Join us to celebrate the history of the caretaker cottage before it is removed for safety reasons in September 2025! This two-part event will feature a volunteering session from 3-5pm to transplant native plants away from the demolition zone, and a celebration of the caretaker cottage from 5-6:30pm. Feel free to join us for just the volunteering portion, just the celebration, or both!
For the volunteer portion, expect to work outside in rain or shine, use garden tools, transplant and water native plants, and learn about ecological restoration techniques. We will spend our time together digging, working with our hands, carrying buckets, kneeling, and walking.
For the celebration portion, we will have light refreshments to share, a few activities to appreciate the cottage's century-long history, and a short nature and history tour.
Visit Grassroots Ecology’s Redwood Grove page to learn more about the ecosystem and accessibility considerations.
Waivers/Registration: All participants must be registered individually and have approved the online waiver through this Eventbrite page. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Participants age 12 and under require an accompanying adult.
Parking: 482 University Ave. Los Altos, CA 94022. There is no parking available in the preserve. Please park along University Ave. and walk down the driveway into Redwood Grove (see map at bottom of event page). If there is no street parking open, there is additional parking at Shoup Park (2 minute walk from Redwood Grove).
Alternate Transportation: Valley Transportation Authority bus route 52 and bus route 40 service stops on El Monte Ave and in downtown Los Altos, which are a half mile from the preserve (15 minute walk). The San Antonio and Mountain View Caltrain Stations are 3.5 mile (25 minute) bike rides away. There are bike racks next to the cottage in the preserve.
Meeting Space: Enter the preserve from University Ave. and walk down the driveway to the cottage, where we will meet (see map at bottom of event page). Participants will have access to multi-user, gender-specific restrooms located a 5 minute walk away at Shoup Park.
Prepare for Working Outdoors:
Reusable water bottle (filled with water)
Snacks, if desired
Long pants, long sleeves, long socks recommended
Sturdy closed-toed shoes that can get dirty
Hat/sunscreen or rain gear/boots
Epi-Pen or allergy medicine, if applicable
Plan for potential exposure to sun, poison oak, ticks, prickly plants
Face mask for COVID-19 safety (optional)
Prepare for limited cell reception
We will provide gloves, tools, and snacks.
Event Cancellations:
We are committed to the safety of our staff and participants. In the event that we must cancel an event due to extreme weather conditions or poor air quality, a Grassroots Ecology staff person will reach out via email no later than 5:00 PM the day prior to this event.
Join Us!
Grassroots Ecology encourages people from all identities and backgrounds to participate in our programs. Many of our programs are outdoors and involve moving and working in a variety of landscapes. If you have accessibility concerns (e.g. allergies, limited mobility, learning differences), our projects are flexible and we are happy to work with you. Please reach out to the workday facilitator so we can prepare for your participation.
Accessibility concerns? Questions? Cancellations? Email stanley@grassrootsecology.org.