Westlake Charter Field Trip

Darlene Collisson • April 6, 2024

On March 7th, Dr. Galloway’s 9th grade class from Westlake Charter School in Natomas visited the Woodland Regional Park Preserve to learn about urban park transformations as part of their Planting a Revolution class. The Planting a Revolution class is focused on learning about sustainable agriculture and environmental practices while also developing farm to fork cooking skills. Students in this class are combining biology, chemistry, and food science with practical, hands-on skills training and field work.


During our field trip, students participated in several observational data collection activities, making note of the sites and sounds common to an urban preserve where nature meets urban residence. Students charted the noises they heard from bird calls to cars on the nearby roadway and discussed the impact that having urban noises so close might have on wildlife. Students also made observations of the plant and animal life throughout the preserve, noting the differences between different regions of the park. Their observations included everything from topography to plant type and size. Students then made claims about the cause of the differences, concluding that differences in water availability may be a large factor.


While we were able to cover a lot information during our field trip and discuss the relationship between nature preserves and food systems, the highlight of the trip came early on when students discovered that they would be able to take out a pair of binoculars on the hike… and that there were enough binoculars for everyone! The students were simply delighted to learn that everyone could use a pair of binoculars saying “you have enough for everyone?” And they did not miss an opportunity to use them, either! Students were able to view the nest of a red-tailed hawk, Canada Goose swimming in the middle of the pond, and another visiting class further along the path.


Another highlight of the trip was spotting some bones in the preserve. Using their binoculars, students found the bones and asked if we could check them out, so we detoured a bit and headed that direction. Students observed the bones and engaged in a truly inspiring conversation, trying to figure out what animal the bones belonged to. They found the spine and determined it was a mammal, and examined the teeth and concluded that it was an herbivore. In the end, they decided it probably belonged to a cow… and they were correct. Watching them work through the process of critical thinking and deduction was really incredible though!


The trip ended with a discussion about our watershed and water in our area. We meandered our way back towards the bus, stopping to look at various things and take pictures. In the end, students said they didn’t want to leave, which is a true testament to the wonder of the Woodland Regional Park Preserve.


-Kara Green (kgreen@tuleyome.org)


Education Associate


Certified California Naturalist

RECENT ARTICLES

Policy Corner: The Community Alternative Management Plan for Berryessa Snow Mountain

By Bryan Pride • November 3, 2025
It’s been a decade since the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument was designated in 2015, and just last year we celebrated the expansion of the Monument to include Molok Luyuk. Now we’re in an exciting new phase: working alongside our community to shape how this incredible landscape will be protected for generations to come. Throughout 2025, Tuleyome has been collaborating with the Bureau of Land Management to submit detailed information about the many “objects of interest” that make our National Monument so special, from unique soils, to native plants, breathtaking geology and the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people who have called this plan home for thousands of years. This information will help BLM develop the Monument’s resource management plan. But we’re not stopping there. We’re doing something that reflects the very best of what public lands protection can be: we’re creating a Community Alternative Management Plan (CAMP). What makes the CAMP different? The Berryessa Snow Mountain coalition brings together people who know the landscape intimately: climate scientists, geologists, botanists, hydrologists, recreationists, conservationists, community members and representatives from tribal nations. These aren’t just experts, they’re our neighbors, the people who hike these trails, study these ecosystems, and carry forward traditional knowledge passed down through generations. By bringing diverse expertise and perspectives to the table, we’re creating a management plan that is inclusive, and reflective of what the Monument means to all of us. The CAMP follows models like the Bears Ears National Monument and the Mojave Trails National Monument , where community-driven planning has shown that the best way to protect public lands is to partner with the people who care and know the landscapes the best. This is a co-stewardship in action, a real commitment to ensuring that local experts and tribal knowledge shape how we care for these lands. Once complete, we will present the CAMP to BLM to help inform their final Monument management plan. It is one of the many ways Tuleyome is making sure that those of us who visit, recreate, live near and hold cultural connections to the Monument have our voices heard in the decisions that affect these places we love. The work continues and we’re grateful to be doing it alongside a community that cares as deeply about Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument as we do. Want to get involved or learn more? Contact Bryan Pride, bpride@tuleyome.org , Tuleyome’s Policy Director

Stebbins Cold Canyon Workday

By Nate Lillge • October 2, 2025
Tuleyome was excited to be back in the field at Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve. Volunteers installed a Chronolog station that will help monitor restoration efforts on the Blue Ridge Trail. This station - a post next to the trail that encourages hikers to take a photo - will help UC Reserve System document the changes at the site without large amounts of resources and time dedicated to monitoring. You can be a part of restoration efforts by taking a photo at the station. Thanks to our volunteers who joined us! Photos from the day are available on Flickr . Check out our website for more chances to help Tuleyome maintain trails! More information about Chronolog can be found on their website . There are currently two cameras at Stebbins - one monitoring big leaf maples and this one on the Blue Ridge Trail . Head to Stebbins and be a part of the restoration efforts!

Welcome Horticultural Interns!

By Geoff Benn • October 2, 2025
Interns Diego, Ellen, and Rithika on the Rotary Pavilion at the Preserve Tuleyome is excited to welcome three new Horticultural Interns for Fall 2025! This is our second year offering this internship, where we pair college students with mentors at Woodland Regional Park Preserve to assist with projects including invasive plant removal, native plantings, and native species monitoring. This year’s cohort includes three UC Davis Environmental Science and Management majors – senior Diego Barraza and sophomores Ellen Jenkins and Rithika Warrier. They will be mentored by longtime Preserve volunteers Jennifer Hogan and Teri Barry. Over the course of the Fall Quarter, the interns will join volunteer crews for work days at the Preserve, providing opportunities for both skill development and networking. The Preserve, which opened to the public in May 2025, is a restored former landfill site that was developed into nature preserve to provide outdoor education opportunities and to protect the rare and endangered plants found on the site. The Preserve is a collaborative effort by the City of Woodland, Tuleyome, Yolo Habitat Conservancy, Rotary clubs, and other local organizations and volunteers. If you have any questions about the internship program or Tuleyome’s work at the Preserve, please contact Geoff Benn at gbenn@tuleyome.org.