Learning Among the Oaks Nature Notes September 2021
Connecting Kids, Nature and Land Through the seasons and years, building lasting relationships
Through the past 16 + years, countless children have hiked and explored nature with us in the oak woodlands at Santa Margarita Ranch (Santa Margarita Elementary School); in more recent years, we've added the Vineyard School Nature Trail (Vineyard Elementary School) , and the Pismo Preserve (Ocean View Elementary School).
Learning Among the Oaks (LATO) gives kids the chance to visit the same oak trail year after year. It's not a one time experience. Does it get boring to go to the same trail? Listen to this student:
“I really enjoy the oak trail hikes. Each time I go, I learn something new. Although it is the same trail, it is always changing.” --- Lili
Through the pandemic, we've largely missed our usual trail hikes. We're now looking forward to getting back out among the oaks with kids this fall. We hope you'll enjoy these highlights of current activities made possible through your support - as a friend, volunteer, partner or donor. Oak Ambassador "Boot Camp" Preparing a new crop of junior oak nature guides 
Spring 2021 came and went with no school class hikes and no newly minted Oak Ambassadors (OAs) guiding nature explorations for other kids. We need these new OAs to help with hikes later this fall so we'll soon begin OA Boot Camps. We'll condense 12 weeks of training into 4 weeks but we're confident that these kids, representing Vineyard Elementary School, Santa Margarita Elementary School and Ocean View Elementary School will be up for the challenge.
Find out more about Oak Ambassadors. Sewing Oaks Santa Margarita School Oak Ambassador family project 
Young sewing enthusiast Emily Lannon has enlisted support from her Oak Ambassador family (Big sis Nora) and friends to create special seats for the Santa Margarita School LATO Nature Classroom. Mom Jen saw a pattern for these oak "stumps," perfect for the Nature Classroom. Emily says, "This is the largest project I've ever done. The canvas fabric is so different from that used for making clothes. I'm excited and looking forward to sitting on these in the Nature Classroom. Way to go, Em!
When Em and Nora aren't exploring nature, helping out with stewardship projects or just playing outdoors, you might find them performing The Return of the Condor.
Go Mustangs (Santa Margarita School mascot)! Wonders of the Oak Woodland Art Hike and Upcoming Youth Art Show 
Kids connecting with nature on Sept. 11 hike at Santa Margarita LATO Trail* spotted two bald eagles as they explored the trail. *Private property of Santa Margarita Ranch; access restricted to LATO educational hikes.
Wonders of the Oak Woodlands Youth Art Show Details and Application See list of Wonders to consider for your art project. Art will be displayed Oct. 1 - Nov. 30 at Art Central Gallery in downtown San Luis Obispo. Participants can opt to keep or sell their art. 
This Santa Margarita bald eagle showed up in front of one of our wildlife cameras on July 4, 2016. Rare Bear Appearance at Pismo Preserve Habitat matters We rarely see Black Bears among the images collected from our Pismo Preserve wildlife cameras (backside of the Preserve with restricted access to protect wildlife). In contrast, bears are a fairly common sight around Santa Margarita. Perhaps the Santa Margarita habitat is more to their liking, with a greater diversity of food sources and shelter. Bears are omnivores, meaning that their diet includes both plants and animals. Through the seasons, availability of these foods changes.
Grandmother Oaks Where are the acorns? 
The Land Conservancy Executive Director Kaila Dettman with her favorite old oak. There are many "Grandmother Oaks" to be found among the oaks gracing San Luis Obispo County landscapes. Some speak to us - "I've survived through hundreds of years and witnessed a lot of history." We'll never know how old many of these oaks are - likely hundreds of years. Size can be deceptive as some oaks grow more slowly than others, depending on species and site. Some of these ancient oaks are still producing acorns, hope for growing future mama oaks. 
Volunteer Needed Wildlife Camera Project Team + School Hike Docents More information about the Wildlife Camera Project Volunteer Team More information about the Hike Docent Volunteer Team Thank you for taking time to read LATO Nature Notes!
Thank you for taking time for nature notes. Please feel welcome to contact us (use button above) if you'd like more information about LATO projects.
--- Bev Gingg, LATO Manager --- Alex Zewiski, LATO Coordinator
Our Contact Information |
