This evening, I went on a nature walk in the Presidio. It was a guided hike by a Presidio Ranger named Jess. We were learning about Ansel Adams and his connections with nature in the Presidio. Ansel Adams was a famous photographer. He loved beauty and nature and photographed what he saw. He was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Richmond District, very near Baker Beach and the Lobos Creek Valley. He played there every day and that helped develop his appreciation for nature. When he was an adult, we was also an conservationist and environmentalist. Here is photo of Ansel Adams in his older age, standing near Baker Beach, where he used to play, explore and take photos.
On tonight's hike, we looked at Ansel Adams photos and then explored the environment and played a fun game. We hiked down into the valley and Jess opened a large container with hats and props that represented animals and plants in the Lobos Creek environment. There was a Western Bluebird hat, a Gray Fox hat, a Xerces Butterfly, a yellow-eyed salamander, there was also lupine and an oak tree, plus sand dunes and an old-fashioned camera like Ansel's. We wore the different "costumes" to act out the relationships of the different plants and animals in the dune habitat. Here are photos of me wearing the gray fox and the Western Bluebird hats.
We took a stroll into the valley and we talked about different roles of the animals and plants. We also saw real lupine, and an endangered flower called the San Francisco Lessingia, which is coming back from near extinction. I learned that the Xerces Butterflies are officially extinct and the gray fox has not been seen in that ecosystem in a long time. We talked about ways that kids can help protect the environment. I suggested that we Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Jess added that it's import to also "Replenish." Next summer, I hope to be in the Naturalist program for kids at Chrissy Field.
