Celebrate Bat Week with an afternoon that stretches into twilight on Saturday, October 25, at Camp Arnaz, located off Highway 33 between Ventura and Ojai.
Local bat expert Sam Kienitz will share fascinating insights into where bats live, how to spot them, and the critical role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Sam earned her Girl Scout Silver Award by researching bats, designing and building bat houses with help from her dad, and installing them throughout Camp Arnaz.
During the program, Sam will share what she learned, provide resources and blueprints for building your own bat house, and explain how we can better support local bat populations. As dusk settles over the camp, we’ll watch bats emerge from their boxes to begin their nightly search for food.
Join us for an engaging afternoon of learning and exploration, followed by a firsthand look at bats as they take flight at twilight.
About the Expert
Sam Kienitz is a lifelong Girl Scout and Ventura County native whose love of hiking, camping, wildlife, and Camp Arnaz has shaped her commitment to environmental stewardship. Growing up in a scouting family, she spent countless hours exploring local trails and learning about the diverse ecosystems that make Ventura County so special. As a Junior Girl Scout, she helped create geocache locations across the county to encourage families to explore local trails. For her Silver Award, she focused on bats—designing, building, and installing bat houses at Camp Arnaz with help from her father while educating visitors about bats’ vital role in healthy ecosystems. Now in high school and working toward the Girl Scout Gold Award, Sam hopes to continue creating lasting conservation projects and inspire others to see how even small actions can help protect local wildlife and wild places.
Registration Options
- $40 for members
- $50 for non-members (includes a ForestWatch membership)
More information including directions and suggested reading materials will be sent to those who register.
Forest Academy Series
This event is part four of the four-part Forest Academy series.
Thank You to Our Corporate Partners
