Welcome Board Dinner

OWAC Board Members and prospective Board Members are invited to attend this unique gathering. Attendees will receive an introduction to Visalia’s historical figures and their relationship to Sequoia National Park.  

This gathering will reinforce Visalia’s commitment to the preservation of the trees and their resources benefiting our agricultural region.  Attendees will enjoy dinner in the Historic Darling Hotel recreating the meal prepared by Ty Sing for the Mather Mountain Party in 1915.

The dinner discussion will be led by Visalia Historian, Terry Ommen.  Ommen will provide a history of Stewart, Young and Mather. These men helped to establish Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the National Park Service and the road between Visalia and Sequoia National Park.  Ommen will also discuss Mineral King and Walt Disney’s proposed project.

OWAC Agenda

10:00am - Conference Registration, Marketplace
12:00pm - Buffet Lunch & OWAC General Meeting
2:00-3:00pm - Craft Improvement Session I (Social Media Explained)
3:00-4:00pm - Craft Improvement Session II (Photography, Visalia and Beyond)
4:00-5:30pm - Social Hour (attendees check-in to Wyndham)
5:30-9:30pm - Dinner & EIC Awards Presentation
6:30pm - Visalia Historian, Terry Ommen with Mayor, Brett Taylor

Trek to the Trees

Sequoia National Park is home to the largest living organism in the world; the General Sherman Tree. Sequoia is the second park to be named in the National Park Service system and  boasts the most spectacular view of the great western divide. 

Sequoia Shuttles will transport OWAC to Sequoia National Park. In route, a docent will share information about our valley agriculture and history. 

While in the park, Sequoia Parks Conservancy and NPS Rangers will provide guided adventures through the park including common tourist highlights:  Crystal Cave (closed since 2022), Moro Rock, General Sherman, Crescent Meadow, Giant Forrest Museum, Hospital Rock & Tokopah Falls. 

Trek to the Trees:
Depart Wyndham Hotel: 6:00 am
Arrive Wyndham Hotel: 6:15 pm
Box Lunch provided

The All-American Experience

Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie!

There are only 7 minor league stadiums with a neighboring national park. OWAC Conference Attendees and their travelling companions will enjoy an evening with Visalia Rawhide.
https://www.milb.com/visalia

Game starts at 6:30 pm
Food Vouchers & Apple Pie Provided
300 N Giddings St, Visalia, CA
(5.5 Miles - Transportation not provided)

Fly Fishing 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Guided out of Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park
Professionally guided by Sierra Fly Fishers

Besides the Marble Fork Kaweah Rivers, Sequoia National Park is home to numerous creeks and streams.The park's water resources includes approximately 3,200 lakes and ponds. 

This unique all-day experience is facilitated by: https://sierraflyfisher.com/trips/sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-park/

Must have California Fishing License. Catch and Release Only. Gear including waders, not provided. Lunch provided.

Boyden Cavern & the Scenic Byway

Kings Canyon is home to the deepest canyon in the United States and home to General Grant, the second largest living organism in the world. Participants will enter Kings Canyon from Hwy 180 and explore the wonders with a professionally guided tour.

This is a professionally guided tour and includes a delicious picnic lunch. 

Transportation Provided.
Depart Wyndham Hotel: 8:00 am
Arrive Wyndham Hotel: 4:00pm

Preservation Trail

Sequoia Riverlands Trust protects more than 44,000 acres of land around the Kaweah, Tule Kern and Kings Rivers, as well as in the Carrizo Plain. 

These are guided tours with experiential elements.

1. Visit Kaweah Oaks Preserve When you walk along the trails at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, you can imagine how this area looked before it was settled over 100 years ago. The preserve provides habitat for over 300 plant and animal species, including bobcats, great horned owls, California grapes, willows, and the preserve's namesake - the majestic Valley Oak. 

2. Dry Creek Preserve Dry Creek Preserve is a 152-acre former gravel quarry located just northwest of Lemon Cove. This nature preserve is the first example of an ecologically based aggregate mine reclamation in Tulare County.  The native plant nursery will be a unique experience. 

3. Woodlake Botanical Gardens  The first agricultural botanical garden in California is 13 acres of plantings that extoll Tulare County’s botanical diversity. 

4. Rock Art Exploration  Discover and learn about pictures and symbols left on rock surface by members of traditional cultures.

Transportation Provided.
Lunch Provided.
Depart Wyndham Hotel: 9:00am
Arrive Wyndham Hotel: 2:00pm

Root Down to Rise with the Giant Sequoias
Meet at Giant Forest Museum
9am – 4pm

Together we will meander on lesser known trails amongst the biggest trees in the world. Find yourself grounded in the peace of the forest and expand your sense of connection with nature and within. Break through mental blocks and unleash your creativity through exploration, connection, discovery, and guided meditation. This is a 2 to 4 mile walk depending on group preference and the experience we are having. It will be similar to forest bathing with introspective prompts, journaling and discussion and will include a delicious picnic lunch during the walk.

Experience provided by Divine by Nature Experiences.
https://www.divinebynatureexperiences.com/home

Self-Departure: Wyndham Hotel: 7:30 am
Return to Visalia: 4:00 pm
Travel Hwy 198 East into Sequoia National Park to the Giant Forest Museum.
National Park Pass Required.
Lunch Provided.

Rails to Riding
Rail Walking: 9am-11am
Riding: 12pm-2pm

Visalia was established in 1852 and has an interesting history including stories of the “wild west.” Spend the morning walking historic sites along the downtown Visalia Rail.  This guided tour is facilitated by Visalia Heritage.

The afternoon will be spent at Riata Ranch International, home of the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls.  You will be greeted with a traditional cowboy mid-day meal. Attendees will be mentored on preparing the horse for the trail, the foothills just outside of Visalia. After the 60 minute ride, attendees will have a trick horse riding demonstration followed by personal trick riding techniques.

Trail Ride with Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls:
https://riataranchinternational.org/

Transportation Provided.
Depart Wyndham: 8:30 am
Arrive Wyndham: 3:00 pm
Lunch Provided.

Ag, Art, & Architecture

Become immersed in Visalia’s Ag Culture.  The day begins at St Charles Borromeo where our rich heritage is reflected in the design and art features.  This all-day guided tour will explore commercial agriculture production including dairy, nuts and citrus along with waterways and plant rotation. A celebration of Visalia’s visual and performing arts will be infused within the tour. The tour will end with a harvest tasting.

Architectural Tour in the morning including: https://www.stcharlesvisalia.org/project-overview

Transportation Provided.
Depart Wyndham Hotel: 8:30 am
Arrive Wyndham Hotel: 4:00 pm
Lunch Provided.

Relationship Reflection
5:30pm - 7:30pm

OWAC Conference Attendees will gather with Visit Visalia tourism partners and government representatives for a barbeque and reflection on the in-market experiences, including the traditional photo contest. 

Barbeque Dinner Provided