Opportunities From: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

We are seeking two Preserve Stewards to greet preserve guests, answer their questions, and create opportunities to connect people to Coyote Valley, Sierra Vista and Rancho Cañada del Oro open space preserves! Come out alongside William Egry, our Education Outreach Aide, to welcome guests into our wonderful preserves!

Program Details 

Bring your orange vest and engage with visitors! Shifts will be scheduled during busy times at our preserves (see the schedule below). The welcome booth will be filled with materials about the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, our trails, local fauna and more! Sessions will be 3-4 hours long and are scheduled below.

Dates: Sundays, beginning May 31 to June 28, 2026

Shift Times & Locations: 

Date

Time
(START-END)

Location

31-May

8 AM - 11:30 AM

Coyote Valley

7-Jun

8 AM - 11:30 AM

Coyote Valley

14-Jun

4 PM - 7 PM

Sierra Vista- CANCELED

21-Jun

9 AM - 12:30 PM

Rancho Cañada

28-Jun

4 PM - 7 PM Sierra Vista

 

Location(s): 

Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve: 599 Palm Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve:  5341 Sierra Rd, San Jose, CA 95132

Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve:  4289 Casa Loma Rd, Morgan Hill, CA, 95037

 

Parking:  For more specific parking instructions, please look out an email from our team a week prior to your scheduled tabling time.

Special Notes: 

Bring an orange vest, your name tag, volunteer shirt, sun protection and snacks and water.

We are looking for 3 volunteers to help with Binocular Stargazing events at Tilton Ranch Complex June, July, and/or August from 9:00pm - 11:30pm.

Dates (pick one or all!):

June 6, 2026July 18, 2026August 8, 2026

Shift time: 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Program Run Time (when the public is there): 9:30 PM - 11:00 PM

What you'll be doing: We will need volunteers to help with set up, tear down, parking, check in guests, and make sure guests have an enjoyable night stargazing.

The actual event goes from 9:30 PM - 11:00 PM. By about 10:00pm most guests will have arrived, and you can enjoy the rest of the night stargazing! At 11:00pm we will start cleaning up and we should be all wrapped up by 11:30 PM.

Where: Binocular Stargazing will be held at Tilton Ranch Complex, gate access off of Willow Springs Rd. Coordinates:  37.151841, -121.689237

What to bring: Volunteer shirt, high-vis-vest, flashlight with a red-light option, comfortable walking shoes, light layers, a camp chair, and some binoculars!

About the event: We run this event in partnership with the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA). SJAA does the educational astronomy and we run the parking and check in. When guests arrive, we will get the checked in and then they will make their way over to the astronomers. There will be about 10 astronomers. Each astronomer will walk their group through the night sky, pointing out what can be seen with just binoculars! There are usually about 40 guests who come and join us for these events!

When submitting hours please use Project Code: Starry Nights

Join VET's staff from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on August 29, 2026 to learn all about how to use interpretive techniques for engaging our preserve audiences! We will go over our mission and resources, engagement techniques for all roles and for all attendees. We hope you can make it to this training date so that you will be prepared for volunteering with us.

We will be hosting our training at the Tilton Ranch Complex-- a great place to bird, learn about agriculture and local history! If weather is uncooperative, we will train at our offices at 33 Las Colinas Lane. 

This training is a qualification for representing the Authority as a Community Outreach Volunteer, supporting large scale public events such as Open Access events as a Preserve Steward, or for participating in trail patrol. This training is also required for volunteers who wish to help out as a part of the Habitat Protection Team at Máyyan 'Ooyákma. We want all volunteers to be well-versed in our mission, values and resources so please take this opportunity to come learn with us!

Please sign up before August 25 to ensure staff have time to prepare you a name-tag, volunteer shirt and send out directions. Please email Jeanette (jmayorga@openspaceauthority.org) directly if you are trying to sign up after August 25.

 

We are seeking 3 preserve stewards to support our Meditation Program with Dhyan Foundation!

We will be hosting another pilot meditation session with Dhyan Foundation! After this session, we will determine whether this will continue as a series.

We encourage volunteers to sign up who might be interested supporting this type of program in the future, as this could be a training for future support. 

Date: July 25, 2026

Shift Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

9:30 AM - 10:00 - set up & orientation10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - program run time11:30 AM - 12:00 PM - clean-up & close the site

Location: Tilton Ranch

Program Run Time (when the public is there): 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Project Name for Submitting Hours: Educational Activity

Volunteer Responsibilities:

1 volunteer will help with monitoring the Willow Springs gate as participants enter and then return to the main house once everyone has arrived.1 - 2 volunteers will assist with checking in attendees and being a friendly face, as well as orienting attendees (telling them where the restroom is, etc.). Volunteers are welcome to participate once the session is over, though we need at least one volunteer to stay until the end and assist with clean-up/take-down

Not sure, but interested? Reach out to Mel & Kat: msarmento@openspaceauthority.org, khill@openspaceauthority.org

We're seeking 5 volunteers to help with Starry Nights each month in 2026! ⭐

The Basics

Volunteer shift date & time: Varies - specific times shown in YELLOW below

Program Time: Varies - shown below in white

Note: the program run time is NOT the volunteer shift. We need volunteers to arrive early to set up, and clean up after the event ents. See the specific shift time in yellow.

Location: Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve:

4289 Casa Loma Rd, Morgan Hill, CA, 95037For more information about Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve please click here: https://www.openspaceauthority.org/preserves/rancho.html

Project code (when recording your well-deserved volunteer hours): Starry Nights

Volunteer Shift time (shown in YELLOW below)

Tell me more!

⭐Description: Join us to help with Starry Nights at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve! Assist us and our partners from San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) to bring the excitement of our glittery skies to the community - and learn some stuff while you're at it! Don't know stars? No problem! That's why we got the pros.

What we'll need help with is ensuring the event runs smoothly and efficiently - we hope you'll sign up and join us for one of our most popular events.

What we're asking YOU to help with:

Set upTear DownParkingChecking-in guestsSupporting the simple craft station, if applicableHaving fun! Make sure our guests (and you!) have an enjoyable stargazing experience

What should I bring? Let us know if you have questions or concerns.

Volunteer shirtHigh-vis-vestFlashlight with a red-light optionComfortable walking shoesLight layersA camp chair

More information:

The event runs for two hours. About 30 minutes after the program starts, most guests will have arrived, and you can enjoy the rest of the night stargazing! At the end of the specified "program run time" we will start cleaning up and we should be all wrapped up by an hour after the program.There will be 10 – 12 different telescopes with an astronomer at each one looking at different objects in the sky. Guests are welcome to move from station to station as they like. There are usually upwards of 80 guests who come and join us for these events!The event will be cancelled in the case of rainy weather and/or poor viewing conditions.

Notes: 

Please review the information below to ensure you're ready to go!If cloudy or inclement weather is forecasted, volunteers will be directly informed by either OSA staffPro-tip:Bring layers, good shoes, water, snacks, and everything you need to be self-sufficient for the eventThis is a popular event! - know that we'll have a full crew and roster. OSA's team is here to support how we can - please let us know if there are specific ways we can do soVolunteers need to have attended OSA's interpretive host training to participate AND be enrolled in the volunteer portal. Questions? Email Kat Hill at khill@openspaceauthority.org

What we told the public:

OSA is teaming up with San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) to co-host this eventIt's a "star party!" at Rancho Cañada del OroWe're going to be 20 minutes south of downtown San José, this location features night skies so dark we can see the band of our Milky Way galaxyOSA-approved SJAA club members will set up telescopes and provide tons of content and knowledge  (and of course, a fun-filled, exciting experience)During the event, the public is welcome to move freely from telescope to telescope, each one looking at a different features in the skyWe requested for the public NOT to bring their own telescope (binoculars are welcomed, but please no tripods)Gates will be closed to the public 30 minutes after the program starts to minimize headlights and create the best viewing experience. Please arrive before then (for volunteers, see the specific shift time above that differs from what we are sharing with the public)

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