Santa
Teresa
Park


Official
Park
Page


Park
Map


News


Special
Reports


Greetings


Yahoo
Pictures


Meetings


Volunteer
Hours


Links


Contacts

 
Chris Horii at Trail Day with the FOSTP sign

Friends of Santa Teresa Park

The Friends of Santa Teresa Park is a volunteer organization based in San Jose whose purpose is to support Santa Teresa County Park. The president is Mike Boulland. Meetings are normally held the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the upper clubhouse at the Santa Teresa Golf Course. Check for schedule changes below. The public is invited. Typical meeting topics include park news, history, trail conditions, community issues, volunteer opportunities, and future plans. 

You are invited to our next general meeting at the Santa Teresa Golf Club upper clubhouse/banquet room on Thursday May 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm. Everyone is invited. Contact your neighbors and friends for new members. We are always looking for help in making Santa Teresa Park a better and safer place for our community.

Minutes from past meetings are available below. See the meeting minutes for park news and upcoming events.

 See you Thursday night,
 Mike Boulland

For more information on the Friends of Santa Teresa Park, contact Mike Boulland.
See and join our Yahoo Group.



Mike Boulland greeting ranger on Stile Ranch Trail

Greetings from Mike Boulland:

The Friends of Santa Teresa Park welcome you and your family to our web page. We welcome you to participate in our service activities to make Santa Teresa Park a gem in the Santa Clara County Park system. Please use this web page to find out about our various activities. 

We invite you to explore and walk in the evening after work along the foothill trails to visit some of the most scenic sites in the entire Santa Clara Valley. Hopefully, you will visit our majestic waterfall trail and eat a snack at its base. Included, in our invitation is a walk to the upper meadows. We encourage you to sit in the shade of the Pueblo area and enjoy watching the various wildlife animals graze on the wild vegetation. Those of you who like views may take an enjoyable hike up Coyote Peak to get a vista view of the whole county. The trail’s scenic views can stretch the boundaries of your eye from San Mateo to Morgan Hill. 

We encourage you to use our web site to help you and your family gain information about our activities and events. We are a growing organization, whose members are dedicated to improving Santa Teresa County Park’s resources for the public to enjoy. 

Join us on our trail building day events, historical adventures, docent activities and other park service projects. We welcome all the volunteers we can muster. In the future we will need lots of volunteers to help us establish a docent program for the Joice-Bernal Museum site. 

Our organization is recognized with the County of Santa Clara Volunteer program and we can offer you and your family an opportunity to volunteer for fun service and be rewarded with a free County Parks parking pass. 

We meet monthly on the first Thursday night at 7:00 in the upper Santa Teresa Golf Course Clubhouse. 

Mike Boulland 
President of Friends of Santa Teresa Park 


Yahoo Group Pictures

News, Events, and New Pictures!
  • New web pages with pictures:
  • 2008 County Parks' Calendar of Outdoor Activities.
  • 2008 Calendar of Parks Volunteer Events and Training
  • Saturday, August 23, 5:00-8:00pm. Family Fandango, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch. Come celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area who originally settled here over 10,000 years ago, early Spanish-speaking colonists of 200 years ago, and English-speaking ranch families who arrived more recently. The evening’s focus is family fun through demonstrations and activities that highlight  1770-1870 California.  The Ranch is located at 372 Manila Dr., San Jose. (408) 846-5632.
  • Sunday, August 17, 10:00am-12:00pm. Dog Days of Summer, Santa Teresa County Park. Take an easy 1.5 mile stroll with a Park Ranger to learn the “tricks of the trade” for safely exploring County Parks with your dog.  Let your canine companions sniff out park trails while making new 4-legged friends.  Meet at the Pueblo Group Area.  Bring a leash, water, sturdy hiking shoes and sun protection.  Reservations required, call (408) 225-0225. 
  • Saturday, August 9, 7:30-10:30pm. Bugged-Out Movie Night – Scorpions, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch.
    Explore the fascinating life of scorpions in our world.  Hang on to your seats while watching the 1950s thriller “The Black Scorpion”, followed by some safe close encounters with the real-life creatures!  Meet at the ranch, located at 372 Manila Drive in San Jose.  Reservations required, call (408) 226-5453.
  • July: summer day camps at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch.
  • Saturday, July 19, 10:00am-12:00pm. Raptors in the Wind, Santa Teresa County Park. Explore our local winged hunters on this 2-mile hike with a Park Ranger.  Learn about their role in the environment and how to easily identify hawks, falcons and eagles.  Meet at the Pueblo Group Area.  Bring sturdy hiking shoes, sun protection, snacks and water.  Field guides and binoculars recommended.  (408) 225-0225.
  • Saturday, July 12, 2008, 7:30-10:30pm. Bugged-Out Movie Night – Flies, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch. Explore the fascinating life of flies in our world.  Hang on to your seats while watching the 1950s thriller “The Fly”, followed by some close encounters with real-life insect creatures!  Meet at the ranch, located at 372 Manila Drive in San Jose.   Reservations required, call (408) 226-5453.
  • Sunday, June 22, 2008, 11:00am - 4:00pm: Festival in the Park- Where Wellness Meets FUN! Hellyer County Park  A multitude of agencies and organizations will provide information and offer opportunities for interactive play, where the goal is to help families take charge of their health, learn how to eat nutritiously, make healthful life choices and get physically fit.  FREE admission, information, health and recreation opportunities, food, entertainment and FUN!!  (408) 355-2240.
  • Saturday, June 14, 7:30-10:30pm. Bugged-Out Movie Night – Ants, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch. Explore the fascinating life of ants in our world.  Hang on to your seats while watching the 1950s thriller “Them”, followed by some safe close encounters with the real-life creatures!  Meet at the ranch, located at 372 Manila Drive in San Jose.  Reservations required, call (408) 226-5453.
  • Saturday, June 14, July 12, August 9, 1:00- 3:30pm. Scrub-A-Dub & Old Time Games Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch. Come on out for a fun-filled afternoon at the ranch. Experience what granny called her “weekly affliction” & play games from 100 years ago. Call (408) 226-5453 for information.
  • Saturday, June 7, 2008: National Trail Day at Santa Teresa, Stile Ranch Trail.
  • Saturday, May 31, 2008: teasel removal at Santa Teresa.
  • Saturday, May 24, 10:00am-12:00pm: Safe Biking Adventures, Santa Teresa County Park. Learn to safely explore park trails by bike on a ride with a Park Ranger. Proper equipment, trail conditions, natural resource protection, potential hazards and rider courtesy will be explored. Meet at the Pueblo Group Area with your bike, helmet and water. (408) 225-0225.
  • Sunday, May 18, 11:00am-2:00pm. “Healthy Trails” Hike or Bike, Hellyer County Park. Start your path to fitness, fun and adventure by joining the “Healthy Trails” program at this kick-off event for families. Take a hike or bike ride along the Coyote Creek Trail with park staff and Docents. Meet at the Buena Vista Picnic Pavillion with biking or hiking gear. For more information about this and other “Healthy Trails” programs and partners, check the County Parks website or call (408) 355-2240.
  • May 4, 12:00-3:00pm, “Healthy Trails” Mother’s Day Hike. Santa Teresa County Park. Bring your moms and the whole family out to enjoy a spring wildflower hike led by Park Docent Mike Boulland and the Friends of Santa Teresa County Park. Play games and explore the park’s geology and history along the way. Meet at the park’s Fortini Trailhead off of Fortini Rd. For more information about this and other “Healthy Trails” programs and partners, check the County Parks website or call (408) 355-2240.
  • Saturday, May 3, 2008: Trail Day at Santa Teresa on the Fortini Trail. Time: 9am – 1 pm. Location:  Santa Teresa County Park, Fortini Trail NOTE: We are meeting at the Stiles Trailhead, off of Fortini Rd. and McKeon Rd, NOT the main entrance to Santa Teresa Park. Details: Come on out to this beautiful park and help us reconstruct and restore the Fortini Trail.  We will provide water, snacks, tools, and gloves. Please wear long sleeves, pants, sturdy shoes (no open toes), be prepared for rain or shine. Suncreen, hat and sunglasses recommended. Number of Volunteers needed: 30. Registration is required for this event:  Please call 408-355-2278 or e-mail irene.tsobanakis@prk.sccgov.org leave your name, age, contact info, and total number of volunteers for your group.
  • Saturday April 12, 2008: 9:30 am, Outdoor Photography Class and Wildflower Walk, led by Ron Horii, starting with a class in the barn at Santa Teresa's Historic Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch on Manila Drive at Camino Verde. The class will be followed by an easy hike to Santa Teresa Spring and a moderate hike up to the wildflowers on Bernal Hill. For additional information and to register, contact Kathleen Hooper at kathleen.hooper@prk.sccgov.org, call 408-355-2255 or 355-2200. Drop-ins OK. Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, and bottled water. A camera is recommended, but optional.
  • Saturday, April 5, 2008: Almaden Library, dedication of historic pictures of Almaden Quicksilver. 6445 Camden Ave. - Large Community Room, 2-4 pm, (408) 808-3040.
  • Friday, April 4, 2008: 13th Annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet, 6:00-8:00 pm, Orchard City Hall at the Campbell Community Center, One Campbell Ave. at Winchester, Campbell. RSVP by Fri. March 21, 2008 to irene.tsobanakis@prk.sccgov.org, 408-355-2278.
  • Free electronic waste recycling day, Saturday, Jan. 12 at 9 am to 3 pm, Southside Senior Center Parking Lot (Cottle Rd. Side) 5585 Cottle Road.
  • Trail Day at the Stile Ranch Trail entrance, 1/5/08, 9 am.
  • The January 3, 2008 meeting will be a special one, with Antoinette Romeo from the parks dept. coming to present the status of the site plan for the Santa Teresa Historic Area at Curie and San Ignacio. The public is invited.
  • Saturday, December 15, Santa at the Ranch. Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch 1-4pm. Join Santa in the parlor of the historic Bernal Ranch house. Bring a camera and step back with your family into Santa Clara County’s historic past. Call (408) 226-5453 for information.
  • Saturday, October 27, 2007: Bugged-Out Movie Night – Spiders. Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch 7:30-10:30pm. Explore the fascinating life of spiders in our world. Hang on to your seats while watching the 1950s thriller “Tarantula”, followed by some safe close encounters with the real-life creatures! Call (408) 226-5453 for information and reservations.
  • Saturday, October 27, 2007: End of Season Volunteers BBQ, Vasona County Park, Circle Group Picnic Area, noon to 4.
  • We are working on a list of potential projects in the park. This is a wish-list for future discussion, not a formal proposal. New ideas are welcome.
  • Pictures from Ranch Spirit Day, 8/25/07.
  • Santa Teresa Farmers' Market, 9 am to 1 pm, Saturdays from June 2 to November 17, 2007 at Kaiser Permanente, Santa Teresa Blvd. and Camino Verde.
  • Warning: smash-and-grab break-ins have been reported in the Pueblo Area. Do not leave valuables in your cars.
  • Slideshow of Festival in the Park at Hellyer County Park, 6/24/07 (10 MB)
  • County Parks "Play Here" activities guide, May-August 2007.
  • Saturday, October 13, 2007: 25th Anniversary Pioneer Day, Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Santa Isabel Shafthouse, 11 am.
  • Saturday, September 22: Bugged-Out Movie Night – Grasshopper. Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch 7:30-10:30pm. Explore the fascinating life of the grasshopper in our world. Hang on to your seats while watching the 1950s thriller “Beginning of the End”, followed by some safe close encounters with the real-life creatures! Call (408) 226-5453 for information and reservations.
  • September 15, 2007, Santa Teresa Community Fest, George Page Park, 11 am to 5 pm.
  • September 8, 2007, New Almaden Day, New Almaden, 11 am.
  • September 8, 2007, Wildlife Tracking Adventure, Santa Teresa County Park 10am-12noon. Join a Park Ranger on a wildlife tracking adventure along Santa Teresa Park trails. Discover who was here before you. Meet in the middle parking lot by the callbox. Bring water, sturdy hiking shoes, sunscreen and layered clothing. Call (408) 225-0225 for reservations and information.
  • Saturday, August 25, 2007, California Ranch Spirit, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch
    6-9pm. Come celebrate the history, resourcefulness and exuberance of early 1800-1900 California ranching families through music, dance, and playful activities for the youth and the young at heart.   Food will be available for purchase. Call (408) 846-5632 for information. (Volunteers needed. See the volunteer sign-up form.)
  • Saturday August 11, 2007, Bugged-Out Movie Night – Praying Mantis, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch, 7:30-10:30pm. Explore the fascinating life of the praying mantis in our world.  Hang on to your seats while watching the 1950s thriller “The Deadly Mantis”, followed by some safe close encounters with the real-life creatures!  Bring movie snacks.  Reservations required, call (408) 226-5453.
  • Saturday July 28, 2007, Calling All Coyotes, Santa Teresa County Park, 8-10pm. Take a full moon hike with a Park Ranger to explore where Coyotes live and how they behave and survive.  We’ll call Coyotes and see if they answer back!  Meet at the lower (last) parking lot.  Bring a flashlight, water, sturdy hiking shoes and layered clothing.  Call (408) 225-0225 for information.
  • Saturday July 14, 2007, Bugged-Out Movie Night – Scorpions, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch, 7:30-10:30pm. Explore the fascinating life of the scorpion in our world.  Hang on to your seats while watching the 1950s thriller “The Black Scorpion”, followed by some safe close encounters with the real-life creatures!  Bring movie snacks.  Reservations required, call (408) 226-5453.
  • Saturday July 14, 2007, Scrub-A-Dub & Old Time Games, Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch
    1- 4pm. Come on out for a fun-filled afternoon at the ranch.  Experience what granny called her “weekly affliction” & play games from 100 years ago.  The ranch is located at the corner of Camino Verde & Manila Dr. in San Jose, near Santa Teresa Hospital.  Call (408) 226-5453 for information.
  • Sunday, July 8, 2007, Birds of Prey, Santa Teresa County Park, 11am-2pm. Join a Park Ranger, Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center staff and some real live feathered friends to learn about birds of prey in our parks.  Meet at the Pueblo Group Area.  Call (408) 225-0225 for information.
  • June 24th, 2007, Festival in the Park, Hellyer Park, 11 am to 4 pm. "The wellness and recreation festival is designed to inspire, educate and excite local residents to take charge of their health, eat nutritiously and get fit.A host of health care providers from the public, private and non-profit sectors, including the communities of faith, will offer exhibits, demonstrations, activities and performances all aimed at educating and inspiring individuals and families to take action and live well. A large stage will serve as the focal point of the event with performances and physical activity demonstrations. Healthy cooking demonstrations and a visit by the Second Harvest Food Bank Produce Mobile will stop by and give out free fruits and vegetables. Come and check out the Bike Rodeo for children and youth and enter the raffle for free helmets and bicycles! Hands-on activities will take place throughout the park and include bike rides, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and much more." Volunteers needed to man the County Parks volunteer booth. Contact Heidi McFarland.
  • May 5, 2007, there was a trail construction event held at Harvey Bear/Coyote Lake County Park by the Volunteers of Outdoor California. Here is a slideshow of this trail event.
  • On May 5th from 1 to 4 p.m., there will be a Cinco de Mayo Fundraising Party for the benefit of the Santa Teresa Fire Victims' Fund at St. Julie's Church at Cottle Road and Curie Drive. There will be food, drinks, music and fun!! Contributions will be accepted at the fundraiser or you can send or drop-off contributions in any amount to: Bank of the West ATTN: Santa Teresa Fire Victims' Fund 6213 Santa Teresa Blvd. San Jose, CA 95119. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Coordinator Ash Kalra at (408)888-7526 or via e-mail at ashukalra@hotmail.com. Hope to see you at the Fiesta!!
  • As of 5/4/07, the Norred Trail is open.
  • Wed. April 18, 2007, 6-8pm, Southside Community Center, 5585 Cottle Road: Community meeting by the City of San Jose for the planning of trail and landscape improvements along the Albertson Parkway. The Parkway is located between Dondero Way and Curie Drive. It ends up a block away from Santa Teresa Spring and half a block from the Bear Tree Lot. Here is a Powerpoint slideshow (4.5MB) and a PDF version (8.5 MB) on the Albertson Parkway. The slideshow shows the area of Santa Teresa Park close to the parkway. It shows other neighborhood walkways, with design ideas for the Albertson Parkway. The parkway was named after Gary Albertson, a neighborhood activist who lobbied for a safe bypass around  accident-prone Monterey Highway. He was killed in a crash on the highway in 1974. See here for an article about the highway and one about the parkway.
  • Outdoor Photography Class and Wildflower Walk: 10 am-1 pm, Saturday, April 28, 2007 in the “Barn" at Santa Teresa's Historic Bernal Ranch, Manila Drive and Camino Verde, San Jose. Spring is wildflower time and a great time to grab your camera and go outside and take pictures! Docent Ron Horii will teach you almost all you need to know about taking inspiring outdoor pictures.  Class will include 90 minutes of indoors instruction, an easy-going 30-minute walk around the Bernal Ranch, and a moderate 1-hour hike into the hills to view and photograph the magnificent wildflowers. Wear comfortable shoes; bring a hat, bottled water, and your camera (optional). Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department Outdoor Recreation Program. For additional information and to register: Email: kathleen.hooper@prk.sccgov.org., or call: 408-355-2255 or 355-2200; or go online at www.parkhere.org.
  • The Volunteer Recognition Dinner will be held at the Santa Teresa Golf Course Upper Banquet Facility on Thursday April 5, 2007 at 6:30 pm in place of our meeting. Volunteers should have received invitations, along with award nomination ballots and guidelines. RSVP by Friday, March 23, to Irene Tsobanakis at (408) 355-2278 or e-mail irene.tsobanakis@prk.sccgov.org. (Contact her if you have been volunteering and haven't received an invitation.) Award nomination ballots are due on 3/9/07.
  • Sunday, April 1, Wildflower Dog Hike, Santa Teresa County Park, 11am-1pm. Bring your 4-legged family members out for a guided wildflower hike with a Park Ranger through the Santa Teresa hills.  Meet at the Pueblo Group Area.  Bring sturdy hiking shoes, water and sunscreen.  Dogs must be leashed, friendly and have current vaccinations.  This is a moderately strenuous hike, not recommended for small children.  Call (408) 225-0225 for information.
  • Geoching is now an officially-recognized activity in the County Parks, but with rules. The geocache rules are on our geocaching web page.
  • Saturday December 16: Santa at the Ranch! at Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch 1-4pm – Join Santa in the parlor of the historic Bernal Ranch house. Bring a camera and step back with your family into Santa Clara County’s historic past. The ranch is located at the corner of Camino Verde & Manila Dr. in San Jose, near Santa Teresa Hospital. Call (408) 226-5453 for information.
  • The new trail has been named the Norred Trail. It is closed until June 1, 2007. Our page on the Buck Norred Ranch has been updated with pictures and descriptions of the trail.
  • News from Janice Frazier: "The Santa Clara County Parks is adopting a policy similar to the Mid-Pen and other agencies related to winter weather trail closures to help preserve the trail treads. There will be 2 types of closure: Seasonal and Temporary. Seasonal  trail closures will be done from first main measurable rain fall till May. Temporary closures will be done as Rangers see fit on other trails. In addition, as was seen with new trails done in the last couple of years at Rancho Del Oro and Bear Ranch, all new trails will sit the winter to set/pack properly. For Santa Teresa Park under Seasonal closure will be Stiles, Rocky Ridge, and Boundary trails, as well as the new trail near Heaton Moor. For more information and detail on all parks as rain comes look at www.parkhere.org, or call 355-2200 opt 7." See here for the new policy on seasonal trail closures.
  • Here are pictures from Founders Day Fandango. Here is a low-resolution 7-minute (22 MB wmv file) video of the singing and dancing at Fandango.

See our News and Pictures Archive page for information from 2001 to 2006.

Friends of Santa Teresa Park Meetings and Minutes:

 

Links 

Links on the Friends of Santa Teresa Park:


Volunteers working on Stile Ranch Trail

Links on Santa Teresa Park:

Hidden Springs Trail to Coyote PeakSeasonal waterfall in laurel Canyon below the Hidden Springs TrailOld barn at the Joice-Bernal Rancho

Parks and Trail Links: Community Links: Government Links: Historical Links

For more information on the Friends of Santa Teresa Park, contact Mike Boulland.

We welcome community contributions to our Website. If you have pictures, stories, announcements, questions, concerns, news, etc., please send them to Ronald Horii.

Created 6/2000, updated 4/24/2008 by Ronald Horii, secretary of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park