Events

 Volunteer Training Sessions

The California Department of Parks and Recreation periodically offers a volunteer orientation training for the Santa Susana Pass SHP.  Topics covered in the training include an introduction to State Parks and its staff, procedures, volunteer opportunities, and meeting some seasoned volunteers.

Making Fire the Chumash Way at Chatsworth's Historic Acre

Class learns to use hand and bow drills the Native American way.

By Elizabeth Harris, Northridge-Chatsworth Patch

March 24, 2013

A traditional fire-making class was held at the Chatsworth Historical Society’s Acre on Saturday.

Sponsored by the Foundation for the Preservation for the Santa Susana Mountains in partnership with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Dr. Kent Christensen taught a group of 10 enthusiasts about the traditional Chumash way of starting fires with hand and bow drills. 

As many readers may be aware (likely from watching TV's Survivor), it is very difficult to make fire – the endeavor requiring a delicate balance of just the right amount of pressure upon the drill (hint: not too much), holding it at the correct angle and rapidly bringing the bow back and forth over the drill.

For a number of the participants, being on bended knee for an extended period of time posed the greatest challenge. But in the end, two of our number mastered the art – Lorie Lawrence and Dodd Harris.  

Lawrence was particularly pleased because she leads the Chumash Educational Center for the third-grade field trips in the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park.  “Now I have one more amazing Chumash skill to share with the children,” Lawrence said, “It continues to astound me how they made such perfect use of the natural materials around them.”

 Chatsworth Park Elementary School third grade students visit the park.

More 3rd-Graders Visit the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park

They learn about native plants, wildlife, and birds, and how to use their eyes, ears, nose and touch to explore the park.

By Elizabeth Harris, Northridge-Chatsworth Patch

March 5, 2013

Four classes of third-graders from Superior Street Elementary visited the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park for an interpretive program. 

Fourteen volunteers participated in the program designed to provide a “living history” of the area, including:

• The Chumash and Native Americans
• Early Spanish/European Settlers
• The Stagecoach Route, known as “Devils Slide”
• The Quarry
• The Railroad
• The Chatsworth Rock Formation

The volunteers showed the children native plants, wildlife, and birds, and how to use their eyes, ears, nose and touch to explore this special historic place. They also played with Chumash toys made out of native plant materials, and sang a song accompanied by a Chumash musical instrument called a clapper.

A model a stagecoach seat was on display on the Stagecoach Trail, created by using exact measurements from an authentic original.  Seated in the replica, children learned about the middle bench – never shown in the movies – and that stagecoaches actually carried nine people inside.

Visitors can access the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park at the 10200 block of Larwin Avenue in Chatsworth. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and no fee is required to enter.

The program was made possible by financial assistance from the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains, and with transportation provided by Councilmember Mitchell Englander.

3rd Graders Experience Chatsworth's Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park

Three classrooms of 3rd graders from Chatsworth Park Elementary School visited the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park for an interpretive program sponsored by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains.

The Tuesday program was made possible through financial assistance from the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council.

Thirteen volunteers told the 66 children about the history of the area.

The children learned about:

• The Chumash and Native Americans
• Early Spanish/European Settlers
• The Stagecoach Route, known as “Devils Slide”
• The Quarry
• The Railroad
• The Chatsworth Rock Formation

Some children had a chance to sit in a model stagecoach seat that was created by using original measurements from an old-time stage.

The volunteers talked about native plants, wildlife, fires, birds, keeping the park clean, and using one's eyes, ears, nose and touch to explore this special historic place.

The children met “King Richard” –- a king snake who was rescued by State Parks staff after being found by the side of the road, injured from being run over. He was nursed back to health at the Angeles District headquarters in Malibu Creek State Park. On Tuesday, he awed the children with his graceful movements and gentle mannerisms.  Interpretive Specialist Karma Graham from California State Parks and Recreation accompanied King Richard.

Visitors can access Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park at the 10200 block of Larwin Avenue in Chatsworth. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and no fee is required to enter.

The Foundation shared a tent with Save Chatsworth at the Metro Orange Line Extension grand opening at the Chatsworth Train Depot on June 30, 2012.  Hundreds of attendees were provided information about the Park.