Happy Father's Day!

Melissa and I had a wonderful time yesterday at the Festival in the Park at
Hellyer Park in San Jose, where Stroller Hikes had a booth. Hundreds of folks
stopped by to learn more about Stroller Hikes and participate in the crafts we
had at our tables. It was great also to see all of the other non-profit
businesses out to encourage health and wellness. Though all of them are
admitting that it's even harder these days to get funding for programs, a lot of
them are still running strong with interesting programs and innovative ways to
get the public's attention on a tight budget. Please consider donating to
Stroller Hikes today – a $10 donation goes a long way to fund the website,
outreach, and program development, including preschool curriculum. To donate,
click the orange donation button on the top of StrollerHikes.com. In return for
your donation, we'll mail you a kit for making California Poppies that you can
plant in your garden, with real seeds that will self-plant once the rains (or
water from sprinklers) come. You can add a comment when you donate through Pay
Pal (linked to that orange button) with your mailing address, or send me an
e-mail with your mailing address, after you have submitted your donation. This
kit is pre-preschool age friendly; it's quick and easy to do.

You'll notice the new logo is up at StrollerHikes.com. Our four summer interns
are hard at work, developing some new navigation tools and applications, as well
as a new look and feel to the website. StrollerHikes.com could look very
different in a month or so! I'll keep you all posted.

Below are next week's events (you'll notice that Toddler Treks have returned!).
Please use the poll through this group to indicate what you are interested in
attending, so we know to expect you. Thanks!

Monday, June 22nd at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L. and
little Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved
greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage
on a faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers, along the greenbelt. Meet at
the pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is
just NW of San Junipero Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the Starting Location
(http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/).
For more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
If you're running late, call Amy at 650-207-6556.

There will be no run on Tuesday morning this week, at Lake Almaden.

Tuesday, June 23rd at 2 pm Amy B. and her wee ones will lead a hike at Shoreline
Park in Mountain View/Palo Alto. The trail is paved, so it's great for all
strollers or kid carriers. Meet at the lake next to where the sailboats are kept
(to the right of the cafe / bathrooms building) in Shoreline Park. There are
plenty of play structures and a beach for toddlers - we'll stop to play after
the hike! Sorry, no dogs allowed. For information about the park and directions,
see Shoreline Park Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Shoreline/Shoreline.html) and Emily
Renzel/Byxbee Page (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Byxbee/Byxbee.html). If
you're running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Wednesday, June 24th at 9:45 am we'll hike at Rancho San Antonio in
Cupertino/Los Altos Hills. We'll do an almost entirely paved, flat path going to
the farm, and possibly go past it. The road is perfect for trikes or bikes, if
toddlers or young children want to ride. Any baby transport will work. Meet at
the main lower parking lot at the water fountain in front of the bathrooms (just
past the entrance, turn right, then follow the road until it ends). For more
information or directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. This hike is at least half shaded. Lisa and little
Samuel will lead this hike. If you're running late, call Lisa at 650-892-8678.

Thursday, June 25th at 10 am come for a hike along the paved mineral springs
trail of Alum Rock Park for a little geology lesson and some history about this
old spa region of San Jose. Meet by the YSI building. All types of strollers
will work. For directions or more information about the area, see The Alum Rock
Park Page (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/AlumRock/AlumRock.html). If you're
running late, call Jennifer at 408-470-0463.

Thursday, June 25th at 4 pm Debbie and little Max will lead a Toddler Trek at
Sunnyvale Baylands Park
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BaylandsPark/BaylandsPark.html). The trail
is paved or packed dirt, so any baby transport will work. We'll encourage
toddlers to walk or run. There will be a lot of shade where we will be hiking,
and we hope to see a lot of bug and snail activity. It should be nice and cool
from the breeze here, in the late afternoon - bring a hat or hair tie if you
have long hair. Last time we visited, we saw a gopher snake, snails, ladybugs,
squirrels, and plenty of birds, as well as some folks flying kites and
radio-controlled airplanes. Meet next to the recycled water test garden (take a
left after entering the park). For more information or directions, see the
Baylands Page. The park charges a fee for parking this time of year; for free
parking, park at the baseball park next door, then walk a short distance along
the sidewalk to enter the park. If you're running late, call Debbie at
650-776-1082. ** There is a good chance an intern will be coming to take
photos/video at this Toddler Trek. If you would like to "star" in a Stroller
Hikes video/slideshow, come by!

Plan ahead: Stroller Hikes' annual camping trip will occur on Labor Day Weekend
this year (1st weekend in September) in Soquel (just a few minutes from the
Santa Cruz Mountains and a few minutes from the beach). A cool, shallow creek
for kids to play in runs nearby the campsites – great fun. More information to
come!

Be sure to spoil all of those dads, grandfathers, uncles, and big brothers
today!

-Debbie and little Max