New Nature Center Opens at China Camp State Park

Thomas Henry Huxley

A newly refurbished and greatly expanded museum dedicated to natural history opened at China Camp State Park on Saturday, July 20.  An open house was held to dedicate the new museum and honor the many volunteers and donors who helped make this happen.

The creation of the Nature Center has been a two-year process that Bethanie Gilbert, the Natural History Program leader for Friends of China Camp, likened to the old folk tale of the Stone Soup. The story tells of hungry travelers who managed to put together a soup from the small contributions of many people, starting from a simple stone placed in a pot. With each new contribution, the idea of the Nature Center coalesced into a vibrant museum of natural history that offers exhibits for adults and children, a small library of reference books, and educational tools to learn more about the varied ecosystems of China Camp State Park.

State Park ranger Cecilia Rejas told the story of how the Nature Center got started. Located in the China Camp State Park Ranger Station, the museum was originally an extra room that was used to store dilapidated junk, old file cabinets, and assorted clutter that had accumulated over the years. Ranger Rejas saw the potential of the space, thinking it could be transformed into a visitor center, a place where people could go to talk to an actual human being about the park and get questions answered.

In May of 2011, when China Camp one of 70 state parks that were threatened with closure due to budget cuts, the nonprofit group Friends of China Camp (FOCC) stepped up efforts to raise money and keep the park open. FOCC signed an operating agreement with the state, partnering with the Department of Parks and Recreation to prevent the closure. Now the park, campground, and picnic areas are open seven days a week, and the natural history program is developing new programs, guided hikes, and interpretive exhibits.

FOCC Natural History Program leader Bethanie Gilbert began to implement the idea from Ranger Rejas in 2012, bringing in volunteers to start renovating the extra room at the Ranger Station, giving it a new coat of paint, and setting up shelving for exhibits. Her efforts got a big boost from volunteer Claire Cummings, who donated $1,000 to help finance the work and purchase needed supplies. She and her husband Richard McCombs are dedicated volunteers with the FOCC Natural History program, and the park means a lot to them. Claire is very modest about her contribution though, stating that “I am merely the stone that got the soup started.”

Another big contribution came from local photographer Brian Byrnes, who donated a number of framed photographs that now adorn the walls of the Nature Center. The photos depict scenes of birds, wildlife, and landscapes around China Camp, showing the state park in all its glory. Brian not only donated the photographs, but also built beautiful frames for them.

A number of other volunteers, including Gayle Marsh and Cynda Vyas, chipped in to help with the work and create the Nature Center, a warm and welcoming place for visitors to China Camp. The hard work and dedication of these volunteers in the face of adversity and budget cuts made this soup a hearty and nutritious meal for those who are hungry for natural history. The Nature Center is located in the Ranger Station at 101 Peacock Gap Trail, across from the Bullhead Flat parking area.

China Camp State Park is now preparing for its annual Heritage Day celebration, which will take place on Saturday, August 17. The event features a variety of activities and performances, including Chinese Lion Dancers from the Marin Chinese Cultural Association, folk dancers and a chorus from the Redwood Empire Chinese Association, and guided tours of China Camp Village. The Grace Quan, a replica Chinese fishing junk, will be docked at the pier to take people out for sailing trips around San Pablo Bay.  The community is invited to come and celebrate the perseverance of China Camp.