The “Friends Tour”

friends tour-lane

Naturalist talking about the daily life of Native Americans who lived around the Bay

Newport Bay Conservancy traces its heritage back to 1967 when a group of citizens, including Frank and Frances Robinson, founded the Friends of Newport Bay to call attention to the ecological importance of the Bay and to enlist broad support for the retention and protection of the Bay in its relatively natural state. This group was at the forefront of environmental education, conducting monthly nature tours at the Bay starting in late 1968 that continue to this day!

The 90-minute tour is free and is conducted on the second Saturday of the month between October and March. It provides an easily understandable overview of the ecology and history of the Bay for the general public while serving as a useful adjunct to life science, marine biology and earth science classes. Meet at the Vista Point lookout at the corner of Eastbluff and Back Bay Drive where you will join a Naturalist who will lead you on a tour between outdoor “classrooms” set up along Back Bay Drive. Tours depart from the lookout at approximately 9:00, 9:15 and 9:30 AM. Round-trip distance in a about a mile.

This season’s tours will be held on: Nov 11th, Dec 9th, Jan 13th, Feb 10th, and Mar 10th.

Reservations are requested; visit UNBFriendsTour.eventbrite.com to reserve your spot.

Not ready to attend a program in person yet? Check out our VIRTUAL Friends Tour here, filmed in 2020!

Tour stations and topics may include: Birds, Plants, Marine Life, Geology, and Native Peoples. For a preview of the tour, check out the video below!