The Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and the park staff needs your help to commemorate it.

The staff is looking for photos, anecdotes, family experiences, artwork or any other memorabilia that celebrates your connection to the park.

Of course, Sunol's history extends back far more than 50 years. Bedrock mortars within the park are evidence that Native Americans inhabited the region for millennia. After the arrival of Europeans in California, the area was settled by homesteaders and ranchers.

Sunol became a regional park in 1962. Programs based at the park's Old Green Barn Visitor Center highlight the area's cultural and natural history. Sunol is also a way station on the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, which extends for 30 miles through some of the district's most remote and beautiful regional parklands.

The park is located at the end of Geary Road, off Calaveras Road, five miles south of the town of Sunol. For more information, call 510-544-3249. Send your 50th anniversary submissions to P.O. Box 82, Sunol, CA or email them to svisit@ebparks.org. The big 50th birthday party will take place Nov. 3.

CAMPFIRE PROGRAM: Every Saturday night in July and August, there will be a campfire program at the campground in Del Valle Regional Park, south of Livermore, and noncampers are welcome. All the programs are from 8:30 to

9:30 p.m. except the one on Aug. 11, which is from 9 to 10 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please park by the campground store.

Appropriately enough, the skill of firemaking will be the theme for the Saturday program, featuring firemaker/naturalist Dino Labiste. On July 14, the topic is stargazing with Katie Colbert.

Del Valle Regional Park is located at the end of Del Valle Road off Mines Road about nine miles south of Livermore. There's a parking fee of $6 per vehicle. The campfires are free. For more information on the programs, call 510-544-3249.

HAIL SQUEEZER: And every Sunday in July and August the naturalists will host a meet-and-greet session with Julius Squeezer, the friendly Del Valle gopher snake, from 3 to 3:30 p.m. The program is for ages 3 and older. It's at the park's Rocky Ridge Visitor Center near the west swim beach. For information, call 510-544-3249.

BIRD-WATCHING: This is a good season for spotting migrating shorebirds, and naturalist Mike Moran will help you do that during a bird walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley.

Big Break is located on Big Break Road just north of Highway 4. Mike's program is free of charge, but registration is required. Call 888-327-2757. Select option 2 and refer to program 30000.

TUESDAY TWILIGHT: Park District naturalists are leading a series of Tuesday Twilight strolls this summer at various regional parks. Martinez Shoreline will be the venue for an easy walk from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday led by Katie Colbert.

It's free of charge. Meet at the first parking lot at the end of Ferry Street in Martinez. For information, call 510-544-3243.

INVADER REMOVAL: Here's a volunteer project that the entire family can enjoy while enhancing the environment at Tilden Nature Area in Berkeley.

From 2 to 3 p.m. July 15, naturalist aide Morgan Evans will coordinate removal of invasive lemon balm plants from the Lower Packrat Trail. Invasive plants reproduce quickly and can displace native species. Tools will be provided.

For more information, call Tilden's Environmental Education Center at 510-544-2233.

ANY EAGLES FANS?: The Lyin' I's, an Eagles tribute band, will rock out in a free Concert at the Cove from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 13 at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda.

The event is sponsored by the park district, Regional Parks Foundation, and Alameda Rotary Club. Crab Cove Visitor Center will be open with activities on its deck starting at 4:30 p.m. You can bring a blanket or lawn chair and picnic food, or purchase local food and beverages on site. Beer and wine are available for purchase and consumption only in the designated beer/wine garden, but no other alcohol is allowed to be brought into the park.

The visitor center is located at the end of McKay Avenue. Parking is available on Webster Street or in the Crown Beach lot at Otis and Shore Line Drives. For more information, call 510-544-3187.

Ned MacKay writes a regular column about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. E-mail him at nedmackay@comcast.net.