Wonders of Wavecrest: Thank You

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at Wavecrest Open Space. Your curiosity, energy, and thoughtful engagement made it a truly meaningful morning!

Together, we explored the coastal prairie through a scientific and historical lens—looking closely at native plant communities, seasonal blooms, and the birds that rely on this habitat. From raptors and pelicans and songbirds overhead to small details captured in your journals, it was a great reminder that careful observation deepens our understanding of these landscapes. Thank you to our fantastic facilitators!

There are few better ways to bring people together than through a shared interest in the natural world, and yesterday reflected that in the best way!! We’re grateful to be part of such a great community that values both learning and stewardship.

If you feel as grateful for these open spaces that make events like this, and such time in nature possible please consider donating to support the preservation and protection of our shared open space land.

Dear Friends,

Spring is here on the coast, and we have two wonderful ways for you to connect with nature, community, and the beauty of the season this weekend with us.

Wonders of Wavecrest: A Guided Tour
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 10:00 AM – Noon

Join Coastside Land Trust for an immersive journey through the breathtaking Wavecrest Open Space. Led by our expert team, this guided tour explores the rich history of the landscape while introducing you to the diverse flora and fauna of the coastal prairie—including local birds and vibrant spring blooms.

You’ll also have the chance to take part in a guided nature journaling session to deepen your connection to this remarkable place.

What to expect:

• A welcome and overview of Wavecrest’s history and current projects

• A guided plant exploration, highlighting native species and ecosystems

• Wildlife observation, with opportunities to spot a variety of raptors, songbirds, and shore birds.

• A hands-on nature journaling activity to reflect and engage your senses

Tickets sell out incredibly fast, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience Wavecrest in a meaningful and memorable way.

Coastal Wildflower Day Festival
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2 PM

Stop by the Coastal Wildflower Day Festival hosted by California State Parks.

This joyful free community event celebrates spring, local wildflowers, and the restoration efforts that support thriving coastal ecosystems. Coastside Land Trust will be there hosting a table with activities, materials, and inspiration for all ages. Come say hello and celebrate the season with us.

We hope you’ll join us for one—or both—of these special opportunities to explore, learn, and celebrate the coast we all love.

Warmly,
Coastside Land Trust

The Wonders of Wavecrest: A Guided Tour

The Wonders of Wavecrest

A Guided Tour

Saturday, April 25

10am - Noon

Join the Coastside Land Trust for an immersive journey through the breathtaking Wavecrest Open Space- led by our expert team!

This guided tour of the Wavecrest Open Space will take you through the rich history of Wavecrest while introducing you to the diverse flora and fauna of the coastal prairie—including local birds and vibrant spring blooms.

You’ll also have the unique opportunity to participate in a nature journaling session to deepen your connection to this stunning landscape.

Here’s a sneak peek at the day’s activities:

Wavecrest Plant Exploration with Barbara Dye
Explore the fascinating world of Wavecrest’s plants, learning about their history and the crucial role they play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Wildlife Exploration with Malia DeFelice
Get up close to local wildlife, including a variety of raptors and songbirds. Who knows what exciting species we might encounter along the way?

Nature Journaling Activity with Haley Peterson
All groups will come together for an interactive nature journaling session to deepen their connection to this unique coastal landscape, guided by our Junior Land Stewards Program Manager.

Habitat Heroes at Strawberry Point

Our April Habitat Heroes workday at Strawberry Point was a success thanks to a truly dedicated team of volunteers and Stewardship Committee members!

Braving challenging weather, this group showed up with energy and determination—removing invasive species like thistle, mustard, and ice plant to protect native coastal plants and habitat. Their hard work made a meaningful impact across the site, including along the new Coastal Trail.

We’re incredibly grateful for the commitment, teamwork, and care each volunteer brought to the day. Thank you for showing up for the land and for this community.

The next Habitat Heroes Workday will take place on May 9, and we look forward to welcoming both returning and new volunteers. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to sara@coastsidelandtrust.org for more details.

Double Your Impact! Coastside Gives Early Giving!

Dear Friends,

We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the beauty of our coast.

As we step into Coastside Gives early giving, we at the Coastside Land Trust invite you to be part of something that nurtures both our land and our community.

For over two decades, our mission has been to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural, scenic, historical, and agricultural treasures of Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County coast—for today, and for generations to come.

From restoring native habitats to connecting local youth with nearby open spaces, our work thrives because of people like you. And during Coastside Gives, we have a special opportunity to make your generosity go even further. Thanks to a beloved anonymous donor, every gift will be matched, up to $20,000!

Your gift will directly support our Junior Land Stewards Program—bringing environmental science to life for local students through hands-on fieldwork, nature journaling, and inquiry-based exploration. From studying wildflowers and pollinators to identifying birds and participating in real community science, students gain both scientific skills and a meaningful connection to the landscapes around them.

Just as importantly, this program ensures that all students across the Cabrillo Unified School District have access to outdoor learning experiences, regardless of background. We also support teachers with training and resources to carry this learning into their classrooms year-round, and offer high school students the opportunity to grow into leadership roles as field guides—sharing their knowledge with younger students and the broader community.

Your gift helps us reach more classrooms, inspire more young scientists, and cultivate the next generation of land stewards who will care for this coast we all love.

Please consider making a gift today during early giving to help us continue this important work—and double your impact in the process.

We are deeply grateful to the Mavericks Community Foundation for this incredible opportunity to support this vital program and the shared coastal lands that make our work possible—dramatic blufftop views, rolling valleys, rich wetlands, and historic open spaces that inspire, renew, and connect us all. These places are our collective legacy, and an investment in the future we share.

Wavecrest Coastal Trail Extension Update: South Stairs Underway

Exciting progress continues at Wavecrest!

Construction is now actively underway on the beach access stairs on the south side of the ravine, closest to Redondo Beach Road. This marks an important milestone in the Wavecrest Coastal Trail Extension, bringing us one step closer to safe, designated access from the blufftops down to Redondo Beach.

As many of you know, these stairs are a key part of the project—designed to improve coastal access while protecting sensitive habitats and reducing erosion caused by informal trails. Redondo Beach will soon be more accessible for the community to enjoy in a way that supports the long-term health of this special place. Work on the south stairs follows months of trail building, habitat restoration, and preparation work across the site.

We’re grateful for your patience as this work continues, and for the care our community shows in respecting active construction zones.

Celebrating Our Student Artists in the Coastside News

We’re excited to share that the recent Half Moon Bay High School student art show at Coastside Land Trust was featured in the Coastside News!

The article highlights the creativity, talent, and inspiration behind this special exhibition, which brought our community together to celebrate student artists and the natural beauty that surrounds us. Events like these are a powerful reminder of the connection between art, place, and community.

We’re so grateful to the students, teachers, families, and supporters who made this show such a meaningful success.

Please take a moment to read the full feature and relive the celebration:

Wear Your Love for the Coast!

Looking for a way to carry a little piece of the Coastside with you wherever you go? Our Coastside Land Trust Gift Shop just added a fresh line of warm-weather favorites that celebrate the beautiful animals we share our coast with!

From raptors soaring above coastal bluffs to the quiet magic of bats at dusk and the playful mystery of long-tailed weasels, each design reflects the incredible biodiversity of the San Mateo Coast. Even more special—many of these pieces are created by our very own COO and resident artist, Sara Polgar, whose love for local wildlife shines through in every detail.

And the best part? Every purchase gives back. When you shop with us, you’re directly supporting land conservation, stewardship, community education, and our Junior Land Stewards program—helping protect open spaces and inspire the next generation of environmental caretakers.

Whether you’re treating yourself to a new layer or picking out a gift for someone you love, you’re also helping care for the land we all love.

Take a peek and see if you find your new favorite Coastside staple.

RECORDING: The Secret Language of Pacific Chorus Frogs

The Secret Language of Pacific Chorus Frogs

Presented by Dr. Alejandro Vélez Meléndez

Free community webinar recording

Please enjoy this recording, as we welcome Dr. Alejandro Vélez Meléndez, who shares how frogs use sound to communicate, how their environment shapes their calls, and why these tiny voices play such an important role in their social lives. He’ll highlight research projects in sites closeby,  and connect that science to the Pacific chorus frogs right here on our own coast.

The Secret Language of Pacific Chorus Frogs free community webinar…

The Secret Language of Pacific Chorus Frogs

Presented by Dr. Alejandro Vélez Meléndez

March 21, 2026

10-11am PST
Free Community Webinar

Don’t forget to join us today as we welcome Dr. Alejandro Vélez Meléndez, who will share how frogs use sound to communicate, how their environment shapes their calls, and why these tiny voices play such an important role in their social lives. He’ll highlight fascinating research projects happening in sites closeby,  and we’ll also connect that science to the Pacific chorus frogs right here on our own coast.

If you register for this event you can join us live, or view it as a webinar recording. A recording link will be sent to all registrants.
View all past webinars HERE. 

Coastside Land Trust 2025 Year in Review

The Coastside Land Trust 2025 Year in Review is a celebration of what our incredible community made possible this past year. Together, we protected cherished open spaces, inspired young environmental stewards, restored vital habitats, and created meaningful opportunities for people to connect with nature across the Coastside. Every milestone reflects the generosity, volunteer spirit, and shared commitment of our supporters and neighbors who care deeply about our shared open spaces. We’re thrilled to share these accomplishments and grateful for everyone who helped make 2025 such an inspiring year for local land and community…

If you would like to support our mission to preserve, protect, and steward our shared open spaces, please donate today. No gift is too small to make an impact.

From Petal to Pistil: 4th Grade Flower Dissections

Something remarkable bloomed in classrooms across the Cabrillo Unified School District this week.

Fourth grade students at all four elementary schools became young scientists as they carefully dissected flowers — petal by petal and part by part — uncovering the extraordinary biology hidden inside every bloom.

This hands-on lesson was months in the making. Since October, students in Coastside Land Trust’s Junior Land Stewards program have helped build pollinator gardens across seven classes, planting nearly 1,000 native plants. Along the way, they’ve studied the many pollinators that sustain our coastal ecosystems — from bees and butterflies to beetles and hummingbirds — and discovered the essential role each plays in helping plants reproduce. The flower dissection was a natural next step: to understand pollination, you first have to understand the flower itself.

During the lab, students removed and examined each part - petals, sepals, stamens, and the central pistil - learning the name and job of every structure. Stamens are the male parts, producing pollen that pollinators carry from flower to flower. The pistil is the female part, with a sticky stigma at the top to catch that pollen and an ovary at the base where fertilization happens. Then students picked up handheld microscopes and entered another world entirely - suddenly, delicate pollen grains, intricate textures, and structures invisible to the naked eye came into sharp focus, transforming a familiar flower into something almost alien and completely fascinating.

Two discoveries stopped students in their tracks. First, that flowers have both male and female parts in a single bloom. Second - and this one really got them - that flowers have eggs. When students opened the ovary and spotted the tiny ovules inside, the connection between pollinators, flowers, seeds, and food suddenly became real and tangible.

During the dissection, students sketched their flowers, labeled each part on a worksheet, and pressed the flower pieces into their nature journals - a personal record of observation and growing scientific knowledge they'll carry with them all year. 

The pollinator garden is growing. So are the scientists who built it.

Thank you to the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, Cabrillo Unified School District, Granada Community Service District, and everyone who contributed during Coastside Gives for their generous support of this program.

If you would like to help this program continue to grow, please consider making a donation to support the Junior Land Stewards and the ongoing protection and stewardship of our precious open spaces.

A Community Celebration of Student Art

Thank you to the many community members who came out to support Coastside Land Trust’s Winter Art Show featuring the talented student artists of Half Moon Bay High School. It was heartwarming to see students proudly sharing their work alongside their families and friends, surrounded by such an encouraging and enthusiastic crowd.

We are especially grateful for the support of district leadership, including the Superintendent, as well as the high school principal and vice principal, whose presence meant so much to the students. We were also thrilled to see so many Coastside Land Trust supporters, board members, and members of the Half Moon Bay History Association come together to celebrate the creativity and dedication of our local youth.

Events like this are a powerful reminder of how deeply our community values the arts, education, and opportunities for young people to shine. Thank you for showing up and making the evening so special.

Thank you Repetto's Nursery and Florist!

Coastside Land Trust is grateful to our wonderful local partner, Repetto’s Nursery & Florist, for donating the beautiful blooms used in this season’s Junior Land Stewards flower dissections.

Because of their generosity, 4th grade students were able to explore plant science hands-on, carefully examining fresh, vibrant flowers while learning how they function. As a beloved third-generation, family-run Coastside business — known for its gorgeous orchids and fresh seasonal flowers, many grown right on-site.

We are so thankful for community businesses like Repetto’s that invest in local education and help connect young people to the natural world. Their donation brought science to life for our Junior Land Stewards and helped nurture the next generation of environmental stewards right here on the Coastside.

Photo credit: Haley Peterson

Teachers Take Root: Junior Land Stewards Program Hosts Second Nature Journaling Workshop

Photos: Haley Peterson

Coastside Land Trust’s Junior Land Stewards (JLS) program continues to grow - alongside the educators behind it.

Last week, 4th grade teachers from across Cabrillo Unified School District gathered for the second JLS teacher workshop of the year. Led by JLS Program Manager Haley Peterson and Nature Journaling Educator Elexis Padron, the group spent an immersive afternoon exploring one of El Granada’s most special (and often overlooked) natural spaces: the local monarch overwintering site.

Tucked within a eucalyptus forest and doubling as a seasonal wetland, this remarkable place hums with biodiversity. Frogs, snakes, raptors, songbirds, and native plants all find refuge here. Careful observers can even spot the distinctive sap wells created by a yellow-bellied sapsucker etched into the bark of towering trees. And yet, despite its ecological richness, the site remains unprotected and is currently owned by the district — a detail that made the visit feel both meaningful and urgent.

Over the course of 90 minutes, teachers fanned out and followed their curiosity. One knelt beside nearby vernal pools, absorbed in close observation. Another carefully documented the shape and texture of oxalis leaves. A third spent the entire time sketching a cluster of mushrooms. One stood still beneath the canopy, pencil poised, recording every bird call drifting through the trees. The morning’s bird list was a delight: spotted towhee, ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-rumped warbler, Anna’s hummingbird, Allen’s hummingbird, chestnut-backed chickadee, and even a great horned owl.

This is the heart of nature journaling - there’s no wrong way in. Whether you’re a data collector, an artist, a listener, or simply a wonderer, the journal becomes a tool for genuine connection with the natural world. These are the habits of attention and curiosity teachers will carry back to their classrooms and share with students through the Junior Land Stewards program.

But the workshop offers something beyond pedagogy. It provides a rare opportunity for educators to slow down together — to step away from lesson plans and rediscover their own sense of awe. That kind of renewal matters, not just for teachers, but for the young people they inspire.

We’re grateful to Haley, Elexis, and every teacher who showed up with open eyes and a pencil. The Junior Land Stewards program is stronger because of the educators who believe in it — and because of the wild places, like this quiet eucalyptus grove in El Granada, that remind us what’s worth protecting.

Thank you Habitat Heroes!

Photo credit: Rhonda Figone

A small but mighty group of Habitat Heroes came out this past weekend to help remove invasive plants at Wavecrest Open Space, and we lucked out with beautiful Saturday morning weather. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers Julie, Vicky, Sophia O., Stella, Rhonda, Scott, Sophia H., and Carol—along with Coastside Land Trust Stewardship Committee members Barbara L. and Robin, and our fearless leader, Sara P.—we made tremendous progress clearing a large area near the eucalyptus grove on CLT’s 50-acre Wavecrest property.

The crew working on weeding out teasel and bristly ox-tongue from the rushes. Photo credit: Sara Polgar

Together, volunteers tackled several key invasive weeds, including bristly ox-tongue, teasel, and poison hemlock. Like many invasive plants, these species spread aggressively and crowd out native coastal prairie plants. By removing them early in the growing season (before they flower and produce seeds) we help give native species like blue-eyed grass, soap plant, Douglas’ iris, and rushes a better chance to thrive. These native plants are essential for supporting the insects, birds, and other wildlife that depend on healthy coastal habitats.

A bouquet of aromatic eucalyptus! Photo credit: Sara Polgar

The timing of this work couldn’t have been better - with weeds just emerging, and the ground soft enough for effective digging and pulling. Thanks to the energy and teamwork of our volunteers, a significant stretch of prairie is now better positioned for a strong growing season.

Admiring an unusual bristly ox-tongue. Photo Credit: Sara Polgar

These hands-on workdays are critical for the care of our fragile coastal habitats. They are also an opportunity for learning together, and building a community of people committed to the long-term health of our shared open space lands.

The next Habitat Heroes Workday will take place on March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at CLT's Purisima Old Town Site property (affectionately known as "POTS"), and we look forward to welcoming both returning and new volunteers. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to sara@coastsidelandtrust.org for more details.

Voice of the Open Space: Sara Polgar- COO of Coastside Land Trust and Wavecrest Coastal Trail Project Lead

If you’ve walked the bluffs at Wavecrest on a clear evening, watched a red-tailed hawk drift over the fields, or caught the soft glow of soap plant blossoms opening at dusk, you’ve experienced something Sara Polgar hopes everyone gets to feel: connection — connection to land, connection to community, connection to something larger than ourselves.

As Coastside Land Trust’s Chief Operating Officer and the passionate project manager behind the Wavecrest Coastal Trail extension, Sara’s work is rooted in that simple idea.

Sara Polgar with the HMBHS Junior Land Stewards field guides.

Finding Home on the Coast
Sara grew up in a small rural town on the East Coast, and after studying at Stanford and earning her master’s degree in coastal resource management at UC Santa Barbara, she knew she wanted to land somewhere that felt both coastal and close-knit.

Nearly nineteen years ago, she found that here. “This area had the small-town feel I loved,” she says. “Friends nearby, being able to walk everywhere, spending lots of time outside. It felt like a place where you could really live.” It’s also where she and her friends raised their kids together - more like siblings than neighbors- with open space as their shared backyard.

Sara with her family on the Coastal Trail.

From Planning to Doing
Sara’s career began in the world of regional planning for coastal access and sea level rise adaptation for San Francisco Bay - important work, but often slow-moving and without the satisfaction of following through on plans. That insight led her to focus more locally in her career and volunteerism. For almost ten years at the San Mateo Resource Conservation District, she did “boots on the ground” work on the Coastside, fixing erosion issues, restoring habitat and improving water quality in coastal creeks. 

Meanwhile, Sara joined the Coastside Land Trust board in 2011, drawn to the organization’s hands-on stewardship and tangible impact. Today, as COO, she helps guide everything from natural resource management and restoration projects to trail planning, grants, and programs like the Junior Land Stewards. “It’s work that leads to action on the land,” she explains. “You can actually see the difference.”

Sara leading one of her many habitat restoration projects.

Why Protected Spaces Matter
For Sara, coastal open space is both ecological refuge and community commons. These lands protect habitat for raptors, native plants, and fragile ecosystems. They also serve as gathering places for families, neighbors, and visitors - places that are accessible to everyone, regardless of income.

“Public coastal access is protected by law," she says. “Anyone can come here - to walk, play music, sit, watch the ocean, or dip their feet in the ocean.” She smiles thinking about the everyday scenes: volleyball games in the field, kids wandering trails, families escaping the heat inland for a foggy afternoon at the beach.

“It’s not always shiny and perfect,” she adds. “People can be hard on habitat. Part of my job is figuring out how we make human use and nature more compatible.” That balance, between welcoming people and protecting the land, guides her work on projects like the Wavecrest Coastal Trail Project.

The Magic in the Details
Ask Sara when she feels most connected to Wavecrest, and she talks about the small, unexpected moments: soap plant blossoms glowing at dusk, lying on the ground for a breather during a long day of work at the trail project and smelling the ocean air, a calm moment to sit under the stars listening to frog songs and trading stories with her colleagues on a recent night when the Land Trust hosted an astronomy event. “Those surprises in nature…” she says.

During the pandemic, when the world felt uncertain, open space became even more essential. She watched her seventh-grade child and neighborhood kids bike through the trails, build forts, invent games, and claim the fields as their own. “It was such a reminder,” she says. “Even when everything feels like it’s falling apart, the natural world keeps going. Kids still find freedom and silliness out there.” It reinforced something she already knew: these places aren’t luxuries. They’re lifelines.

Sara with fellow Wavecrest trail extension visionaries.

Looking Ahead
As the Land Trust grows, Sara sees a future with deeper stewardship - larger-scale restoration projects, stronger habitat support, and more education through programs like Junior Land Stewards, and partnerships with local schools. At the same time, the organization’s “bread and butter” remains the same: protecting open space as it becomes available and ensuring it stays accessible for generations. And the work can be slow. Environmental progress often is.

So how does she keep going? “With a sense of humor,” she laughs. “You can’t take everything too heavily. You have to find levity and give people the benefit of the doubt. Most folks are just out here because they want to enjoy being outside.”

Sara, we are all so grateful for you!

Full Circle
Recently, Sara brought her parents out to see the Wavecrest Coastal Trail in person. It was one of the first projects of hers they’ve ever been able to witness firsthand. And after her dad’s recent hip surgery they were able to take a comfortable walk together on this trail along the bluffs that she has been working so hard on for the past 11 years.

“At 51, I still want to make my parents proud,” she says, smiling. Sharing that walk - showing them the path she helped shape and the landscape she works to protect - it captures something essential about her work.

These trails aren’t just infrastructure. They’re invitations: to walk, to gather, to heal, to belong. And thanks to Sara’s steady, thoughtful leadership, Wavecrest - and all of the shared  Coastside open spaces - will keep offering that invitation to all of us.

Junior Land Stewards Planting Their Seedlings!

During the third Junior Land Stewards field trip of the year, each 4th grade class took part in its own hands-on habitat restoration experience, bringing months of classroom learning out into the field. Over the course of seven field trips, students planted California native plants they had grown from seed, finally returning them to the land where they belong. Additional native plants provided by California State Parks Nursery and Half Moon Bay High School AP Environmental Science students helped expand the impact of each outing.

When students added up their work across all seven trips, they estimated that they collectively planted nearly 1,000 native plants. Across each field trip, students weeded planting areas, carefully placed seedlings into the soil, watered them in, and documented their observations through nature journaling. Along the way, they discussed the challenges their plants may now face in open space, naming gophers, deer, rabbits, dogs, strong winds, heavy rain, drought, and human impacts. These conversations helped students understand that planting is just the beginning, and that healthy habitat requires ongoing care, protection, and stewardship. Students also reflected deeply on why this work matters. They talked about creating habitat and food sources for local wildlife, especially pollinators and birds, and about their responsibility to care for the places they live.

Participating classes from Hatch Elementary (three classes), El Granada Elementary (two classes), Farallone View, and King’s Mountain each contributed to this collective effort. By the end of their field trips, students could clearly see that their individual actions, thoughtful planting, careful observation, and teamwork, add up to something powerful: a healthier coastal prairie and a more hopeful future for the species that depend on it.

Thank you to the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, Cabrillo Unified School District, Granada Community Service District, and everyone who contributed during Coastside Gives for their generous support of this program.

If you would like to help this program continue to grow, please consider making a donation to support the Junior Land Stewards and the ongoing protection and stewardship of our precious open spaces.

Winter Art Show: “Natural Wonders,” Featuring Work by Half Moon Bay High School Art Students

"Pescadero" by Ezran Appel

"Great Horned Owl  " by Faith Elder 

"Mi Menley Alma" by Luisa Nah Balam 

The Coastside Land Trust is proud to partner with Half Moon Bay High School art instructors Claire Gould and Nina Andersen to present an exceptional showcase of artists from all grade levels. This vibrant collection of paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works celebrates the beauty of our natural world. We invite you to enjoy these pieces, which pay tribute to local landscapes, beloved pets, wildlife, and whimsical, nature-inspired creativity.

Following the March 6 event, the show will remain on display at Coastside Land Trust through March 26. If you’re unable to attend on March 6, please reach out to info@coastsidelandtrust.org to schedule a time to view the exhibit.

Getting Down to Earth: Students Explore the Science of Soil

Things got a little muddy (in the best way!) as the Junior Land Stewards recently dove into the fascinating world beneath our feet — soil science.

Through hands-on demonstrations, students explored soil texture, drainage, and erosion, learning how different types of soil look, feel, and behave in the real world. After reviewing soil particle sizes, they made predictions: which soil would drain the fastest — gravelly, sandy, or clay-rich?

Then came the big test. Equal amounts of water were poured over each soil type, and students watched closely as the water moved through. The winner? Gravelly soil, with water racing through its larger spaces between particles.

Next, students turned their attention to their own habitat gardens. Using the soil jar test and a soil texture triangle, they calculated percentages of sand, silt, and clay to determine their garden’s soil type — a little math, a little science, and a lot of discovery.

To wrap up the day, the focus shifted to soil health and erosion prevention. Students simulated a rainstorm over three scenarios: bare soil, soil covered with mulch, and soil supported by plants and roots. The results were clear and powerful. Plant roots play a critical role in holding soil in place, while mulch acts as an important temporary shield against erosion.

By the end of the lab, students had a new appreciation for the ground beneath them. As one student put it, “I thought soil was cool before this lab, but now I think it’s even cooler!”

We couldn’t agree more. Healthy soil is the foundation of healthy habitats — and future stewards are learning just how important it is.

Thank you to the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, Cabrillo Unified School District, Granada Community Service District, and everyone who contributed during Coastside Gives for their generous support of this program.

If you would like to help this program continue to grow, please consider making a donation to support the Junior Land Stewards and the ongoing protection and stewardship of our precious open spaces.