On an early November morning, Saved By Nature founder Richard Tejada warmly welcomed the group of 30 hikers who began to slowly began gather at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. They had come from Oakland, Sunnyvale and across the Bay Area to hike with Saved By Nature and one another.
Tejada founded Saved By Nature with clear intentions; to make space for residents to connect with their local landscape, their community and their own well-being by sharing food, a love of nature and company in public open spaces. Regardless of skill level and age, this small nonprofit meets everyone where they are and supports them in gaining confidence recreating outdoors.
“Nature saved my life,” states Tejada, a born and raised South San José native. “I was bound to be static but I couldn’t let that happen. I had to reinvent myself and nature was a positive escape.”
After group introductions and guided stretches, the 4-mile hike into Purisima Creek Redwoods began. The North Ridge trail gains an elevation of over 1,000 feet and unlike the cool redwood groves in Lower Purisima, the trail showcases eye-catching tanoak, bay laurel and Douglas-fir trees with an overlook of the Pacific Ocean. Mindfulness is a cornerstone of Saved By Nature’s mission and for the duration of the hike, the group paid special attention to deep breathing and quiet observation. The hikers took stops along the way to discuss natural history and native plants, observe signs of the season changing and enjoying the conversations that blossomed with ease when out wandering in the forest.
At the end of the hike, Saved By Nature staff invited all attendees to a picnic lunch at the trail head, then led cool down stretches and closing remarks on the days hike. These final touches were a much-appreciated conclusion to a day dedicated to building community in the beautiful wilderness of open space.