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APRIL 2026 | NEWS & EVENTS
We care for nature, so nature can care for you.
📽️ Featured Video: Bringing Nature to Your Neighborhood 🌳🥾🍓
On March 12, the Open Space Authority awarded nearly $1 million in Measure T funds to 15 schools, organizations and community programs that will deliver hands-on environmental education, urban agriculture, habitat stewardship and climate resilience programming for underserved youth, families and communities in Santa Clara Valley. Learn more about our 2025-2026 Urban Grant Program awardees by clicking the button below.
Free Nature Events
🌿 Nature is for everyone, and we welcome all to join our events!To register, use the links embedded in each event title below and be part of the experience.
🦋 Don’t forget to sign up for your free 2026 Butterfly Pass to enjoy the spring wildflowers at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve.
Friday, March 20: Coyote Valley Discovery Days Lunch & Learn Webinar Join the Open Space Authority as we host a virtual lunch-and-learn where our staff will share the exciting visions for habitat restoration, local agriculture and new public access trails and destinations on over 1,600 acres of recently protected open space in Coyote Valley. Save your virtual seat for the webinar.
Saturday, March 21: Coyote Valley Discovery Days @ the Discovery Portico Learn about plans for habitat restoration, public access and local agriculture in Coyote Valley while enjoying family-friendly activities, crafts and games. Plus, meet local wildlife that call Coyote Valley home! This is a FREE event that will be located outside of the Children’s Discovery Museum. No registration required. Learn more about this event here.
Wednesday, March 25: Birding at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve Join Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance for a birding hike at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve! Participants will walk along Llagas Creek Loop, Hidden Meadow Trail and Longwall Canyon Trail with birding experts who will help you spot special species of native birds. Sign up for this birding adventure here.
Friday, March 27: Discover Photography in Coyote Valley Bring your camera and come learn about nature photography with a professional photographer! Capturing golden hour and sunset, this session will take place at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve. Space is limited – book your spot here!
Sunday, April 5: Birding at Little Uvas Open Space Preserve Become a birding expert when you attend this engaging bird experience hosted by the Open Space Authority and Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance! Attendees will explore Little Uvas Open Space Preserve, located near Morgan Hill and usually closed to the public, with a 2-mile hike through pine and oak woodland. Sign up for the birding event here.
Saturday, April 11: Discover Coyote Valley Planning Field Station Join Open Space Authority staff at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve to learn about plans for future restoration, public access and agriculture in Coyote Valley. Enjoy free snacks while viewing designs for the future of this landscape. No reqistration required. Learn more about this event here.
Saturday, April 11: Starry Nights The Open Space Authority and the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) invite you to a community star party at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve. Register for the Starry Nights event.
Sunday, April 19: Santana Row Earth Day Celebration Help us celebrate Earth Day at Santana Row! Enjoy lawn games, crafts and other family-friendly activities, including free face painting! While you’re there, check out the design plans we’ll have on display for restoration, public access and agriculture in Coyote Valley. No registration required. Learn more about this event here.
Saturday, April 25: Morgan Hill Earth Day We’re celebrating Earth Day in Morgan Hill! Come learn about proposed plans for habitat restoration, public access and local agriculture in Coyote Valley while enjoying family-friendly activities, free snacks and other giveaways! No registration required. Learn more about this event here.
Spring Guided Hikes & Open Access Days Throughout the spring, the Open Space Authority will host a series of guided hikes and open access days at Máyyan ‘Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve. To protect the sensitive and unique ecosystem of this preserve, trails will be open by bookings ONLY on Saturdays and Sundays. Explore all April hike offerings here.
Since 2021, the Open Space Authority has been hard at work learning about the Coyote Valley landscape, sharing our findings and asking the community for feedback for our next phase of planning. Now, we’re sharing the potential restorative designs for these lands, which focus on maintaining essential habitat for sensitive species, supporting local agriculture and offering scenic public recreation opportunities. View the designs and hear about these inspiring plans from our Coyote Valley planning team during the Coyote Valley Discovery Days kick-off lunchtime webinar on Friday, March 20.
Using Fire for Good
When the Open Space Authority cares for your open spaces, we're doing so using a combination of effective land management tools that protect nature and the community. Prescribed burns are one of the tools used to care for the land by reducing the amount of invasive grass and dense vegetation that can negatively impact local land, water and wildlife. When carried out in a careful and strategic manner, prescribed burns promote the growth of native plants, help communities build wildfire resilience and more! Explore the Indigenous origins and benefits of prescribed burns here.
Let Us GUIDE You Through Nature
The “Santa Clara Valley Wildlife at a Glance” guide is your new, trendy accessory while enjoying nature! This handy document helps you identify and track native species of mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians and birds that live in your open spaces. Download your FREE copy of the guide here and tag us on Instagram when you post a photo while using the guide.
Your Invitation Awaits: "Flora & Frolic" Instagram Broadcast Channel
To help YOU connect with nature as much as possible this spring (and beyond!), we created the “Flora & Frolic” Instagram Broadcast Channel to share information about fun, family-friendly events throughout Santa Clara Valley and offer exclusive opportunities to help us plan and design the future of Coyote Valley. Subscribe to our broadcast channel here.
What You're Wild About
The most-clicked link in last month's newsletter was a video promoting Coyote Valley Discovery Days, our series of FREE springtime family-friendly events throughout Santa Clara Valley that invite you to explore the beauty of Coyote Valley and provide feedback on the future restoration plans of this important landscape. Watch the video here!
Upcoming Public Meetings
The Open Space Authority public meetings are held in a hybrid format, giving you the flexibility to attend in-person, via Zoom teleconference or watch on YouTube.
Monday, March 23: Citizens' Advisory Committee | 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 26: Administration & Budget Committee | 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 26: Board of Directors | 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 9: Land Use & Stewardship Committee | 5:30 p.m.
We acknowledge that the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority works within lands that were originally stewarded by the Awaswas-, Chochenyo-, Mutsun- and Thámien-speaking peoples. Today we are honored to partner with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Tamien Nation in our shared work to protect and restore the environment and connect people to land. Learn more about our Tribal Partnerships.
Photo Credits: Urban Grant Program: Campbell School District; Fire: Kara Capaldo via Canva.
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