Hastings Natural History Reserve

05/05/2025

The Hastings Natural History Reserve PEN Camp is happening again this year!

This is a free day camp (9am-3pm) will take place June 10-12 and will give kids aged 10-12 a chance to learn about the research happening at Hastings. They will also get a chance to use camera traps, learn about birds and birdwatching, about our local soundscapes, orienteering with a map and compass, and learn construction basics to build bird boxes. The instructors are graduate students and professional scientists.

If you have a kiddo interested in science, please sign up! First dibs go to kids who live in Cachagua, but the camp is open to everyone in the valley.

You must register to participate:

English: https://forms.gle/qTx1CMNjNMb4kq6t9
Espanol: https://forms.gle/8HFtSr9udP77mbLQ9

**Transportation is available from Cachagua**

03/18/2025

Field Sketching Workshops at Hastings this spring!!

hastingsreserve.org/events

If you have ever wanted to visit Hastings during wildflower season here is your chance! Join artist Megan Gnekow of Seven Ravens Studio to learn about the tools and techniques for drawing the plants and animals of Hastings Reserve during our spring field sketching workshops.

Learn how to draw from life and record the details of organisms you observe. Weather conditions will guide the instructor’s exact location choice within the reserve, to assure you’ll have the chance to observe a diverse array of organisms. You will learn about plant anatomy, practice field sketching and painting techniques, and practice observational drawing from live plants in their environment. You will learn to identify plant characteristics and how to capture light and shadow to create form. You will work toward an in-depth study of a plant or flower using watercolor. You will have time to work on multiple drawings or sketches using different techniques, and gain skills using pencil, gouache, and watercolor on various papers.

We are offering three workshops this year:

April 19-20, 2025: 1pm (4/19) – 1pm (4/20): $400

This workshop includes catered meals and the rare opportunity to spend the night in one of our historic buildings.

April 27, 2025: 11am-3pm $150

May 3, 2025: 10am-2pm $150

To register for one (or more!) workshops, and for more information visit our Events page: hastingsreserve.org/events

Join an experienced scientific illustrator for a series of guided field illustrations workshops at the Hastings Natural History Reservation in Carmel Valley. We are offering a total of three workshops in Spring 2025. All our workshops will be taught by the incredible Megan Gnekow of Seven Ravens S...

01/11/2025

Hastings is hiring a new Reserve Steward! We have just two permanent staff here and the steward works closely with the reserve director to keep Hastings running. Primary job duties include land and building maintenance, managing invasive species, cleaning buildings, supervising stewardship interns, and generally supporting our users. Emergency on-call availability may be required.

Experience with using chainsaws, tractors, well water and septic systems, construction/carpentry, fire/fuel mitigation, and basic computer skills are preferred. If you have questions you can email hastingsreserve (AT) berkeley.edu

On-site housing is a possibility....

For more information:

Applicants from outside UC: https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=21&JobOpeningId=75365&PostingSeq=1

Applicants from inside UC:
https://ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu/peoplesoft-native/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_EMP_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Employee&SiteId=22&FOCUS=Employee&JobOpeningId=75365&PostingSeq=1

12/19/2024

🌊💧 CRWC’s 25 for 25 Campaign 💧🌊

For 25 years, we’ve protected the Carmel River—your drinking water, wildlife habitats, and future depend on it. Pledge $25 monthly to keep the river flowing strong.

🌱 Science
📚 Education
🔥 Wildfire Resilience
💧 Water Advocacy

The river gives to us—now it’s your turn to give back at www.carmelriverwatershed.org/support-crwcs-work

04/30/2024

It's that time again! Our PEN Camp is happening again this year!

This is a free day camp (9am-3pm) will take place over Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27) and will give kids aged 10-12 a chance to learn about the research happening at Hastings. They will also get a chance to use camera traps, learn about birds and birdwatching, and about archeology and botany. The instructors are graduate student researchers and professional scientists.

When the kids aren't busy science-ing they will be playing games with Mr. A (Tularcitos' incredible PE teacher).

If you have a kiddo interested in science, please sign up! First dibs go to kids who live in Cachagua, but the camp is open to everyone in the valley. We still have a few spots left.

You must register to participate:

English: https://forms.gle/ijm3HUsiq8ZiNdV79
Espanol: https://forms.gle/sHcf73fw9h2VbgmB6

**Transportation is available from Cachagua**

12/20/2023

Catch up on all the Hastings Happenings from 2023! Our extremely well written, and highly anticipated newsletter is out!!!!

Every December I seem to spend a lot of time marveling at how busy the previous year was, and this year is no exception. After five years (!) in the job, I feel like I'm hitting my stride in term of managing the reserve, and accordingly we embarked on a lot of big projects in 2023 to replace aging a...

06/17/2023

Our 2023 Open House was a huge success! We had ~200 people in attendance. Thank you so much to all of the folks who were able to make it out to learn about new and ongoing Hastings Research. Thanks also to an amazing group of researchers and volunteers who helped make it all happen. Michael and Amanda from the prepared an amazing brunch, and we enjoyed incredible music, curtesy of the Celtoids ❤️

06/05/2023

🚨Open House tickets are back online! 🚨

We have added a few more tickets for our June 10 Open House. If you are interested, get tickets soon! It will be a great day full of all things Hastings. Including student presentations, researcher talks and food! Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hastings-natural-history-reservation-open-house-2023-registration-624999840347

05/08/2023

We are pleased to announce that our PEN Camp is happening again this year!

This is a free day camp (9am-3pm) will take place over Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29) and will give kids aged 10-14 a chance to learn about the research happening at Hastings. They will also get a chance to use camera traps, learn about birds and birdwatching, and about archeology and botany. The instructors are graduate student researchers and professional scientists. When the kids aren't busy science-ing they will be playing games with Mr. A (Tularcitos' incredible PE teacher).

If you have a kiddo interested in science, please sign up! First dibs go to kids who live in Cachagua, but the camp is open to everyone in the valley. We only have a few spots left.

You must register to participate:
English: https://forms.gle/KfMQCtAuGuBXnHL5A
Espanol: https://forms.gle/PxRzqTzeztoiRzMD9

**Transportation is available from Cachagua**

05/03/2023

It's happening again! Mark your calendars, tell your friends. The Hastings Reserve Open House will be on June 10th beginning at 9am, with a bird walk with Walt Koenig and Janis Dickinson, followed by a brunch catered by Michael and Amanda Jones, with research talks on local archeology, coyotes, oaks, art(!) and acorn woodpeckers. Please register if you are planning to attend and share widely!

There will also be limited edition Hastings merchandise for sale (cash and check only). If you love our iconic newt crossing signs, wait until you see our newt t-shirts!

Please register at https://bit.ly/3p0G8lo if you are planning to attend and share widely!

02/06/2023

Last weekend Weeds' Winter Jam Campers 2023 visited Hastings to gather, learn and (most importantly) JAM! These incredible musicians also recreated an iconic photo taken ~1930 at the former Carmel Valley Ranch School (now known as Hastings' School House).