Open to all ability levels, ages 16 to adult.  Pre-registration is advised due to limited class size.  
October 20, students will have a chance to view other's work.  A light snack will be provided at the critique.

Annual Butterfly Count Class
Saturday, July 12 * 10:00 am - 12:00 pm * Free
Be a citizen-scientist--learn about Butterflies. each year in July our local Audubon Chapter conducts a survey of our local butterflies. The class will focus on how to identify butterflies using binoculars and nets. On Saturday, July 26, join Audubon as a citizen-scientist and help us conduct the survey. All ages welcome to attend.
For more information about joining this program please call the Nature Center: (310) 782-3989.

Butterfly Count
Saturday, July 26 * ALL DAY * Free
Be a citizen scientist today! Help us conduct the survey by counting butterflies! For more information please call the Nature Center at: (310) 782-3989.

Tongva/Gabrielino, a closer look at the traditions and culture of our local Native Americans
Saturday, August 2 * 10:00 am - 12:00 pm * Free
Los Angeles County was once a sanctuary for waterfowl and other animal life. Many of the plants and animals enabled the Tongva/Gabrielino to survive upon the land for thousands of years. Come learn about the tradititonal uses of tules (a tall wetland grass), where they grow and how they are used today. Create something from tules harvested on the Preserve.

Flying Wild: a Celebration of Local Birds and Wildlife
Saturday, October 18 * 8:30 am - 4:00 pm * Free
Join us for this wonderful event! There will be fun filled lectures, programs and contests! For more information call the Nature Center (310)782-3989.

Writing Wild
Sunday, October 19 * 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm * $10 per person
Explore the wildness of the Madrona Marsh Preserve with words. Expand your nature writing skills weather you want to write stories, poems or articles. All skill levels are welcome.

Fall Festival of Nature Crafts
Saturday, October 25 * 10:00 am - 12:00 pm * Free
Join Marsha Miller, create crafts that can be used in your home or given as gifts for Halloween using items that can be found on the Preserve.

Planning your New Southern California Garden -A Practical Workshop for the Home Gardener
A guided workshop $65.00 per person, $75.00 per couple
Saturdays, July 12, 26 & August 9, 23 * 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Saturdays, October 25, November 8 & 22, December 13 * 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Are you stumped as to how to re-design your garden so it is more drought tolerant? Do you want to learn about where and how to plant California Native Plants? This series offers step-by-step personalized assistance in all aspects of creating a new garden.

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.