OC Parks Partner Agencies
OC Parks is partnered with several non-profit agencies around Orange County that directly support specific parks within the OC Parks system. These partnerships provide volunteer support opportunities within the designated parks, and in some cases, financial contributions to specialized programs and projects. Below is a list of OC Parks Partner Agencies and the parks they support. If you are interested in getting involved with any of these organizations, their contact information is provided below. Partners are listed in alphabetical order:
Amigos de la Colina
Amigo de la Colina provides support to Heritage Hill Historical Park. Their mission is “to carry out the interpretive goals of Heritage Hill with tours designed to preserve, relate and inspire interest in the history of the Saddleback area.”
www.facebook.com/amigosdelacolina
Caspers Park Foundation
Caspers Park Foundation is dedicated to supporting Ronald W. Caspers Park. Volunteers offer docent led interpretive outdoor education programs, staff the nature center and provide advisory support for the protection and preservation of Caspers Park’s natural resources. Caspers Park Foundation hosts monthly volunteer meetings that are open to all interested volunteers.
https://www.caspersparkfoundation.org
Irvine Ranch Conservancy
The Irvine Ranch Conservancy supports the Irvine Ranch Open Space for OC Parks (this includes Black Star, Fremont, Limestone and Weir Canyons Nature Preserves) as well as managing land for the City of Newport Beach, and the City of Irvine. The Conservancy provides volunteer opportunities including land stewardship/restoration and docent led interpretive programs for the general public. The Irvine Ranch Open Space is only available through scheduled programs and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy is responsible for managing these programs as well as scientific research within the park.
www.irconservancy.org
Laguna Canyon Foundation
Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers provide an important resource to OC Parks by providing staffing for the Nix Nature Center, planting shrubs for habitat restoration, leading interpretive hikes and programs and maintaining over 70 miles of wilderness trails.
www.lagunacanyon.org
Newport Bay Conservancy
The Newport Bay Conservancy’s mission is to protect and preserve Upper Newport Bay. Newport Bay Conservancy organizes community-based native habitat restoration and other service activities that involve the public and local businesses in the stewardship of the Bay. Volunteers conduct various environmental education programs and nature tours for school and college groups and for the general public to enhance their knowledge and appreciation of the Bay and increase their awareness of the role they play in protecting the environment.
www.newportbay.org
Old Courthouse Museum Society
The Old Courthouse Museum Society was formed to help establish an Orange County historical museum and archives in the Old Orange County Court House. Its purpose is to gather and preserve materials relating to the history of Orange County. Members serve as volunteer docents, or assist with programs, publicity or collection development.
www.santaanahistory.com
Orange County Fire Watch
Orange County Fire Watch is part of a larger ignition reduction strategy to reduce catastrophic wildfires. Fire Watch consists of volunteers walking, sitting and parking near the perimeters of high-risk areas. The goal of Fire Watch is to deter arsonists, prevent accidental fire ignition, provide early fire detection and to reduce the frequency of human-caused wildfires. If you are interested in volunteering with the Orange County Fire Watch contact:
Tony Pointer
Fire Watch Coordinator
(714) 508-4707
tpointer@irconservancy.org
