Calendar Workshops List

This paid workshop and field trip is focused on Nature Journaling. With guidance from John Muir Laws and his Wild Wonder Foundation, explore new ways of looking at nature while recording your observations in words and images. Following the workshop, apply the techniques of nature journaling in an exploration of the Lodi Lake Nature Area, a unique riparian resource on the Mokelumne River in the heart of Lodi.

The Festival Exhibit Hall is open to all Festival attendees, free of charge, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 4th and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 5th. The Hall houses commercial vendors, public agencies, non-profit agencies, education organizations and activities that focus on Sandhill Cranes, and the diverse wildlife and their habitats found in the Lodi area.

Stop by for hands on exploration that gives people of all ages the opportunity to expand their knowledge … and have fun doing it. Jay Bell, former Lodi USD Science Specialist, shares his collection of artifacts and equipment to offer a closer look, and a better understanding, of cranes and their adaptations.

Learn origami crane folding from our volunteer “experts”.  This activity is FREE … and everyone is welcomed to give it a try.  Stop by to learn more about the cultural significance of origami cranes and the history of this unique Japanese art form. 

Sandhill Cranes migrate through a number of states as they fly to and from their summer nesting sites in Alaska and Canada to warmer states and Mexico for the winter months. No place gets more Sandhill Cranes than the Platte River outside of Kearney, Nebraska, where over 500,000 Sandhill Cranes and several hundred Whooping Cranes spend up to 6 weeks.

Gabe Kerschner with Wild Things! returns with some of their special animals for this fun and educational program.  In past years he has shared a mountain lion, brown bear, raccoon, Golden Eagle, Barn Owl, rattlesnake, and other rescued animals that could not be returned to the wild. This presentation repeats on Sunday at 1:40 PM.

Get inspired and join artists from the Lodi Community Art Center to create your own mini painting on paper or canvas to take home.  Supplies and encouragement provided, open to all ages. Also on Saturday from noon to 3 PM.

Welcome back Denis and James Kurata, who will perform this ancient form of Japanese music that has been a Festival highlight for 24 years.

John Muir “Jack” Laws, a leader and innovator in the worldwide nature journaling movement, will set the tone for the 2024 Festival.  Jack has dedicated his work to connecting people to nature.  As founder and president of the Wild Wonder Foundation, he encourages nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community. 

Gabe Kerschner with Wild Things! returns with some of their special animals for this fun and educational program.  In past years he has shared a mountain lion, brown bear, raccoon, Golden Eagle, Barn Owl, rattlesnake, and other rescued animals that could not be returned to the wild. This presentation is also on Sunday at 10:30 AM. 

The endangered California Condor population, once near the brink of extinction, has been recovering with the help of innovative management techniques and dedicated work by staff biologists and volunteers. The road to recovery has had many twists and turns for the biologists monitoring these critically endangered birds. Join Erin Lehnert for a glimpse into the life of a condor biologist.

Paul Tebbel, representing ICF, presents an overview of cranes worldwide, with an emphasis on those found in North America. He has spent over 45 years watching, researching, and learning about cranes.

This paid workshop and field trip is focused on Nature drawing. With guidance from John Muir Laws and his Wild Wonder Foundation, explore new ways of looking at nature while recording your observations in words and images. Following the workshop, apply the techniques of nature drawing in an exploration of the Cosumnes River Preserve .

The Festival Exhibit Hall is open to all Festival attendees, free of charge, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 4th and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 5th. The Hall houses commercial vendors, public agencies, non-profit agencies, education organizations and activities that focus on Sandhill Cranes, and the diverse wildlife and their habitats found in the Lodi area.

Learn origami crane folding from our volunteer “experts”.  This activity is FREE … and everyone is welcomed to give it a try.  Stop by to learn more about the cultural significance of origami cranes and the history of this unique Japanese art form. 

Stop by for hands on exploration that gives people of all ages the opportunity to expand their knowledge … and have fun doing it. Jay Bell, former Lodi USD Science Specialist, shares his collection of artifacts and equipment to offer a closer look, and a better understanding, of cranes and their adaptations.

Join Native Bird Connections for an intimate look at the behaviors, life experiences, and personal stories of several birds of prey. See hawks and owls up close and learn their unique stories. This presentation repeats on Saturday at 1:40 PM.

In this introduction to Sandhill Cranes, learn about their life history, behavior, migration routes, and the importance of the California Delta to cranes along the Pacific Flyway. Learn more about the California version of a great migration and the habitats that support this awesome, and very reliable, natural phenomenon.

Get inspired and join artists from the Lodi Community Art Center to create your own mini painting on paper or canvas to take home.  Supplies and encouragement provided, open to all ages. Also on Saturday from noon to 3 PM.

With instant information as to where birds are precisely being found, identification apps for your phone that can immediately identify birds either by sound recordings or downloaded photos, and the ability to communicate with friends and other birders so easily, it's an easy statement to make.  But is the quality of birding truly better than in years past?  Are bird sightings as significant now as in the recent past?  David has been an active birder for over 50 years.  He will address this, using San Joaquin County and the neighboring areas from the coast to the mountains as points of reference.