Friday, July 24, 2026
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Sunday, July 26, 2026

Tilden Nature Area

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Note that children 14 and over are welcome on V-O-Cal projects. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 14 may attend VoCal with a non-volunteering adult supervisor, but neither would volunteer that day per the terms of our waiver.

Project Background and Description

We’ll be working in the Tilden Nature Area, just a mile or two from downtown Berkeley. The trail winds through steeply canyon-incized laurel oak woodland with dappled shade and lots of foliage (including poison oak).
          
We will improve 2 sections of the Laurel Canyon Trail by adding box steps, learning to construct junk walls, and deploying our signature classic tread and drainage work on trails and switchbacks. There’s lots of technical work to be done. If you enjoyed (or missed the opportunity for) building steps at Sam MacDonald, this is your opportunity! Also of note, close quarters and heavy labor will limit the number of volunteers who can safely participate in some sections. You will have the chance to vary your labors to make everything hurt the same amount by the end of the weekend. Unfortunately, no dogs in camp or on trails due to the Nature Area’s species protections (and due to local hazards, you wouldn’t want dogs anyway).
More info about:
Tilden Nature Area
More about what it is like to volunteer on a project:
Volunteer

Project Pictures

Help recruit more volunteers! Download the project flyer here

Project Flyer

Covid Policy

Because we do not want any of our projects to become a super-spreader event, V-O-Cal policy is that each of us should respect our fellow volunteers by not attending a project if you have contracted Covid and have not yet tested negative.  In addition, if you have been exposed to Covid in the week before a V-O-Cal project, you should test to make sure you are unable to expose others.  Thank you for keeping our V-O-Cal community and families safe.

Camp

We have use of 2 adjacent group campgrounds for this project. Center camp will be at the picnic table area of New Woodland Group Camp. Most tents will end up in the adjacent Wildcat View Group Camp, accessed by a level 100 foot walking path from parking and Center Camp at the New Woodland camp. Running water exists at New Woodland Camp, and a handwashing station will be placed next to latrines in the Wildcat View Camp. AT&T cell service, yes; no Xfinity and no Verizon. WIFI is free and available at the Tilden Environmental Education Center about 1/4 mile away.

Driving Directions

Tilden Nature Area, 1500 Central Park Drive, Berkeley, CA 94708

From San Francisco: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h5TLK1S3UCuuGqJr6

From Sacramento: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UKgYENdWPWRuxAsPA

From San Jose: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tjicL3exMbFRV2wj8

The Loop Road provides a fairly direct route to the group camps and the project work on Laurel Canyon Trail beyond. It can be accessed via Lone Oak Road from Central Park Drive in Berkeley's Tilden Nature Area. 

This marker along Loop Road shows where there is a fence and gate across Loop Road. The gate will be dummy locked on Friday as of around 1:30, allowing you to proceed up the driveway to New Woodland Group Camp, where parking and central camp will be. Please replace the dummy lock after entry, and arrive to New Woodland Group Camp by 9pm at the latest. Be respectful of other campers and keep voices down and flashlights low if you arrive after 8pm.

Map Link

Carpool/Parking Information

There is enough room for 40 to 100 cars depending on how closely the cars are parked. Please condense and please carpool if possible. Additional parking available at the end of Loop Road : Park anywhere on Loop Road except between the 2 no-parking signs denoting space for a fire truck to turn around. Use typical Bay Area car-theft precautions.

Level of Effort

Project Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet
If a parking pass is required at the project site, it will be included with the fact sheet.

Project Schedule

Friday
5:00pm - Registration and camping open. Dinner is not provided.

Saturday
7:30am - Registration, light breakfast, and lunch packing begin at Center Camp.
8:30 am – Morning greeting, announcements, stretching and safety talk.
9:00 am – Project begins.
12:30pm - Break for lunch on trail.
3:30 pm – Stop work and return to camp. Clean and store tools.
4:00 pm – Snacks, cold drinks and beer.
6:00 pm – Dinner. 

Sunday
7:30am - Registration and lunch packing begin. Hot breakfast is served.
8:30 am – Morning greeting, announcements, stretching and safety talk.
9:00 am – Project begins.
1:30pm - Stop work, clean tools, load tools into boxes and return to camp.

Things to Do Before or After the Project

What to Bring and Wear

For your safety and protection from hazards, please be prepared with the following items:
  • Sturdy shoes or boots with good tread. Ankle support will be important where we are building new trails. Sandals and open-toed shoes will not be permitted
  • Water bottles or a water bladder that can hold at least 2 liters of water. (You will not be allowed on the trail without water.)
  • Day pack to carry your water and lunch.
  • Work gloves. (If you don’t have your own gloves, V-O-Cal will provide them. Please return them at the end of the project.)
  • V-O-Cal provides all necessary tools, as well as training on tool use and safety.
  • Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen.
  • Insect repellent and allergy medicine (if you normally need these things when working outdoors).
  • Reusable plate/bowl, eating utensils, and mug/cup.
  • A change of clothes for each work day and for lounging at camp to minimize the spread of poison oak.
  • Please come prepared for a variety of weather conditions (think layers!). Unless there is a serious storm predicted, we will work drizzle or shine.
If you are camping, you will also need the following items: 
  • A tent (if you have the option to bring a smaller tent, please do!)
  • A sleeping bag, sleeping pad and pillow.
  • A flashlight or headlamp.
  • A camp chair (if you don't want to sit on the ground).
  • Other camping gear that makes you comfortable

Meals

V-O-Cal provides all meals for volunteers from breakfast Saturday through lunch Sunday. Vegetarian options are available for all meals. (Please note that dinner is not provided on Friday.)
  • To minimize waste we ask that you bring your own reusable plates, coffee mug, cups and utensils. Hot water and soap are provided.
  • A continental breakfast is served Saturday morning.
  • Lunch is prepared before hitting the trail. You break for lunch on the trail around 12:30pm.
  • Please arrive at camp by 7:40am to register, eat breakfast and prepare your lunch.
  • Appetizers and beverages will be available after the work day on Saturday, usually around 4pm. Dinner will follow, usually around 5:30pm.
  • Hot breakfast is served Sunday morning.

Hazards

SUN EXPOSURE | HYDRATION | HYPOTHERMIA Please plan for sun protection, including sun hats, sun block and light long sleeve shirts. We will be in light tree cover. Bring layers to keep warm as it can get cold at night. Please bring water bottles or a water bladder large enough to hold at least 2 liters of water. Drink plenty of water throughout the work day. If you feel tired or weak, let your crew leader know, and take a break.

POISON OAK There is widespread poison oak. Have your crew leader point some out to you if you don’t know what it looks like.  If you have any degree of sensitivity, strongly consider bringing two separate outfits (long sleeved) for Saturday and Sunday and a plastic bag for transporting used clothing to the laundry.  A few “Bunny suits” will be available for those who need extra protection, and everyone can clean with Tecnu (which V-O-Cal provides) after the work day. Always wear gloves when handling tools.  

TICKS and MOSQUITOS and YELLOW JACKETS Ticks are booming this year, so it is important to check during and after the project. Bring bug repellent for mosquitoes or wear thick clothing. Stay calm around yellow jackets. Most will leave us alone. Crew leaders have first aid kits to help in case of bites/stings.

SHARP TOOLS Please listen to your crew leader’s tool safety talk and observe proper tool use throughout the day.

Volunteer Project Team

  • V-O-Cal Executive Director Cathy Moyer
  • Project Team Lead Joe Cavaness
  • Technical Lead Francesca Verdier
  • Kitchen Lead/Camp Manager Pete Duringer
  • Saturday Chef Clara Chan
  • Crew Leader Manager Tomomi Yuasa
  • Registration Lead Augusta Murphy
  • Dog Crew Lead none needed
  • Photographer Anka Karewicz
  • Outreach Lauren Blanchard | Lily Brady | Melinda Greene
  • Website Lisa Freeman | Geoff Clarke
  • Tool Manager Marlon Tan
  • Food Shopping Duane Sheets
  • Warehouse Load | Truck Driver Duane Sheets

We will collaborate with the Small Trails Crew of East Bay Regional Parks (STC of EBRPD).  While much of this collaboration occurs behind the scenes, volunteers may note some slight differences in work flow and a couple new acronyms.   

Agency Partners

East Bay Regional Parks District

Small Trails Crew of EBRPD

Project Sponsors

Project Sponsor

Special thanks to Bay Area Barns and Trails (BABT) for their generous grants supporting V-O-Cal these past few years. BABT assists landowners and land managers with preservation and maintenance of publicly accessible Bay Area barns, stables, pastures, staging areas, horse camps, and trails.

Additional thanks to our In Kind Sponsors for this Project

Arizmendi | Connoisseur Coffee | Tecnu | Sidley Austin | Metro Mobile Communications | Adventure Medical Kits | Clif Bar | SnapTech IT

Help recruit more volunteers! Download the project flyer here

Project Flyer

Other Upcoming Projects

August 14, 2026
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August 16, 2026

Mt Madonna County Park II 2026

The second V-O-Cal project of 2026 will be at Mt. Madonna County Park near Watsonville. This is a beautiful park in Santa Clara County dominated by redwood forest. We’ll partially reroute the Meadow Trail to bypass an area prone to erosion, and decommission the old section of trail. We’ll also work with park staff, using grip hoists to move cut trees out of the new trail alignment. The work should be fun and rewarding!

September 1, 2026
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September 7, 2026

East Bay Hills Benefit 2026

V-O-Cal volunteers are, along with key partners, the magic ingredient that has made it possible for the East Bay Hills Trails Benefit to raise over $470,000 over the past 24 years to support trail building and volunteer trail work programs like V-O-Cal, the Bay Area Ridge Trail and more. We are hoping that you will be able to join us for a single shift or more to help make the 2026 East Bay Hills Trails Benefit Ride and Hike the best ever! Please use the sign up button to sign up now! As usual, if you want to sign up for consecutive days, you can camp with us and your meals will be included. Come for 2 days or more, and you probably will be able to join one of the hikes!

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