A significant goal for the Conejo Open Space Foundation is education. To that end, the Foundation supports the Conejo Open Space Trails Advisory Committee (COSTAC) in coordinating an annual environmental education program for Conejo Valley fifth graders. More than 27,000 students have taken part in Trails Education Days since its inception in 1992.

The 18th annual Trails Education Days event took place from April 27 through May 1, 2009. Over 1500 fifth grade students from 20 CVUSD Elementary Schools attended. To prepare for their day in Wildwood Park, students watched a newly produced video at their schools. The video included information segments about trail safety, local Native American traditions, the "food chain," mountain lions and bobcats, and how natural open space is acquired for public ownership. Presenters were COSCA Chair Rorie Skei, CRPD Parks Superintendent and former COSCA Ranger Matt Kouba, COSCA Rangers Greg Jones and Bruce Pace, and Naturalist Oscar Ortiz.

More than 50 individuals volunteered to lead the students on nature hikes this year, and several volunteered to lead two hikes per day every day for a total of 10 hikes each throughout the week. An additional 10 volunteers worked at the Nature Center to coordinate the program and keep it on schedule, and others helped with preparation and follow-up.

At Wildwood Park, following their one-hour nature hikes, the students attended three workshops:

• COSCA rangers hosted “Careers in Open Space,” with guests from the National Park Service, Mountains Recreation Conservation Area, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Each ranger brought his or her own approach to the workshops, focusing on trail building and repair, search and rescue, interpretive programs, and so on. Highlights this year included a close-up look at the new MRCA fire truck on Monday and a selection of snakes and turtles that students were encouraged to handle presented by MRCA Ranger Luke McJimpson on Friday. COSCA Ranger Jane Fawke and student volunteers separated a barrel full of discards following the students' picnic lunch to show how much food is wasted and how much material can be recycled.

• "Trail Safety & Courtesy," led by Mark Langton, stressed appropriate ways to enjoy Multiple Use trails and open space, with help from bicyclists, equestrians and hikers who brought their dogs. A short skit by the workshop participants included "things you should NEVER do in the open space." As always, the students were quick to find these violations and productive discussions followed.

• "Indigenous Animals" were presented by Animal Actors of Hollywood, who brought a raven, red tail hawk, turkey vulture, porcupine, and squirrel.

The fifth graders are invited to enter a writing contest to describe some of the things they learned during their Trails Education Days experience. 990 students entered the contest in 2009. 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 2009 are listed below.

Grand prize winners of the 2009 Trails Education Days Writing Contest: Mitchell Klein of Lang Ranch Elementary School Anastasia Pyrinis of Sycamore Canyon Elementary School Ally Stuart of Westlake Elementary School Erica Adam of Westlake Hills Elementary School Victoria Roeske of Westlake Hills Elementary School (Click on a name above to view his/her winning letter.)

2010 TRAILS EDUCATION DAYS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The 2010 Trails Education Days will take place from April 26 through April 30 (tentative dates). Volunteers can choose to help with the activities on any or all of the days that week. 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.

See the current Volunteer Manual for a more detailed description of the volunteer programs. Trails Education Days is described starting on page 12.

If you would like to help, please fill out a Volunteer Application, or contact Elayne Haggan at 805-492-6310.