San Juan Elementary Habitat Garden

BTN started this Fall by doing Traveling Naturalist programs for EACH CLASS in EACH GRADE LEVEL at San Juan Elementary.

While the K-2nd grade students grew plants from seed, the 3rd - 5th grade students participated in an outdoor program -in the future garden - where they tested the abiotic factors of the ecosystem (temperature, amount of sunlight, percolation of water through the soil, soil pH, etc.) The students took core samples and observed the soil, measured the area of the garden plot and monitored the animals already present in the garden. These tests will be repeated in the Spring, once the garden has had a chance to mature.

Volunteers from the community gathered to put 15 tons of DG (decomposed granite) in the habtat garden, to create the trail. Future students will use the trail to observe nature, and use the garden for art, writing, and even math activities!

Volunteers from UCLA, UCI, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton helped dig the holes.

BTN staff and Interns (Yuki, our intern is pictured here) assisted students in planting over 560 plants in the garden.

Planting Oak Trees at Caspers Wilderness Park

We began by constructing gopher baskets, so that our little oak trees would have a better chance at survival!



Nicholas and a new friend visited each oak, and wrote down the GPS coordinates of each, so we can monitor them and know which survived and which did not!

Theres always time to have a little fun - as long as we don't step on any native plants!

Buy Nothing Day Hike

Back to Natives was thrilled to have Bob Allen along! Mr Allen is SO knowledgeable, and luckily he was willing to share some of his knowledge with us along the trail.


An OLD Earth Star mushroom.

Peering at Red Shanks in the distance - it's ALMOST in Orange County!

Sycamore leaves contrasting with the blackened bark of Oak trees.

Full Moon Walk at Crystal Cove State Park

Jeronimo Creek Restoration Day!

USFS Restoration Volunteer Training at Caspers Wilderness Park

A reminder of why we care.

Paddle for a Plastic Free Ocean Event

Last weekend Back to Natives presented a booth at the Paddle for a Plastic Free Ocean event at the Huntington Beach Pier.

Tom Jones, professional athlete, who is paddling the coast of California to raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution.