Workshops ran from 10:00 to 11:30 A.M. and 12:00 noon to 1:30 P.M. each day. Lunch from Whole Foods Market was provided for all staff and volunteers from 11:30 to noon.

The fifth graders were invited to enter a letter writing contest to describe some of the things they learned during their Trails Education Days experience. Over 800 students entered the contest. Five Grand Prize winners and two winners from each school were chosen to receive cash awards as well as recognition by the Thousand Oaks City Council and the CRPD Board of Directors. The Grand Prize winners for 2007 are listed below.

Grand prize winners of the 2007 Trails Education Days Writing Contest are: Andrew Perkins, Evelyn Truong, Jed McGuigan, Savanna Sipes, and Vivian Hu. (Click on a name above to view his/her winning letter.)

Mayor Fox & COSTAC Chair Brown with grand prize winners Jed McGuigan, Vivian Hu & Savanna Sipes	Grand prize winner Evelyn Truong

TRAILS EDUCATION DAYS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Without the volunteers who give so much to this program, Trails Education Days could not take place. We are especially pleased that so many volunteers come back year after year, ready to give a new crop of Fifth Graders a valuable experience in the Conejo open space. Here are volunteer job descriptions:

HIKE LEADERS - Hike leaders take groups of 12 to 15 fifth graders on 1-hour, 1-mile hikes from the Wildflower Playing Fields to the Nature Center via the Wildwood Canyon Trail. One teacher or parent volunteer accompanies each group to keep the students focused on their hike leader; the leader talks to the group about indigenous plant and animal life. At intervals along the way, plants are tagged with multiple choice questions. Vast knowledge about local plants and animals is not a requirement. Volunteers range from experienced naturalists, botanists, and wildlife biologists to people who value natural open space and wish to contribute to our program. Volunteers who have not participated in this program previously are asked to attend a training session the week before Trails Education Days. These training sessions are conducted by professional naturalists and include a rehearsal hike to the Nature Center on Wildwood Canyon Trail. With 1,650 students attending over a 5 day period, we need as many as 15 people per day to lead 2 hikes each.

GENERAL COORDINATORS - Several people are needed each day to help keep the program running smoothly and on schedule. These volunteers unload the school groups from their buses, assign the groups to their hike leaders, usher the groups from one workshop to the next, pass out water bottles as the students leave the canyon, lead groups on the 20 minute hike back to their buses, set up the Nature Center for the volunteers' lunches, and do whatever else comes up. Interested people might choose to volunteer for one morning, a day or two, or for the entire week.

TRAIL SAFETY & COURTESY WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS - One workshop involves a hiker, bicyclist, equestrian, and dog walker. These trail users act out a scenario for the students that illustrates right and wrong ways to behave in the open space. Volunteers typically participate in 5 or 6 half-hour workshops each day, over a total of 4 hours, and volunteer for one or more days of the program.

All volunteers are treated to snacks and lunch, courtesy of COSCA and Whole Foods Markets. A benefit to volunteers is that they meet many other people who share their interests and commitment to open space. If interested, please fill out a Volunteer Application.