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EVENTS: 4th Annual "Walk Through History" | Music Festival at Gilroy Hot Springs | Tours | Volunteer Work Days | Full Moon Camp Outs | Holiday Camp Outs | Driving Directions

4th Annual "GYHS Walk Through History!" Is now Music Festival at GYHS! Many thanks to the performers who contributed their talent to this event to benefit the protection, preservation, and restoration of Gilroy Hot Springs! And to the organizers: Lora Ellen Hicks, Tim Lantz, Dave Nielsen, Karen Pogue! Thanks also to dedicated members of the planning committee: Lin Daniels, Dawn Drzaic, Judy Gelwicks, Rhonda Pellin, Karen Pedigo, Angela Schmidt, Dean Yon, Laura Yon; ORGANIZATIONS Asian American Curriculum Project (AACP): Florence Hongo, Mas Hongo; Bill Headley; Branch 3 Antique Engines and Tractors: Bill Dabel, Frank Portera; Gilroy Presbyterian Church, Gilroy Historical Society: Phill Laursen, MaryAnn Puente, Connie Rogers; San Benito County Historical Society: Delbert Dody, Santa Clara County Sheriffs: Dan Guarascio, John Pointer; Gilroy Police Department, BUSINESSES Green Planet Bottling: Estevan Herrera; Nob Hill Foods Gilroy, Nob Hill Foods Morgan Hill, Monterey Mushrooms Morgan Hill, Gizdich Ranch, Safeway Foods Gilroy; Honey: Susan Pitts       Guided tours:                                      Return to Top First Saturday of each month, 10:00 a.m. sharp. Tour length is 1-3 hours depending on the number of people attending, guide, and questions. May include picnic time. Fee: FOGHS membership recommended, minimum $10/person. FOGHS Members may attend Saturday Guided Tours free *Reservations Required! - email (info@friendsofgilroyhotsprings.org) or phone (408-314-7185) by the Friday before noon. Yes, you may pay online (PayPal) or mail payments. Please confirm dates are available first. Tours begin at the trussle bridge *when we have confirmed reservations*. Note: if you reserve a spot, please show up or notify us if you cannot attend. Our volunteer docents travel distances to provide the tours; please be considerate of their time and efforts. Specially scheduled tours - for groups large and small. Fees minimum $250 for 5 hours, includes guided tour, picnicing (bring your own food & drinking water). Full Name(s) Tour Date Preference
Full Moon Camp Outs: Combine volunteer work, creek swims, and enjoying Henry W. Coe State Park with on site camping. Limited to park approved volunteers until further notice. Mar 2-4 Apr 6-8 May 4-6 Jun 1-3 July 6-8 Aug 3-5 Oct 26-28* Fall Event Holiday Week-end Camp Outs Limited to Volunteers in the Park until further notice. Same as Full Moon Camp Outs, with an extra day during the busy Holiday week-end. You bring your own equipment, food, drinking water, tools. Plenty of time to contribute volunteer work, enjoy the park, and maybe swim in the fresh water creek. Memorial Day Week-end: May 25-28, Fri 3pm -Monday 3pm Labor Day Week-end: Aug 31-Sep3, Fri 3pm - Monday 3pm
Volunteer Work Day - Friday 05/05/12 & Sunday, Sept 05/06/12 Bring your own lunch, snacks & drinking water, bring work gloves, gardening tools (shovel, hoe, rake, pruning & hedge clippers - non electric, no power tools). We're clearing pathways, underbrush, and more dirt away from structures. Bring swimsuit and towel - workers swim in the Creek waterhole nearby contributing hours of labor. Mineral water soaks not available at this time. Interested in volunteering? Please email us: info@friendsofgilroyhotsprings.org

The late Frank Schiavo (ret. professor emeritus, San Jose State University, and "green pioneer") suggested a 4-tier access plan while restoration takes place:

1. Walk-In Visitors: day visitors for picnics, in lower, "non-historic" area after caretaker is on site;
2. Guided tours: through "historic area", scheduled between Special Events;
3. Special events: group events including but not limited to school tours, private parties, fundraising events;
4. Volunteer and Community Rewards: activities on site that reward or reciprocate volunteer and community contributions toward the protection, preservation, and restoration efforts.

Most of the inquiries we receive ask about soaking opportunities in the still flowing hot mineral water, and we are the closest mineral spring to Silicon Valley. We are able to respond in these ways:

• "Full Moon Camp Outs"were created deter vandalism while enlisting volunteer help with the protection and preservation efforts. Campers have free time to enjoy other aspects of Henry Coe State Park. Fees cover cost of toilet maintenance, emergency radio coverage, and
  
• "Volunteer Work Days" 4-5 hours of work, bring yard tools & lunch, may include soaking;
• "Special Events" allow individuals and groups to reserve the grounds for tours, picnics, camping, and mineral water soaks, combined with a few hours of volunteer work. Subject to availability, these are "green" events -- pack-in/pack-out -- that do not leave a footprint on the ecology, and contribute a few hours of volunteer work or other contributions.