The Nature Conservancy

Check out TNC's PSA with Jason Mraz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG8tJ-UmQDw&feature=player_embedded

Every wondered what your carbon footprint is? TNC offers a carbon footprint calculator that estimates the tons of carbon emissions you cause each year. I cause 16 tons of carbon emissions, which is still less than the average American. Find out what your count is:
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

& Vote for TNC in The Webby Awards at http://webby.aol.com/society/charitable_organizationsnonprofit
Voting ends May 4th. After you sign up, you can vote for any other category you want as well.

Photo: The Nature Conservancy

Change Something

When you want to find something productive to do over the weekend or over the summer...
visit dosomething.org or change.org

Photo: dosomething.org

The Sierra Club Pledge

In honor of Earth Day, the SC is collecting environmental pledges online from all over the country (no money or donations involved). You can choose between eco-friendly options and simply add your name to the list. You also get entered into winning a trip for two to Hawaii! I chose to bring reusable bags with me whenever I shop, what will you pledge?

To add your name visit: sierraclub.org/earthday/sweepstakes/default.aspx?s_src=110DUZED01

Photo: Sierra Club

Oceans

The movie Oceans opens on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. 20 cents of your ticket will go towards The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt a Reef Program in the Bahamas (when the movie is watched during opening week). Support this amazing film and cause. Oceans is a great way to celebrate Earth Week and help the environment.

For more information visit: disney.go.com/disneynature/oceans

Photo: Disney Nature

Spring Break 2010: Day 1: Morro Bay: Embarcadero

You know you are close to Morro Bay when you see Morro Rock, 578 feet high, towering over the landscape. It can be spotted from the highway about four miles away, and just continues to grow towards the sky under you finally reach the heart of the town. Morro Bay is situated in California’s central coast, just north of San Luis Obispo. With a population of about 10, 000, Morro Bay is a sizable community. There’s a lot to do that many would miss if they just drove through town. Camping, golfing, kayaking, sailing, hiking, and festivals. Shopping and dining is centered in its Embarcadero. The Embarcadero is the main street in town, right by the water. Consisting of various art galleries and restaurants. It was fun to look at the various novelty items and paintings that each gallery had to offer. As thursday evening began to set in I decided to find a restaurant for dinner. Rose’s Café seemed to fit my budget, and it served typical American food. I ordered the salmon fish tacos, they were extremely good. I paired it with a Shirley Temple, the first one I had ever tried. I’d happily order both again. Once dinner was over, I left to watch the sunset. Beautiful. The sun shrinking on the horizon until it disappeared under the sand dunes. Yes, sand dunes out in the sea. Morro Rock itself is placed in the middle of the ocean. The Rock has a volcanic origin and is the last of seven similar formations that run up the central coast. They are called the Seven Sisters. The day ended while I was still contemplating the existence of a mountain and a mini desert side by side in the sea. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds…

For more information visit: www.morrobay.org

Inyo Craters

Spring Break 2010: Day 1: Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara Zoo

The Santa Barbara Zoo holds a wide variety of animals, from birds to insects to reptiles to mammals. Though the parking lot was full, it was not overly crowded. Foliage lined the walkways and trees towered overhead. Everything was raised so you forget the city is just outside the zoo walls. It felt like its own separated community. It features common animals, such as elephants and giraffes, as well as lesser-known ones, like the capybara. It was fun to look for the animals and learn more about them. My most shocking discovery had to be the glow-in-the-dark scorpion. It makes you realize how much of the world is hidden from you. It’s beautiful; you just have to find it. The Santa Barbara Zoo provides a stellar atmosphere for education. My thursday afternoon was well spent.

Time to leave for my next destination. While continuing up the California coastline, yellow flowers covering the hills to the right, endless ocean expanding to the left, goodbye Santa Barbara, until next time.

For more information visit: www.sbzoo.org

Spring Break 2010: Day 1: Santa Barbara: Stearn's Wharf

Spring Break is always beautiful. The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming in every city. Perfect for travel.

The goal destination was Hearst Castle in San Simeon, about four hours north of Cypress, but I planned a few stops along the way. The first was Santa Barbara, CA. It was a calm sunny day for the thriving city. Palm trees lined the coastal paths and local artwork covered the building walls. The surfside feel was prominent near Stearn’s Wharf. The wharf is still fully functional to this day, but includes some other attractions as well. Stearn’s Wharf is complete with restaurants, shops, cruises, and a sea center. It was an extraordinarily wide pier and allowed cars to go onto the deck and park near the end. Lunch was at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company on the wharf. It was an order and take out place, but the seafood was good. Their coconut shrimp was flavorful. Especially while holding a vast view of Santa Barbara and the ocean waters. Sea gulls were flying around above us. Though I was disappointed to realize no pelicans were in sight. Instead, I spotted a sea lion in the water. He would swim around for a few seconds and then dive underwater, only to emerge ten seconds later a good number of yards from his original spot. I continued to walk and soon passed the triple dolphin fountain that marked the entrance to the wharf. Time to see one more tourist destination that Santa Barbara has to offer…

For more information visit: www.stearnswharf.org

Deer Mountain

When I was in Mammoth Lakes, CA in August 2009, I hiked many trails, but none as challenging as Deer Mountain (though I didn’t dare try Shadow Lake… my balance is atrocious). The trail branched off the end of the Inyo Crater Trails (I’ll put pictures of the craters up in future posts). It was basically a vertical climb to the top; extremely vertical. It was more rock climbing than actual hiking, and I had my fair share of slips. Though finally after my two hour effort; I made it to the top. I didn’t know what I was going to find at the end, I learned about the trail in one of the informational newspapers about the Inyo County area and it didn’t mention any goal. Turns out that the end leads to a sheer drop-off, but the scenery was incredible. I could see all the trees blanketing the horizon along with the clear blue sky. It was the ideal panoramic view for a hiking enthusiast. Seems like all the hard work paid off. I sat at the top alone for a little while. After about five minutes my dog comes walking up the trail. I do love my American Foxhound. After soaking in the salutary air and brilliant sunlight, it was time to head down. Sliding down was even harder than climbing up, but finally I made it back down to the craters. It was one of my favorite hikes. I loved the mystery and accomplishment of it all. I can’t wait to go back and hike it again.

It’s easy to find hikes around any area if you know where to look. They’re actually not very far from where we live. El Dorado Park in Long Beach, CA has a Nature Trail that can be from 0.5 mi.-2 mi. long (depending on which path you take). I’ve seen many amazing trails near Laguna Beach, CA, not to mention all the ones in the L.A. National Forest. Several mountains are near our area and provide great day hike trails, for instance, Mount Baldy or Mount Wilson. Mt. Wilson is only about an hour away from Cypress, CA. It provides an ideal opportunity to go hiking and have a picnic lunch. During the winter time it’s the best place to go sledding and have the side of the mountain to yourself!

Hiking is a healthy and rewarding activity. It’s nice to get out of the city every once in a while and experience the fresh mountain air. You won’t regret it.

Trails can be found at:
http://trails.sierraclub.org/index.html
http://www.localhikes.com/Default.asp

About the sites: The Sierra Club provides trails where you can bike and paddle as well. Localhikes.com was recommended to me by an OA teacher.

Student Conservation Association

The SCA provides the opportunity to do hands-on conservation work during the summer. You will get the chance to learn all necessary backcountry survival skills. You will be camping and hiking in the forest. Many students have never had the chance to go camping and experience nature, now is a good time. Your conservation crew will consist of two leaders and seven other high school students. Students are grouped randomly, so no one in the group is from the same high school or area. This gives a good opportunity to meet knew people and make lifelong friendships. Basically, it’s a two week summer trip away from home that’s good for you and the environment! :]

They have various programs that can last from about two to four weeks in length. They have three different tracks (June 10th, July 8th, and July 22nd). You can join crews that go front country or back country. The programs all vary depending on what each applicant wants so the best way to determine if the program is right for you is to research yourself. It provides a life changing summer experience. If you have nothing much planned for summer and you want to make a difference in your state, send an application to the SCA!

I first heard about this program from a current OA teacher. You can come to me during school and I can give you a brochure about the program. I have already filled out the application (except payment) and I hope you will consider joining a conservation crew too. To apply create a profile on the SCA website and find the application. The application is really long (but it does end eventually). There is a $25 application fee, but the program is tuition-free! Not bad for providing everything you need for two weeks, plus valuable lifelong lessons.

For more information visit: www.thesca.org

Photo: SCA

Plastic Disaster

When I visit the beach I always see trash along the shore. Plastic strewn about everywhere. Birds flying around and picking at whatever scraps people left behind. It has gotten to the point where most people are used to the devastation. It might just be a crowded Californian beach, but even isolated beaches, like Oregon's coast, have plastic wash up upon its shores.

Each time you use a reusable bag at Target Stores they will take five cents off your purchase. Simple, saves money, saves plastic, saves lives. Hundreds of marine mammals are killed by plastics that build up in the world's oceans every year. Reusable bags are an effortless way to reduce the damage.

Photo: TNC