Armed with an array of clippers, shears and rakes, a group of determined high school students set off along the South Leaf Trail at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve clearing the path of overgrown shrubs and tree branches under the guidance of Midpen field staff.
This weeklong program was made possible through a partnership between Midpen and the Student Conservation Association (SCA), a nonprofit organization that aims to foster life-long stewardship of the environment in youth while providing a high-quality public service in natural resource management and conservation. The organization recruits, trains and places qualified youth to serve in environmental conservation projects as members of the SCA conservation corps program.
This year, a group of eight students from around the Bay Area with two crew leaders spent almost a week at El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve learning firsthand how Midpen field crews maintain and care for our trail systems in the summertime. Despite warmer weather than expected from a mid-July heatwave, the group worked together to brush 3.5 miles of trail and inspect two bridges and four puncheons for signs of deterioration.
“The program let us slow down the crew’s normal pace and give these students a chance to try their hand at the work themselves. It’s an opportunity to build up the future generation and develop an appreciation for the environment and outdoors as well as the work and care that goes into maintaining it, whether they end up pursuing careers in the field or not,” said Brendan Dolan, Maintenance Supervisor of the Skyline preserve area.