I couldn’t have  been more thrilled to attend the return of Adventure Day at Casper’s Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano on March 13th, 2010. After a ten-year hiatus, Adventure Day returned with a bang, attracting approximately 1000 attendees over the 5-hour event. Upon arrival, everyone received a fun scavenger hunt that had you go from booth to booth searching for the next clue. The completed hunt could be turned in for an entry into the raffle at the end of the festivities.

Visitors were treated to performances by The Dusty Rangers, a group of three park rangers who sing about wilderness, and Jacque Nunez, a descendant of the Acjachemen tribe who tells colorful stories from her culture’s past. Also among the festivities were crafts, raffles, a scavenger hunt, guided hikes, and educational booths. There were also games such as the cowboy lasso, egg and spoon races and ring toss. Winners received medals made especially for the event, presented by Supervising Park Ranger Jacky Velasquez.

Among the educational booths was one from the OC Zoo, featuring reptiles to get up close and personal with. Nearby, you could explore what different animal tracks looked like, touch a variety of pelts and skins, learn how to make a nature rubbing, and see how big a mountain lion really is. Kids were even able to get inside a real police hummer and see a fire truck. There were also booths featuring information on some great organizations such as the Sierra Club, Orange County Animal Services, Orange County Bird of Prey Center and even the Girl Scouts.

If you’ve never been to Casper’s Wilderness Park, it is well worth the short drive down the Ortega Highway. The 8,000-acre park is the largest of the OC Parks. Amenities include; Playground, Barbeques and Fire Rings, Bike Trails, Family and Group Camping, Equestrian Trails and Camping, Amphitheater, Picnic Areas, Hiking Trails, Interpretive Center and Programs, Restrooms, and Scenic Overlook.

Casper’s Wilderness Park is a great way to experience all the excitement of camping in a big state park without having to travel for hours.  Every Saturday they have a campfire program featuring games and activities for kids, wilderness safety, and more. On Sundays they offer a leisurely 1 mile guided hike for any level of hiker.  I am so proud to have such a beautiful place practically in my own backyard.

Check out www.ocparks.com for more information or for a list of upcoming events in all of the OC Parks.

The Orange County Museum of Art is known for their exciting exhibitions of historical and contemporary art, but recently they have teamed up with Target to bring to the public something even better. The second Sunday of very month for this past year has been free, yes thats right FREE. Thanks to a sponsorship from Target (everyones favorite store) The Orange County Museum of Art has and is able to give to the people of Orange County a fun and educational experience that is cost effective.

During these tough economical times its nice to be able to do things that don’t cost a lot, and now you and your family can come to the art museum for free. But you won’t just look at art, you will be able to become a part of it by creating your own!

Interactive guided tours, performances from prestigious theaters and art groups, arts project tables where kids have the opportunity to create artwork that relates to the current exhibition… these are just some of the fun things that you and your family will be able to do.

The next Target Free Second Sunday happens to be this Sunday, and both Target and The Orange County Museum of Art have a fun filled day planned. All of this Sundays events are based off of Mother’s Day and the current exhibition titled Illumination: The Paintings Of Georgia O’keeffe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin, And Florence Miller Pierce, a series of beautiful watercolor like paintings. This Target Free Second Sunday is also held in conjunction with the annual Orange County Imagination Celebration. Which is a great opportunity for children to be recognized for their artists talent!

Listed below is a list of the fun types of activities that will be available this Sunday!

Free Family Portraits: Make sure to sign up for these free family portraits and create a memory that lasts!

Keepsake Photo Frames: Decorate and design your own keepsake photo frame. Pick up your free family portrait to showcase your special day with Mom!

Sun Hats: Personalize your own hat and have fun in the sun with style!

Festive Flower Pot:  Pot your own colorful flower and embellish it with style. Add your name and other fun stickers!

Watercolor Wonders: Explore unique forms from nature creating colorful and abstract flowers. Use special watercolor crayons and paint inspired by artwork from the Illumination exhibition.

In addition to all of these fun art projects there will be a performance and workshop done by Backhausdance; which is sure to be really exciting!

This is sure to be a really great day Mother’s Day, so if you have some free time come and check it out, if you can’t this month there is always next month! I will be there this Sunday helping out with the art projects so I hope to see you there all there!

This event runs from 11AM-4PM Sunday May 10, and every second Sunday at the same time.

For more information on The Orange County Museum of Art please visit their website here www.ocma.net

Photos courtesy of The Orange County Museum of Art

There are many benefits to riding a bike.  During the work week, those fortunate enough to live within a reasonable cycling range enjoy the diminished stress of traffic, the decrease in upkeep costs for a commuter vehicle, and the added benefit of being that much more in shape than the average nine-to-fiver.  Imagine… instead of a morning filled with blaring horns, stop and go foot work on the gas and brake (lets face it… more on the latter), and the alternate shifting of the eyes from the clock to the car in front of you – some people enjoy a morning gliding down the streets with only the occasional traffic light to get in their way, while the morning sun graces their skin and the fresh air brushes past them as they peddle their way to a better day.

On the weekends, bike riding can be a tremendously enjoyable way to be active in the great outdoors, whether conquering a challenging trail or enjoying quality time with the family.  No matter what your location in Orange County, there is an open invitation from a trail near you.  Just think: at a moderate 13mph pace, a twenty-something can burn on average 250 calories per half hour of bike riding…or 550 burned while at a 20mph race pace.

Or you can race for the sake of donating $10,000 to charity.

This January, the Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation (DPCCF) donated a check totaling this amount to the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley, the funding of which came from the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling run during 2008.  Now in its third year, and with a soaring reputation, the organization is set to do it again.

According to their press release, “This premier event attracts cyclists and fans from across the country to the picturesque harbor community of Dana Point.  The Grand Prix, a criterium style race, also hosts a public race and five youth events, adding a family atmosphere to the exciting professional appeal.”  The challenging course is a tight, L-Shaped course which cyclists young and… not quite so young, will race through on Sunday, April 26, 2009.  The sport of Cycling is an ever increasingly popular sport, with self-proclaimed enthusiasts in the tens of millions (60 million in the states alone) and a near even split of male-to-female ratio.

In addition to contributions to the Boys and Girls Club, the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling will raise donations to be given to the 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton.  So, what can you do to help?

In events like these, there is always the chance for involvement.  The organization can put together customized sponsorship packages which can address the goals of the individual or company interested in donating to the cause.  As well as personal donations, the event calls for volunteers as well.  What a great way to spend a weekend with the family – volunteer to spend a day in the gorgeous Dana Point Harbor, assist in a high-class sporting event, and do something good to benefit the Boys and Girls Club and the Marines of Camp Pendleton.

For more information on volunteering, visit the website at: www.danapointgrandprix.com

If someone had told me five years ago that I was going to move to Orange County, I probably would have called them crazy. I, just like everyone else outside of California, had a skewed view of the place. Not to mention I was living in the Fabulous Florida Keys. Whenever I tell people where I’m from, they can’t imagine why I would want to leave. Think about a theme park. It is so much fun to go there. Lots of people go many times a year, and some people might even say they want to live there. Living in the Keys is like living in a theme park. It’s a lot of fun to visit, but after a while that fun starts to get old and you get bored. It’s not like that here at all. It is definitely a place where tourists go, but it is also an exciting place for residents as well.

I came here a little over four years ago when I met my husband, who was born and raised here in Mission Viejo, which has been ranked the number one safest city in America several times. We’re currently raising our two little boys here. My favorite part about living here is that we never seem to run out of things to do. There are endless amounts of parks, we have beaches, canyons, creeks, mountains, museums, and more. Not to mention Disneyland! Whoever said that Orange County is the place to be wasn’t lying, but you’ll never know until you actually go.

Angela Bishop also writes for Nine More Months.  You can follow her on Twitter.