Calamigos Ranch Hosts Wilderness Fair

The annual Wilderness Fair takes place today at Calamigos Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. Paddle a kayak in the pond, listen to adventure stories, have your picture taken with Smokey the Bear and spend the afternoon running from one outdoor activity to another.

You can try out an 18-gear mountain bike and learn about windsurfing on a dry-land simulator. For children, the most popular activity every year is the ropes course. There are also nature games and crafts, a parachute game and learning primitive Indian skills such as starting a fire with dry sticks. There will be short hikes into the surrounding mountains with a chance to pick and eat wild edibles.

Forty exhibitors, including backpacking outfitters with all the latest equipment, will be on hand; there will also be a search-and-rescue team and wild animals from the Marine Wildlife Rescue Station.

The fair will observe John Muir’s 150th birthday, which is April 23, with an appearance by Lee Stetson, who has performed his one-man show on the great naturalist in performances all over the state. In addition, there will be music by a country band. The Calamigos Ranch kitchen will set up barbecues on the lawn, selling ribs, hot dogs, sodas, cotton candy and ice cream.

The fair is sponsored by the Wilderness Institute, a nonprofit organization that offers outdoor activities to all ages and most abilities. Many of the fair’s activities are accessible to the physically challenged.

Calamigos Ranch is at 327 Latigo Canyon Road. Take the Kanan Road exit from Ventura Freeway south to Mulholland Highway. Turn right and look for signs to the ranch. General admission is $1; ages 11 and younger, 50 cents. Information: (818) 887-7831.