Join us on a walk at Foothills Nature Preserve to learn about fire ecology in grassland, chaparral, and oak woodland ecosystems, and traditional uses of fire to steward the land. Participants will also learn about the Los Altos Hills County Fire Districts' work to manage vegetation to reduce the risk of intense wildfire, and how community members can maintain their land to both benefit the ecosystem and protect from wildfire.
Participants should expect to hike 2.5 miles at a slow to moderate pace on dirt trails, including some moderately steep hills. Most of the trails are in exposed, sunny areas; participants should bring water and wear sunscreen and a hat!
Visit Grassroots Ecology's Foothills Nature Preserve page to learn more about the ecosystem and accessibility considerations.
Waivers/Registration: All volunteers attending the workday must be registered individually and have approved the online waiver through this Eventbrite page. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Volunteers age 12 and under require an accompanying adult.
Parking: Meet at the Interpretive Center within Foothills Nature Preserve, 3300 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto 94304. Please carpool if possible. The road up to the site is very steep and curvy. Download driving instructions ahead of time, as there is limited cell reception up on Page Mill Rd. There will be a ranger at the park entrance, and volunteers will receive entry details in a reminder email.
Alternate Transportation: Foothills Nature Preserve is mainly accessible by car. Strong bikers can lock their bikes to a rack on-site.
Meeting Space: We will be meeting at the Interpretive Center. While there is limited cell service, there is public WiFi from the City of Palo Alto. There are water fountains and both gendered & all-gender bathrooms within a 10 minute walk from the meeting location.
Prepare for Working Outdoors:
Reusable water bottle filled with water
Long pants, long sleeves recommended
Sturdy closed-toed shoes that can get dirty
Hat/sunscreen
Plan for potential exposure to sun, poison oak, ticks
Prepare for limited to no cell reception
We will provide light snacks at the beginning of the walk.
Event Cancellations:
We are committed to the safety of our staff and volunteers. In the event that we must cancel a workday due to extreme weather conditions or poor air quality, a Grassroots Ecology staff person will reach out via email no later than 5:00 PM the day prior to this event.
Join Us!
Grassroots Ecology encourages people from all identities and backgrounds to participate in our programs. Many of our programs are outdoors and involve moving and working in a variety of landscapes. If you have accessibility concerns (e.g. allergies, limited mobility, learning differences), our projects are flexible and we are happy to work with you. Please reach out to the workday facilitator so we can prepare for your participation.
Accessibility concerns? Questions? Cancellations? Email siena@grassrootsecology.org