With the short month of February coming to a quick end, Pittsburg and Antioch High School interns wasted no time starting off March with a hike at the Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve. Guided by a docent volunteer from the Save Mount Diablo nonprofit organization, Earth Team proceeded to hike over two miles of the Galindo Creek Trail Loop on the stunning morning of Saturday, March 1st.
The Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve is a property located at the border of Concord and Walnut Creek, and owned by Save Mount Diablo. Boasting a land area of just over 207 acres, this preserve includes a variety of oak, chaparral, and grassland ecosystems that are home to rare species such as the threatened Alameda Whipsnake. The goal of maintaining this land as an educational preserve is to reconnect youths with the natural environment in order to promote their health and well-being, fuel a passion for protecting the Earth, and prevent our society from becoming an “indoor species.” You can plan your own visit or simply learn more about the Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve and Save Mount Diablo on their website.
For two hours, Earth Team interns engaged in this interactive outdoor learning process. They were encouraged to take in their surroundings strictly as observers of the environment they hiked through, noticing the flora and fauna of this site, including a particularly vocal but hidden frog! Here, the interns had the opportunity to appreciate nature while also challenging themselves physically, as they conquered the steep hills and trekked down into the small valleys.
During water and rest breaks, our docent guide imparted their knowledge about the history of the preserve and the geographical context through which the land developed. For example, the interns learned how the nearby limestone ridge is a relic of the ancient coastal habitat that used to be at that site, where large deposits of calcium carbonate were left from discarded seashells.
Despite the windy conditions and tough trail, the students simply enjoyed chatting with their cohort and being surrounded by lush green hills. Many interns even expressed interest in hiking the other trails at this site or just getting more time outside. From the enthusiastic interns trying to run ahead to the contemplative interns taking their time at the rear, each hiker got a unique experience to remind them why they care about the environment and choose to be a part of Earth Team.
