UC Davis’ Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve is asking for a little financial help this year, by establishing optional fees for nature outings and children’s programs. The fees are $5 for person or $10 per family.

“Additionally,” said Virginia Boucher, director of the UC Davis Natural Reserve System, “we plan to install an ‘iron ranger’ for day-use fees similar to many county and state parks.” An “iron ranger” is an unmanned collection point; Stebbins will be asking for $2 per person.

The Stebbins reserve draws about 20,000 visitors a year, Boucher said. They include 750 or so who participate in organized nature outings grouped in two batches: fall-winter and spring.

“Many people visit the reserve for the first time on one of the nature outings,” Boucher said, “but then return on their own to follow the self-guided hiking markers, to do the five-mile loop, or just to get out into the natural world.”

The 638-acre reserve is at the southeastern tip of Lake Berryessa off Highway 128 west of Winters. The drive from Davis is about 45 minutes.

Jeff Falyn coordinates the nature outings program, and his “vision of engaging small children and their parents and of fostering an ethos of stewardship has been tremendously effective,” Boucher said.

Stebbins Cold Canyon launched its nature outings program in the early part of this decade with a three-year grant. Since then, Boucher said, the reserve has been unsuccessful in securing additional grants.

“About 4 1/2 years ago, after a hiatus, we decided to revive the program by diverting funds from other parts of our program,” she said. “But, in the long run, we need to figure out how to make the program at least in part self-supporting.”

In addition to asking for optional fees, the reserve is soliciting funds for a permanent endowment for public education programs.

Fee revenue will offset some of the costs of running the nature outings program and toward maintaining the reserve.

“This is the first year requesting fees, so we can only speculate on what we will collect,” Boucher said. “Even if every participant involved in the program contributes, we will collect only about an eighth of our costs — but every bit helps.”

The Stebbins Cold Canyon fall-winter schedule, just released, includes a number of hikes with special emphases: plant identification, star gazing, photography, drawing and animal tracking. Two of the outings are off the reserve, on the adjacent Bobcat Ranch and at Lake Solano.

Interested in donating to the endowment? Look for the link on the Stebbins Cold Canyon Web site: nrs.ucdavis.edu/stebbins.html.