Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology

To understand why the Western Center for Archeology and Paleontology (WCAP) is located in the rolling hills behind Hemet, CA, it is important to look at the past. The area is rich in history and starts with the Soboba Band of Lusieno Indians who first inhabited the area. The Domenigoni family, who were some of the first settlers, arrived in the area in the 1880's. For more than 100 years, the family farmed the area. However, even before that, the valley was populated with animals from the ice age. Saber tooth tigers, mastodons, giant sloths and many others roamed what is now Diamond Valley Lake.

When the Metropolitan Water District started their search for a new reservoir, they settled on the Domenigoni Valley. However, when scouting the area they found more than 90 sites that contained Indian artifacts and ice age fossils. This became the most interesting archaeological and paleontological dig ever. It came down to a basic cooperation between giant earth-movers and people with small brushes. As they unearthed artifacts, the earth-movers shifted to other areas giving the archaeologists and paleontologist’s time to unearth, preserve, catalog and move the specimens.

From the excavation, they removed more than 1,000,000 specimens. The WCAP opened as not only a museum but also a learning center. Half of the WCAP is dedicated to research labs and curation facilities. Scientists and researchers have the ability to advance their learning with state-of-the-art, climate-controlled labs. The labs are complete with 12 foot roll-up doors, equipment for heavy lifting, floor drains and water outlets. With this equipment, they are able to study the specimens. The WCAP is the repository for all the material excavated from Diamond Valley Lake. WCAP welcomes scholars, researchers, curatorial staff and cultural groups to study the collection.

The Museum is kid-friendly but appeals to adults as well. You can view two short movies that are entertaining and informative. One explains the animals in the museum and the people who lived there and the other is about the excavation. The screen wraps around more than half of the room and holds the attention of even the smallest of children.

Once in the display area, there are many things to do. You can make your own fossil. There is a place to unearth fossils using brushes. Built into the floor is a re-creation of the burial site of "Little Stevie", a juvenile mastodon. "Max" is the largest mastodon even found in the western United States. "Xena" is a 16,000-year-old mammoth and the giant sloth is called "Sammy". There are displays of the excavation and how all that earth was moved.

Many schools come to the WCAP for field trips. They provide additional programs for the children. In a classroom like setting, the children are given bags of matrix containing teeth, shells and other small fossils. They pour the mix into screens and sort the fossils. Given tweezers, the children are instructed not to touch the fossils. They also have a magnifying glass to examine them more closely. Each is given a guide to match the specimens. These are real fossils and the children feel empowered that they are allowed to work with something so special.

The museum also has on-going learning programs. For children 6 to 9 years old, they have a Super Science program. Children 11 to 15 years old can work in a simulated dig site in the Adventures in Archaeology program. There are programs for people 15 years or older, including Basic Forensic Anthropology. Scouts are welcomed to earn badges working with the education staff. WCAP has something for everyone.

As you leave the WCAP Campus, you might want to cool off at the Aquatic Center. It is directly across the street. It has a heated outdoor pool. There is a zero depth entry with fountain sprayers for the smaller children and a water slide for those more adventurous.

Before leaving the area, drive west to Winchester Road and go south to the entrance to the "Clayton A. Record Jr." Viewpoint. It overlooks the Diamond Valley Lake with views of Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio, Southern California's tallest mountain peaks. After visiting the museum, try to imagine the people and the animals that lived there. There is no admission cost. There is a paved walkway to the top but it still is quite a climb for elderly folks and young children.

The Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology reminds us that we have a very rich history and it's just a fun place to visit. 

Birthday party venues in the Temecula, California area

Temecula, known for its wine country and historic downtown, also has an amazing array of birthday party venues for kids.

Temecula Children’s Museum, also known as Pennypickle’s Workshop

The Temecula Children’s Museum is a fun-filled activity on any day but for a birthday, it is a special treat. They have several birthday packages. The least expensive is $100.00 for 8 kids and 2 adults. That includes admission to the museum, invitations, a gift for the birthday child and one hour reserved in the outdoor picnic area. Kids love exploring Professor Pennypickle’s workshop and on a personal note, adults love it too. The museum is located at 42081 Main Street, Old Town Temecula, CA 92590/

Child’s Play

This is a birthday party spectacular for the younger crowd. This is an indoor playground especially designed for children from one to six years. Created to provide a safe, kid-friendly environment, it features climbers, slides, tunnels and a dress-up area. Food and drinks are the responsibility of the parents. There are three birthday packages available, each featuring different games but the children are allowed at least 1 ½ hours of play in all the structures. All children must wear socks. Child’s Place is located at 28860 Old Town Front St, Temecula, CA 92590.

Skyhigh Party Zone

This is one of the most interesting birthday venues. Located at 26015 Jefferson Ave, Ste D, Murrieta,  it is a 10,000 square foot indoor playground. Kids can play air hockey, ping pong and shuffleboard. There is a karaoke stage and video arcades. There is a toddler area. There are the all-important jumpers with slides and rock-climbing. They are quick to point out they have Direct TV and so no one will miss the games while the kids play in a secure environment.

The staff will supervise your guests and do the entire cleanup. Their prices start with the “Penny Wise” package for $99.00. It price includes jumping for an hour and 30 minutes in the party room. Bring the cake. Everything else is included

Chuck-E-Cheese 

In Murrieta, Chuck-E-Cheese is a place kids love and the freedom that it allows. They can go from game to game, winning tickets, all within the eyesight of their parents. Prices range from $14.00 to $19.00 per child, which includes pizza, drinks and tokens. The party area is reserved for 90-minutes and the birthday child gets a present, a balloon and a birthday show. The Chuck-E-Cheese is located at 25110 Hancock Avenue #101-106, Murrieta, CA 92562

McDonalds’s

Just down the street from Chuck-E-Cheese is McDonald’s. The birthday package has been around for decades. It is a great way to save money with a party that children will enjoy. There is a play area outside.  McDonald’s is located at 29888 Los Alamos Road, Murrieta, CA 92562.

Mulligan Family Fun  

Not just for birthdays, this is also a family fun day for all ages. Birthdays packages vary but for $8.99 a person, the party area is available for 1 ½ hours. The package includes invitations, balloons, party supplies and 15 tokens per child. Also included are 2 slices of pizza, unlimited drinks and a birthday gift. If that's not enough, party-goers can also add go-karts, miniature golf, bumper boats, rock wall, teacups and the train. Mulligan’s also has laser tag and batting cages for future baseball stars. Note here: we spend a lot of time at the batting cages. Bring your own helmet and bat or rent them there. Mulligan’s is located at 24950 Madison Ave. Murrieta, CA 92562.

Temecula with its antique stores, fine dining, and superior wine can also boast about the fantastic birthday party venues that are guaranteed to delight any youngster.

Helium is closing its doors

I started writing for Helium in 2009. It was a fun place and I met a lot of encouraging people. Over the years it changed and became less user friendly. We recently got a notice that the site would be shutting down and it we wanted, we could move our articles to other sites as we will lose them at the end of the year.

Now, there is a mad scramble to copy and save what we've written. Many of my articles are about camping, grand-parenting, and California. I am in the process of moving them to the blogs I currently have. Some won't be copied but some of them are actually good.

The California articles will be updated because there is information to share that has not already been covered. At least I won't have to think of new posts for awhile.

Mono Lake, not what you expect

Mono Lake is not the place to find ski boats or water sports. It is a unique body of water sitting at the base of Yosemite National Park. To the north is the historic ghost town of Bodie and to the south, the high desert town of Bishop, the gateway to Mammoth Lakes.

Mono Lake is unique because it is one of North America's oldest lakes. It has no outlet so as water runs into it; the mineral content raises creating alkaline water. It is too alkaline for fish to survive but supports it own ecosystem for migrating birds. It also has a population of brine shrimp unequaled by no other body of water. It is an active volcanic area with hot springs and steam vents. While all that is impressive, its claim to fame is the tufa. 

Tufa is a Latin word for porous rock. Tufa is formed when fresh water springs containing calcium bubble up through the carbonate rich lake water. As the springs bubble up, it creates deposits that grow upward under water. The lake level has dropped significantly since 1941 when the rivers that feed the lake were diverted for drinking water in Southern California. As the water receded, the tufa was it was exposed leaving towering columns of rock. It has been mandated that the water level of the lake be restored to the level it was in 1951. This will take time as a quick influx of water will change the chemical consistency of the lake, putting the brine shrimp, the alkali fly population and the migratory birds in danger of extinction.

There is a Visitor's Center in the town of Lee Vining. It not only describes the tufa but explains the history of the lake and the species that inhabit it. The museum is free. The lake is managed by the National Park Service and they are very willing to answer any and all questions. There is also a separate site on the south side of the lake known as South Tufa. Here visitors are allowed to walk through the tufa beds. It is a loop trail most people can navigate easily although it is not wheel chair accessible. However, there is a boardwalk reaching  almost to the shore so no one is denied a close-up view of the tufa itself.

Swimming is allowed in the lake at designated beaches. The National Park Service states swimming in the lake “offers a delightfully buoyant swimming experience”. The high salt concentration makes it almost to sink. They do point out that because of the alkaline content, it is important to keep it out of your eyes.

Camping is not permitted at the lake but there are many campgrounds in the general area. There are several picnic areas and restrooms around the lake itself. Each provides a spectacular view of the lake and the volcanic activity. The island in the center of the lake is closed to the public from April 1st through August 1st to protect the seagulls nesting there. Some boating is allowed and permits must be obtained at the Visitor Center.

Visitors come from around the world to visit this unique lake. The lake is flanked by the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Sierra Nevada's to the west. The views are spectacular from any direction. Mono Lake should not be missed. It is an impressive demonstration of nature at its best.

Another, another day at the ball park

It was simply another beautiful day at the ball park. We had to be there at 6:55 am for the kids to warm up. It was the first day of daylight savings time so it was dark when we left home. It took about 30 minutes to make the drive to Riverside where the Arlington Sports Park is located. At that hour, there was no traffic and the sun was coming up when we pulled into the parking lot. The sky was tinged with pink clouds. It was 53 degrees and so we had jackets and blankets but by the time this picture was taken, everyone had shed the jackets and the blankets were neatly folded over the bleacher seats. 

The air was filled with the scent of orange blossoms. The Arlington Sports Park is a block down from the California Citrus State Historic Park and one of the few areas in Riverside to still have orange groves.

The mountains in the background are part of the San Gabriel Range and run all the way to Big Bear. The very tall palm trees are more than 100 years old and were used for road markers in the late 1800's. How do I know that? I was a volunteer at the California Citrus State Park for several years and I know a lot about the history of oranges and Riverside, California.

Gary and Niles after the double header. When we left it was very windy and a balmy 80 degrees. March weather can be iffy. If we have hard frost they are usually in March which makes it hard to start seeds for the garden. It the weather holds, I will get my seedlings planted. In the meantime, we will take what we can and enjoy our mornings at the ballpark.

Another day at the ballpark

I know this is California but it's chilly today. We are all wearing jackets. It's 54 degrees.

The kids don't care. For them its all about baseball.

We know it's much colder everywhere else and our thoughts are with you.

My seed catalogs are here!

There was a time when gardening was my favorite thing to do but in the last several years, it has not been a priority. I used to grow a lot of my own vegetables but I've gotten lazy. The last time I started seeds, Cinnamon ate 100 heirloom seedlings. I was discouraged and just quit.

This is the picture we used on the "Wanted" poster for Cinnamon. 

I miss gardening so I found a new place to start seedlings where she can't get them. My dining room has great lighting. I have a baker's rack that I didn't have when she found the last batch. Now I have a new location that's cat proof with great exposure.

Off to the Internet to get some seed catalogs. I prefer heirloom seeds that are not GMO modified. I don't need or use chemicals on my plants and don't want ones that have been altered.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds has "1500 rare, Non-GMO Seeds" to choose from. I could spend hours just reading the descriptions. I quickly ordered that catalog. I find I am also interested in seed saving and the Seed Savers Exchange has a catalog I ordered too. Both of them arrived this week and I have set aside a day to review and place my orders. I need to set aside some time because I am also homeschooling my 7th grader and it consumes time. He also plays baseball year round so we are gone a lot.

The next thing on my list was to discover what zone we live in. I used to know but the USDA updated their interactive zone map. The USDA requires you enter a Captcha to view the map but it isn't a big deal. The map is nationwide. California shows up as mostly browns but the map zooms in for detailed areas. I am in zone 9a. That means avocados won't grow here, it's too cold. However, just 15 miles from here, the avocado trees cover the hills. It's too cold for hybiscus but downtown Riverside is covered with the colorful blooms. All is not lost, apples love it here.

One of the best things about California is the growing season and the weather to grow almost anything. So armed with my new zone and catalogs, I am off to discover what tasty vegetables will be growing in my garden this spring. And, since it almost March, I need to get the seedlings started.