2025 Events Are Here ~ ExGld
Hello Explorers!
It’s a new year and with it we are ready to bring you a plethora of new events. The Explorers Guild Council has been excitedly putting together offerings, and all of these will continue to get updated on our calendar (iCal link) as we have them.
Having said that, there are three events we want to highlight today, along with a revisiting of how we classify events. So with that, let’s start with the classification.
Explorations, Expeditions and Curios!
Last year, we started talking about what the ecosystem of our offerings look like. We noted that we’re excited about continuing to put on day trips, and that the occasional overnight is still a lovely outing we look forward to. Perhaps though we also wanted to put on events that were a bit more casual. With these three event types in mind, how would we communicate that to our Guild at large? We arrived at three terms: Explorations, Expeditions and Curious.
Explorations are the bulk of what we do and will continue to do with the Explorers Guild. These are outings to discover, experience, or appreciate the extraordinary places/things available to us. They will all be within a reasonable drive as Explorations are distinctly not overnights.
Expeditions are multi day adventures. We love seeing the world, and sometimes that requires overnights to get there. There’s also some places that are close, but it takes more than one day to fully appreciate what it has to offer. We want to continue to offer Expeditions a couple of times a year for these remarkable experiences.
Curios are a lighter, more casual event than either the Expeditions or Explorations. Curios will typically feature arts & crafts, and they are meant to be a great opportunity to socialize with other Explorers. In the past our Sand Castle Building, Stuffed Animal Taxidermy, and Jaunty Hat making events would be considered a curio.
With those three terms in mind, here’s a look at what’s ahead for each of these event types.
Ghost Redwoods Exploration, February 2nd
Brave souls, the time has come to embark on a quest shrouded in mystery and wonder! On February 2nd, the Explorers Guild sets forth to uncover the elusive Ghost Redwoods, nature's living specters hidden within the emerald embrace of Henry Cowell Park. These rare albino redwoods, with their pale, otherworldly beauty, hold secrets of resilience and survival, whispering tales of ecological marvels to those who dare to seek them.
Join us on this journey of discovery, where the thrill of the unknown meets the call of scientific curiosity. As we delve into the heart of the forest, our path will demand respect for the land and reverence for its delicate treasures. Together, we shall tread softly, observe keenly, and preserve the sanctity of these spectral sentinels, guarding their existence from the world beyond.
The Ghost Redwoods await. Will you answer the call?
Logistics:
This event will be rain or shine, however if there is a storm or driving conditions become dangerous we will cancel.
This exploration is a heavily themed nature hike, not an exercise hike. We will stick together as a group, progressing at the speed of exploration.
The hike is 4.3 miles with nearly 700 foot elevation gain. Before embarking, please review the hike details on AllTrails and assess both your and your party members' ability to complete the hike safely. Be prepared for the journey to take longer than AllTrails estimates, we call this the speed of exploration as our focus is on observation and discovery rather than speed.
Meet at the Henry Cowell Visitor's Center at 11:30am
Carpools will be organized starting next week, but you’re welcome to join the #0202-ghost-redwoods Slack channel to start that process.
Park info:
Fees - There is a vehicle day-use fee: Regular sized autos ($10), seniors age 62 or older ($9)
No dogs allowed
Packing List:
Essential expedition items to bring
Sense of curiosity, exploration and whimsy
Sturdy shoes
Packed lunch (we will be taking a group lunch break on the trail)
Water (two liters suggested)
Bonus points
Jaunty Hat
Pen
Binoculars (ghosts will likely not be right on the path)
Printed map if you'd like to document tree locations
Printed out plant list to track plants observed
Your favorite wild plant ID book
Valentine’s Day Crafting Curio, February 9th
Whether you’re lovesick or sick of love, Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to make and share some heartfelt sentiments. Join us for an afternoon of tea and crafting, and take the chance to put a little love back into Leeway* at our first official Curio event. We’ll be busting out the glue sticks and scissors on Sunday, February 9, from 1pm to 4pm, at Belle Cunningham’s home in San Francisco. More information will follow in the coming weeks, but you’re welcome to join Slack channel #0209-valentine-curio if you have questions.
*Leeway is a serendipitous peer-to-peer delivery service for small gifts and messages among Explorers. It’s said that items in Leeway travel at the speed of exploration, but they do get there eventually.
Adventure Camp Expedition, May 30 - June 1
There’s been a ton of work happening behind the scenes with what we want the next Caravan Rally to look like. For the uninitiated, Caravan Rally was an overnight event which included challenges, builds, and unbelievable adventure. This event was only held three times in our ten years as an organization. Looking to change up the format though (and tell some new stories along the way) we’re excited to announce the next iteration known as Adventure Camp.
This multi-day event goes from May 30th to June 1st, and will take place up in the Mendocino Woodlands. For all of you who hear about our adventures and wish you were there for the big ones, this is it. Mark your calendars, ask for time off, and start forging your teams of 4-6 people. We’re really excited by this event and we’ll be working on it non-stop for the next four and a half months to make it special for you all.
We have more events coming soon, including more in March, April and May, so keep a look out for future dispatches and we hope to see you at an event soon.
Semper Explorandum Explorers!