The Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve is a 20 year old volunteer organization which
works to protect the preserve, assists the city and county rangers through such activities as leading
interpretive walks, removing invasive exotics and replanting with natives, installing kiosks,
coordinating scout projects such as building small bridges, installing interpretive signs, building
and installing owl boxes, restoring trails. The Board meets monthly, and welcomes new volunteers in
any capacity. We also do wildlife and other scientific surveys and studies, and other educational
activities.
Notice June 25: The Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve parking lot on Sorrento Valley Blvd will be closed July 1 and 2, 2009 for resurfacing and striping. The trails will be open. For those of you that come from Qualcomm you will be able to access the trail by going through the fenced area and over the step over bar. For all others you can enter the trail by using the trailhead by the adobe ruins. I really appreciate your cooperation. Have a great weekend. Ranger Gina Washington
Sprucing Up the Hitchin' Posts Sr. Ranger Gina Washington organized a clean-up party after work on Friday May 1st. Volunteers consisting of Dylan Jones, Chris Bartek, Bobbi Remnant, Bunny Clews, CAC chair Marv Gerst, CAC Sec/Treas. (and Friends' President) Brian Swanson, Jack Northrup's daughter Helen Northrup teamed up to trim overgrown vegetation near the two hitching posts by El Cuervo Adobe (west end of the preserve, near the Sorrento Valley Business Park). The volunteers, an assortment of hikers, bikers and equestrians, had a fun time cleaning things up in anticipation for the Jack Northrup Memorial Ride, held on May 9th. Jack, a longtime Friends director' and Penasquitos Citizen's Advisory Committee member, geologist and equestrian, died earlier this spring.
Newly-elected Penasquitos Citizens Advisory Committee Officers Meet with San Diego City Councilmember Carl DiMaio The Penasquitos CAC elected new officers at the March meeting. These new officers: Marvin Gerst (Chair), Anne Harey (Vice-chair) and Brian Swanson (Secretary/Treasurer) met with and introduced themselves to Councilmember Carl DiMaio, and gave him a brief overview of the preserve and CAC issues. Mr. DiMaio, who along with Councilmember Sherri Lightner and County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, comprise the Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Task Force, will be helping coordinate a Task Force meeting in the near future, so that nominated representatives to the CAC may be confirmed and thus allowed to vote on CAC matters.
Latest Update from Senior Park Ranger Gina Washington
Sr. Ranger Gina Washington organized a clean-up party after work on Friday May 1st. Volunteers consisting of Dylan Jones, Chris Bartek, Bobbi Remnant, Bunny Clews, CAC chair Marv Gerst, CAC Sec/Treas. (and Friends' President) Brian Swanson, Jack Northrup's daughter Helen Northrup teamed up to trim overgrown vegetation near the two hitching posts by El Cuervo Adobe (west end of the preserve, near the Sorrento Valley Business Park). The volunteers, an assortment of hikers, bikers and equestrians, had a fun time cleaning things up in anticipation for the Jack Northrup Memorial Ride, held on May 9th. Jack, a longtime Friends director' and Penasquitos Citizen's Advisory Committee member, geologist and equestrian, died earlier this spring. 
The Penasquitos CAC elected new officers at the March meeting. These new officers: Marvin Gerst (Chair), Anne Harey (Vice-chair) and Brian Swanson (Secretary/Treasurer) met with and introduced themselves to Councilmember Carl DiMaio, and gave him a brief overview of the preserve and CAC issues. Mr. DiMaio, who along with Councilmember Sherri Lightner and County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, comprise the Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Task Force, will be helping coordinate a Task Force meeting in the near future, so that nominated representatives to the CAC may be confirmed and thus allowed to vote on CAC matters.
