Cesar Chavez Park; The Interim Solar Calendar

Monday, December 20th; 4:15 to 5:15 pm; Sunset: 4:50

Gathering will be led by Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science

Special Event – weather permitting:

Near Simultaneous full moon rise/sun set around 4:50 pm

Total Lunar Eclipse later than evening (beginning 10:33 PM).

New Installation at the Memorial Solar Calendar Site:

Earth Cycle – Sun Shadow

Cesar Chavez Memorial Solar Calendar

The Meridian Calendar

37° 52′ N Lat / 122° W Long

Light & Shadow Observations: Earth Cycle – Sun Shadow is a temporary installation that combines art, science & cultural education.

Rather than utilizing the horizon as a calendar, a light spot or shadow crossing a noontime meridian also served as a calendar among many ancient civilizations. For example, The Sun Dagger in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, functions when the sun is near the meridian, rather than on the horizon. Also 17th century European cathedrals utilized a carefully located hole in the roof that would cast a spot of light on the floor of the cathedral along a meridian over the course of a year. At the Solar Calendar site, the shadow from the gnomon will cross the meridian at solar noon. The meridian calendar will allow the observer to witness the movement of the earth by watching the shadow move from west to east. It also has markings indicating shadow length for each month, the beginning of each season, differential seasonal shadow patterns, and the commemoration of the birth of Cesar Chavez.

A burrowing owl seen in Berkeley; photo by Larry Wight

Our burrowing owls usually occupy the northeast corner of Cesar Chavez Park (north of the Berkeley Marina) from October through March. There are new fences and artistic adobe walls to protect the owl habitat from humans and dogs. Come on down and look for owls.

Docents

Docents are available seven days a week at various times.

Interim Solar Calendar
César Chávez Park

Sunday, June 20th
7:45 to 8:45 pm
Sunset at 8:30 pm

Mini-workshop on Astronomy & Season
Celebrating the Chavez virtue:  “Determination”
Culture & Season

Note:
Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash.  The Memorial Solar Calendar site is located in the “on-leash” section of the park.  This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle.  It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance.  You are some of our biggest supporters.

Date and time

Saturday, March 20, 2010; 6:30 pm

Sunset is 7:15 pm, gathering is 45 minutes before sunset. The event ends about 15 minutes after sunset.

Event information

Led by David Glaser, Science Educator

• A mini-workshop on the Seasons
• Celebrating HOPE -  The Chavez virtue that is associated with the East
• Norouz –  In the interest of sharing cultural celebrations associated with the Spring Equinox, Mojgan Saberi will give a brief overview of the Iranian Spring Festival called Norouz.

Notes

This years city-wide theme for the Cesar Chavez Commemoration (March 20th – April 23rd) is on “Teaching Tolerance.” www.ecologycenter.org/chavez

Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash. This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle. It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. You are some of our biggest supporters.

Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions. Tolerance is also one of those virtues. And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.

Links

• www.solarcalendar.org
• http://www.ecologycenter.org/chavez
• A Google Map link that shows the parking area . You can see the Solar Calendar as a white dot in the brown area of the park. This link shows a zoomed in view where in which you can see the rocks that create the circle of the solar calendar.

The Interim Solar Calendar

Sunday, December 20th

4:05 to 5:05 pm; Sunset: 4:50

Gathering will be led by Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science

• Mini-work shop on the Reasons for the Seasons
• Cesar Chavez & Tolerance
• Winter Celebrations

Rain or shine, a couple of us will be there….

Dress accordingly – The weather is part of the experience

NOTE

Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash. This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle. It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. You are some of our biggest supporters.

Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions. Tolerance is also one of those virtues. And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.
View Cesar Chavez Memorial Solar Calendar in a larger map

Solar Calendar
Cesar Chavez Park

Tuesday, September 22nd
6:15pm to 7:15 pm
Sunset @ 7 pm
Led by Rabbi David Cooper

Gathering includes:

• Mini-workshop on Astronomy & Season
• Celebrating the Chavez virtue:  Courage
• Culture & Season

Links:

http://www.solarcalendar.org
http://www.ecologycenter.org/chavez (Cesar Chavez Commemorative Activities)
http://solarcalendar.blogspot.com (Evolution of the site)

Dress warmly ­ The weather is part of the experience.

NOTE
Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash.   This is particularly important when there are a lot of people,  dogs and excitement in the center circle.  It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance.  You are some of our biggest supporters.

Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions.  Tolerance is also one of those virtues.  And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.

Thanks again to Lee Trampleasure for his photos of our gatherings, these  from the June Solstice.  http://www.bpfp.org/gallery/v/album_001/album/

Saturday, June 20th
7:45 pm to 8:45 pm
Sunset @ 8:30 pm

Led by Tory Brady, Exploratorium Teacher Institute, or Alan Gould Lawrence Hall of Science

Mini-workshop on Astronomy & Season
Celebrating the Chavez virtue:  “Determination”
Culture & Season

Dress warmly – The weather is part of the experience.

Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions.  Tolerance is also one of those virtues.  And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.

Berkeley Path Wanderers: New Year’s waterfront walk , Saturday, January 3, 10 a.m. View wintering waterfowl and discover how Berkeley beaches are rebuilding themselves. Binoculars are recommended. Walk is leisurely and level but not wheelchair accessible. Optional coffee/tea stop at Sea Breeze Deli. Meet at Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Ave. (South side, west of Adventure Playground). f5creeks@aol.com , 510 848 9358, www.berkeleypaths.org

Winter Solstice
Sunday, Dec 21st
Begins @ 4:10 pm
Sunset @ 4:55 pm
Ends @ 5:10 pm
Led by Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science

• Mini-work shop on the Reasons for the Seasons
• Cesar Chavez & Tolerance
• Two brief introductions to Winter Celebrations:
  • Kwanzaa – Michael Miller
  • Yalda – Mojgan Saberi

Dress Warmly – The weather is part of the experience

While the Interim Solar Calendar site is primarily set up for citizen self inquiry and informal learning, a series of four seasonal gatherings are held at the site each year on the solstices and equinoxes.

These gatherings, led by interpretive specialists, will provide an explanation of how the site operates along with the overall educational purposes of the project. Each gathering will also include some aspect of the homage to César Chávez.
View Larger Map

10th Annual Summer Solstice Gathering
Cesar Chavez Park
@ the Interim Solar Calendar
7:45 to 8:45 pm
Friday, June 20th
Led by Tory Brady, Exploratorium Teacher Institute

Mini-workshop on Astronomy & Season
Celebrating the Chavez virtue: “Determination”
Culture & Season

Dress warmly – The weather is part of the experience.

NOTE
We know that dog walkers are some of our biggest supporters. Unfortunately, a person suffered a serious dog bite recently at one of the gatherings. If you review the map of the park you will see that the solar calendar is in the on-leash part of the park. It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle. Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions. Tolerance is also one of those virtues. And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.

www.ecologycenter.org/chavez
www.solarcalendar.org