Diablo Valley Roots & Shoots

We had a great hike a couple weeks ago with the newly-forming Diablo Valley Roots & Shoots. This maze photo was taken on the event in Briones Regional Park.

What is Roots & Shoots?

Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall Institute’s international environmental and humanitarian program for youth of all ages. It is a fun and exciting way for young people to learn about problems and issues in their local communities and then discover ways to make the world a better place. All projects are focused on improving the lives of people, animals and the environment. Kids who belong to Roots & Shoots groups have the opportunity to network with R&S members from around the world to learn about other cultures and gain a deeper understanding of the global impact of their actions.

Here is a list of some upcoming events:

July 25 – (appreciating nature) Tour John Muir house and grounds in Martinez, time to be announced (early in the day), small entrance fee for adults and children over 15.

July or Aug – (environmental care) Pacific Rim Recycle facility tour – Benicia. There may be a cost, besides the bridge fee.

Aug  23 – (cultural experience) Ohlone Village site open house – Coyote Hills, Fremont, 10am, includes 1/2 mile hike one way to 2,000 yr old village where cultural demonstrations will be shared, bring lunch.

Sept 19 – (environmental care) Coastal Clean-Up, not an official meeting, time and place to be announced.

Sept 20 – (celebrate and promote peace) ‘Roots and Shoots Day of Peace‘ (a global event) family picnic, Civic Park, Walnut Creek, time to be announced (early in the day).

If you would like to learn more, please email: DiabloValleyRandS@hotmail.com. Membership is free and open to local children of all ages but primarily focuses on those in elementary school.

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East Bay Wildflower Guide

Here is a terrific wildflower guide that I came across with photos of East Bay wildflowers organized by color. It’s put out by the East Bay Regional Park District.

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Exploring Middle Harbor

One of the newest East Bay Regional Parks is Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland. It’s a small green space sandwiched between one of the busiest container ports in the nation. It offers more than 3 miles of trails, lots of grass and picnic areas, a children’s play structure, a fishing pier, and two observation platforms; one indoors and one out. Here you can see the famous four Hanjin cranes from China up-close that barely made it under the Bay Bridge in the year 2000.

Next month Middle Harbor will host a FREE Eco-fair for families on June 6^th.

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Take a Hike

I wanted to post this article I wrote for the Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek Mothers’ Club newsletter in April of 2008. It lists several local short hikes that are suitable for preschool age children and above.

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April is a great time to be outdoors and enjoy the moderate temperatures, spring wildflowers and rolling green hills of our wonderful East Bay parks. Here are a few of my favorite local spots to hike with young children.

Heather Farm – Heather Farm in Walnut Creek has a wonderful large playground but if you stroll beyond the play area you’ll come to The Gardens at Heather Farm where you can explore a native plants garden, sensory garden, rose garden and much more. If you walk beyond the fountain at the Farm you’ll come to a natural lake, and there’s a path that goes all the way around the lake which is a perfect walk for little ones. The entire loop is less than a mile and children will get to see ducks, geese and depending on the time of year – migratory birds. Also en-route is a new dog park, or if you walk straight instead of doing a loop you’ll end up at the Contra Costa Canal Trail which goes for miles in both directions. The path around the lake is paved except for one small dirt section.

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