An Evening by the Campfire at the Ranch

It's the freedom the outdoors offers that brings Angelica Swissa, of Calabasas, and her kids to Family Campfire Evenings at King Gillette Ranch every week.

"I don't have to tell them to be quiet, don't touch, don't run and they're safe," said Swissa who attended the event with daughter, Eli and son, Asher. "It's an evening for families."

Every Tuesday during the summer, the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority organizes the campfire for families in the surrounding area, bringing in dozens of families and up to 100 people.

"The purpose is to introduce the outdoors," said Lauren Tingco, an interpretive naturalist. "I'm hoping they are getting an engaged program in learning about nature and have the experience of going to a campfire with their family."

Apart from being able to roast marshmallows and make S'mores, the event starts with a lesson in nature that includes songs. On Tuesday, Tingco explained the similarities of City Hawks to people, focusing on how both have adapted from living in the wild to living in cities.

Ethan Chang took to the outdoors from the beginning he started participating in the programs Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority offers like night hikes, said his mother Carol Chang of West Hills.

"At first we tried putting him in sports but he got really engaged with hiking," Carol said. "He likes to see all of the animals ... and it's a good way for me to teach him how to interact with nature."

Groups also take advantage of the outdoors to get together during the summer nights. Families from Mariposa Elementary School of Global Education decided to meet up on Tuesday night.

"It's good because it lets parents get to know each other," said Elaine Harris who has a first grader in the school. "During the summer (the kids) spend a lot of time at home and don't really see the kids they spend the rest of the year with."

The summer event continues the sense of community the school fosters throughout the year and introduces new parents, said Miyoko Rifkin. Rifkin has two kids enrolled at Mariposa Elementary, one is in the second grade and the other is a fourth grader.

"We all live so close to all of this amazing wilderness and we don't appreciate it enough," Rifkin said.

Laughter filled the group as the kids kept roasting their marshmallows and bringing them back to combine them with crackers and chocolate.

For William Boyd, it was the first time he had ever roasted a marshmallow and he made several trips to the fire pit.

"I really liked it...I want to come back," Boyd said.

Family Campfire Evenings are every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and there is a $7 parking fee. King Gillette Ranch is located at 26800 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas, CA. 91302.