Thursday, March 1, 2018

Marinwood Park Nature Trail Volunteers needed.


News story from 2012

New posts in Marinwood park help tell nature's story

New signs along a trail in Marinwood will give its users as well as middle school students a new perspective on nature.
In the past week 15 new sign post stations have appeared along the half-mile newly dubbed Miller Creek Nature Trail in the panhandle section of Marinwood Park that runs from the Las Gallinas Playground area to Miller Creek Road behind the maintenance shed.
The post plan was hatched by Stephen Nestel of Friends of Marinwood-Lucas Valley.
"I walk in the park and wondered what was around me," he said. "I thought it would be cool for us to learn more about the park."
He approached Bob Arigi, a science teacher at nearby Miller Creek Middle School, about the idea of the stations. Arigi's classes had already been using the path and creek for science lessons, so the fit was natural.
Arigi's class has already posted information in the stations about scientists. The content will be changed regularly according to the season and the eighth grade natural science curriculum.
"They have been up for about a week and we have received good feedback," Arigi said.
The stations will also tell the public more about the bobcats, skunks, squirrels, raccoon, deer, turkey, reptiles, steelhead trout, owls, ducks and migratory birds that come to the area.
"The kids are producing the content," said Tom Horne, manager of the Marinwood Community Services District, which operates the park and helped install the stations.
Nestel hopes to get volunteers to help with a website that will include links with information, animal sounds and videos, as well as a blog of wildlife sightings to track the latest nature events in the park. Benches and a bulletin board may also be included at the park at a later date.
The project is a collaboration between the science department of Miller Creek Middle School, the Friends of Marinwood-Lucas Valley, Marinwood Community Services District, the Las Gallinas Lions Club, Kelly's Wishes and other community partners.
The initial trail signs have been created and donated to the community by the Lions Club at a cost of about $500. The Marinwood services district will be in charge of maintenance and repair.

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