Winter Solstice Gathering at Cesar Chavez Memorial Solar Calendar

Solar Calendar Winter Solstice
Sunday, Dec 21st
Begins @ 4:10 pm
Sunset @ 4:55 pm
Ends @ 5:10 pm
Led by Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science

  • Mini-work shop on the Reasons for the Seasons
  • Cesar Chavez & Tolerance
  • Two brief introductions to Winter Celebrations:
    • Kwanzaa – Michael Miller
    • Yalda – Mojgan Saberi

Dress Warmly – The weather is part of the experience

While the Interim Solar Calendar site is primarily set up for citizen self inquiry and informal learning, a series of four seasonal gatherings are held at the site each year on the solstices and equinoxes.

These gatherings, led by interpretive specialists, will provide an explanation of how the site operates along with the overall educational purposes of the project. Each gathering will also include some aspect of the homage to César Chávez.
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Summer Solstice Gathering, Interim Solar Calendar, Cesar Chavez Park

Sunset at Solar Calendar 10th Annual Summer Solstice Gathering
Cesar Chavez Park
@ the Interim Solar Calendar
7:45 to 8:45 pm
Friday, June 20th

Led by Tory Brady, Exploratorium Teacher Institute

Mini-workshop on Astronomy & Season
Celebrating the Chavez virtue: “Determination”
Culture & Season

Dress warmly – The weather is part of the experience.

NOTE
We know that dog walkers are some of our biggest supporters. Unfortunately, a person suffered a serious dog bite recently at one of the gatherings. If you review the map of the park you will see that the solar calendar is in the on-leash part of the park. It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle. Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions. Tolerance is also one of those virtues. And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.

www.ecologycenter.org/chavez
www.solarcalendar.org

Cruise the Bay — Fundraiser for Shorebird Park Nature Center

A Fundraising Cruise on beautiful San Francisco Bay
to provide science equipment for Shorebird Park Nature Center classrooms

Cruise

What: Glorious afternoon fund-raiser cruise on the San Francisco Bay that includes lavish hors d’oeuvres, fine wines, great views, the best of the Nature Center hands-on activities, and an opportunity to honor environmental heroes, past, present and future.

When: Sunday, April 27th, 2008. 2–3 pm dockside and 3–6 pm on the Bay.

Why: To raise awareness about the 30-year-old environmental education program teaching children and adults about San Francisco Bay; to raise $35,000 in funds for new “green” classroom equipment, replacing three 28-year-old aquariums, buying new microscopes, and updating videos and the library.

Kid using microscopeInformation: Call 510-981-6723 or:

Donation: $65 per adult; $75 for one adult & one child; $100 per couple.
Come join us on San Francisco Bay for a fun time with a cause! Help these environmental education programs grow and flourish. Hope to see you there!

Spring Equinox Celebration at Cesar Chavez Solar Calendar

Hope rock

Date and time

Saturday, March 21, 2009; 6:30 pm

Sunset is 7:15 pm, gathering is 45 minutes before sunset. The event ends about 15 minutes after sunset.

Event information

Led by David Glaser, Science Educator

  • A mini-workshop on the Seasons
  • Celebrating HOPE -  The Chavez virtue that is associated with the East
  • Norouz –  In the interest of sharing cultural celebrations associated with the Spring Equinox, Mojgan Saberi will give a brief overview of the Iranian Spring Festival called Norouz.

Notes

This years city-wide theme for the Cesar Chavez Commemoration (March 20th – April 23rd) is on "Teaching Tolerance." www.ecologycenter.org/chavez

Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash. This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle. It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. You are some of our biggest supporters.

Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions. Tolerance is also one of those virtues. And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.

Links

Berkeley’s Downtown Parks: Real, Envisioned, and Vanished.

November 17, 2007, Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon
Berkeley’s Downtown Parks: Real, Envisioned, and Vanished.
Co-sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and led by Steve Finacom & Linda Perry. Downtown Berkeley is a commercial, transportation, and civic hub, with a hidden history of open space. Learn of Civic Center Park and the vanished park in Shattuck Square, and fountains that once ran down the center of Shattuck Avenue. In celebration of the Centennial of Berkeley’s public park system, we’ll visit all these sites, as well as sites of proposed open spaces that never were. Contact: Reserve a space by calling (510) 848-0181, between 1 pm and 4 pm on Thursday or Friday before the tour; or go to www.cityofberkeley.info/histsoc/#EVENTS