Venturing Out in Sonoma County: Outdoors events for the week of March 3

DOCENT TRAINING, MARCH 6

Santa Rosa: Training begins for adult tour docents at Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Training is on Wednesdays through April 10. Sign up at 707-996-6027 or at nhart@quarryhillbg.org.

TREE PLANTING, MARCH 9

Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks is hosting an Arbor Day tree planting party 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Mesquite Park, 2250 Mesquite Drive and Northwest Community Park, 2880 W. Steele Lane. 707-543-3279

CREEK CLEANUP, MARCH 9

Santa Rosa: Help clean up the restored reach of Colgan Creek and learn about native plants that grow along creeks, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Elsie Allen High School, 599 Bellevue Ave. For ages 8 and up, tools and refreshments provided. 707-543-3279

FAMILY WHALE WATCHING, MARCH 9

Gualala: Observe the spring migration of gray whales 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Gualala Point Regional Park, 4201 Coast Highway 1 Scopes and binoculars provided. Parking $7. 707-785-2377

BEACH COMBING, MARCH 9

Bodega Bay: Join Coastwalk on a family walk along South Salmon Creek Beach, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn about the beach hopper, mole crabs and other organisms. coastwalk.org

PUBLIC HIKE, MARCH 9

Santa Rosa: Bring a bag lunch on a free moderate to strenuous 3-4 mile hike 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Pepperwood Preserve, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Road. Meet at the Dwight Center. For ages 10 and up. Donation appreciated. pepperwoodpreserve.org

EARLY SPRING HIKE, MARCH 9

Glen Ellen: Naturalist John Lynch leads a slow pace, 5-mile, three-hour nature hike for ages 11 and up in Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road. Meet 9 a.m. in the ranch parking lot. $10. Bring water, snacks and binoculars. Rain will cancel the hike. dlarge@jacklondonpark.com for information

BILL AND DAVE HIKE, MARCH 9

Kenwood: Join Bill and Dave on a 6.5-mile, four-hour, moderately strenuous hike, rain or shine, along the trails of Sugarloaf Ridge State Historic Park, 2605 Adobe Canyon Road. Meet 9:45 a.m. at the white barn for a 10 a.m. departure. Bring lunch and water. billanddavehikes.com, 707-833-6288.

BICYCLE WORKSHOP, MARCH 9

Sebastopol: Free family bicycling safety workshop 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Sebastopol Independent Charter School, 1111 Gravenstein Highway North. Parents and children receive safety instruction and practice safety skills, then take a supervised instructional ride. Arrive early for bike and helmet check. saferroutes@bikesonoma.org. 707-545-0153

COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE, MARCH 9

Petaluma: Join Bike Petaluma for a community bike ride led by experienced riders, 9:30-11 a.m. Kid-friendly event with stops for water and snacks. Meet at Aqus Cafe, 189 H St. Rain cancels the ride.

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP, MARCH 9

Santa Rosa: Learn the basic skills of watercolor painting with Donna De La Briandais 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road. $90. lagunafoundation.org for details.