Education

Want to get your kids involved in the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival? This tour is the perfect way to start. Join us at the Cosumnes River Preserve boardwalk where your family will have a chance to see waterfowl and maybe Sandhill Cranes through our spotting scopes.

Leave the driving to us. This tour combines a crane fly-in with birding on Staten Island, a premier Nature Conservancy/Conservation Farms and Ranches location, to learn what the birds already know - this is one of the best places in the Delta to spend the winter.

If you have never had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Gary Ivey about Sandhill Cranes, you won’t want to miss this tour. Join Gary on a bus ride around the delta to see cranes feeding in the fields.and watch them during the evening fly-in.

This tour has all the excitement of the other fly-in tours in the area, but visitors will be able to view the Sandhill Cranes (and other birds) from the comfort of a viewing shelter. Seating is provided and maps, charts, and pictorials are on display. Also, visitors will be treated to a presentation by Department of Fish and Wildlife docents.

The Woodbridge Ecological Reserve is one of the few locations where Sandhill Cranes consistently roost in the Delta. At dusk, in large groups that can number from several hundred to several thousand, the cranes converge on the South Unit’s flooded fields for the night. CDFW Docents will give a presentation on the cranes in a private viewing area. The cranes determine end times for evening tours.

Early morning fly-outs are special. If you have never experienced one, you won’t want to miss this. It is so peaceful at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve as the night gives way to scarlet colors in the east. Best of all, Dr. Gary Ivey will be there to share his knowledge about Sandhill Cranes and answer your questions.

Bring your binoculars and enjoy a leisurely walk on flat ground through the old growth riparian habitat at Lodi Lake Nature Trail with a local birding expert.

Take a light morning hike along the lower Mokelumne River as it spills from Camanche Dam. Birding experts Liz West and Joanne Katanic will share their knowledge about the local landscape and help you scout 35+ species including bluebirds, night herons, several woodpecker species, mergansers, Osprey and other raptors.

Join us for a two and a half mile walk along the Mokelumne River levee on Staten Island to see how agriculture and migrating birds can live in harmony.  Staten Island biologists will highlight agricultural practices that enhance wildlife habitat. From the vantage point of the levee, which is not open to the public, you will see a wide variety of migrating birds in diverse settings. There will be opportunities to see cranes in areas where they feed.

Join Mary DuBose for an interpretive walk around this incredible preserve. You will likely see a diverse selection of ducks, geese, shore birds, raptors, and woodland birds. Sandhill Cranes are also commonly found along the edges of the marsh lands. This region was inhabited by the Miwok tribe prior to the arrival of European settlers and Mary will also share information about their culture.

This tour incorporates birding along the Mokelumne River, strolling through lush vineyards, handcrafted wines, and a picnic. Who could ask for more? Take this opportunity to visit one of the area’s fine wineries and learn about local species from local birding expert David Yee. Relax on the Heritage Oak Winery patio after an enjoyable walk.

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.

This is your chance to see one of the most unique wetlands habitat in the Delta. You definitely will want to see the “Black Hole.” Trevor Carlson will meet you at the clubhouse for an introductory discussion before loading a small bus for a tour of the grounds. You will see areas of habitat restoration that have been specifically designed for Wood Ducks and Mallards.

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.

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.

If you have never had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Gary Ivey about Sandhill Cranes, you won’t want to miss this tour. Join Gary on a bus ride around the delta to see cranes feeding in the fields.and watch them during the evening fly-in.

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. 

Join Lodi Boathouse staff for an enjoyable paddle along the Mokelumne River. The tour will be guided by an experienced boathouse staff member. This is a great way to enjoy a day on the water while you learn about the flora and fauna found along the Mokelumne River.

Join us at the family-friendly Durst Winery, where local birding experts will guide you around the mature rural landscape of mature trees, shrubs and perennials in search of local and migrating birds. This tour is made even more enjoyable because you will be savoring a glass of Cassandra’s vintage and complimentary cookies. Wine tasting after the tour on your own.

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.

NEW THIS YEAR! Anyone who is interested in knowing more about how modern zoos contribute to conservation of endangered species and rehabilitation of injured wildlife will find this tour fascinating. Children of all ages will enjoy a leisurely stroll around Micke Grove Zoo, which is part of a large regional park.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SEE COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. Since this is a small group tour, you will have open conversations with the Preserve's biologists and get all your questions answered. The Cosumnes River Preserve is the finest Valley Oak riparian forest and wetland in California.

Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is home to over 200 species of birds and is a roosting area for Sandhill Cranes. Join a local guide who will lead you along the Blue Heron Trail as you explore this magnificent wildlife sanctuary. The tour is tailored to nature lovers, beginning and intermediate birders, photographers, and children.

Leave the driving to us. This tour combines a crane fly-in with birding on Staten Island, a premier Nature Conservancy/Conservation Farms and Ranches location, to learn what the birds already know - this is one of the best places in the Delta to spend the winter. Experienced docents will highlight the history of Staten Island and its partnership with the Cosumnes River Preserve.

If you have never had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Gary Ivey about Sandhill Cranes, you won’t want to miss this tour. Join Gary on a bus ride around the delta to see cranes feeding in the fields.and watch them during the evening fly-in.