Jacumba Hikers schedule

by Greg A. Curran, Member - Board of Directors

It is getting close to the New Year and some of you might be thinking of New Year resolutions. Well here is an option if your resolution is to get in shape and get out there and enjoy nature. Jacumba Hikers, an informal hiking group has put together a winter hiking schedule and Imperial Valley Desert Museum will be the meeting place for those wishing to join the scheduled hike.

Please take a moment to review the attached schedule to see if there is a hike that might interest you and I ask you to please help us get the word out by sharing this communication with your friends, family members, and others you feel may be interested.

Have a Safe & Healthy Holiday Season.

New resource for hiking groups

As information becomes available on local hiking groups, we will be posting the details to a new, dedicated webpage: http://www.ivdesertmuseum.org/index.php/local-hikes/

Keep us posted on your outings, and keep the facilities at the IVDM in mind as you are planning your meeting locations.

Society's Annual Meeting

The IVDM Society will be holding their annual meeting on December 2nd at 1:30 - 3:00, with a taco cart lunch at 12 noon (20$ suggested donation).

Also at 1:30pm there will be a free and open holiday ornament decoration class, donated by Lynn Hitchcock. RSVP to Greg Curran, as indicated below:

Calling all Hike Leaders

Local Hiking Options

The museum is exploring the hiking options in the region. This week we connected with a hiking group through the San Diego Natural History Museum's Canyoneer Hikes Program. Take a look:

Museo Comunitario de Tecate Partnership

Our newest addition to the gift shop signals the start of a new partnership with the Museo Comunitario de Tecate. A little bit about the museum from their website:

"The museum project began as an idea of Kumiai community members who dreamed of a place where Kumiai culture could be passed on to future generations.  Tecate area Kumiai community members have participated in the planning process, and have set clear priorities for the museum, which they hope will “instill respect for our territory (sacred sites, environment), cultures and customs; provide accurate information on the history of the native regions of Baja California; create a neutral space for all the communities, and involve Kumiai in the whole process. We want this museum to become a reality.”

The art now for sale is the work of Kumeyaay and Pai Pai artisans who partner with the Tecate museum. 

Ceramic Clay Grant hosted at museum

Dr. Hitch shows a paddle from the Museum collection, used to smooth out coils 

On Wednesday we were thrilled to have a group of 10 students and 6 parents from the California Virtual Academies  join us at the Museum to participate in Celebrating Our Desert Art, a program funded by the Imperial Valley Community Foundation.
The students spent all day building up and then squishing back down their attempts to make a base. "Don't be afraid to start over," said Dr. Hitch, "No one ever makes a good pot the first time. The 4th pot is always much better."
The students spent the day working with the clay with the goal of making a base they were satisfied with. Next week after the clay has dried a bit, students will meet again, this time at the Virtual Academy's space in the Christ Community Church in El Centro, to add more coils to their base, hopefully ending up with a large and awesome final pot. Or at least a creative snail.

Adding coils to a pot base