Students at Richmond High School apply to Earth Team for a variety of reasons. Overwhelmingly that reason is to have the opportunity to go outdoors and learn about surrounding nature. So this month, Richmond interns strapped on their comfiest sneakers and layered up for the chilly 45 degree weather.
Living in Contra Costa County makes it easy for one to find a nearby East Bay Regional Park to visit. Point Pinole Regional Shoreline is a quick 10 minute drive from Richmond High School. Visitors can also access the park via public transportation and board the 71 AC transit bus to the nearby Point Pinole Business Park.
The park features scenic views of Mt. Tamalpais and the San Pablo Bay with trails meandering through Eucalyptus groves, beaches, bluffs, and breezy meadows. With its expansive marshlands, sandy shores, and freshwater ponds Point Pinole is home to over 100 different species of birds!
Earth Team interns hiked along the Bay View Trail keeping an eye out for mushrooms, birds, and native plants. At a park bench situated with a view of the Marin shoreline, interns took out their nature journals and got to sketching. Several interns sketched the outline of Mt. Tamalpais and expressed their excitement for the upcoming hike on the mountain in February 2022. On the way back to the cars, interns played riddles and shared plans for rest and relaxation during the holiday break.