Introducing Stand for the Land!
Category: Blog, branching out conservation for everyone, Grove of Old Trees, Nature for All, Outdoor Equity, outings, Partners, School Partnerships, Stand for the Land
By LandPaths Staff
February 6, 2025
On a Wednesday afternoon in January, a group of teens and adults from Santa Rosa headed to the Grove of Old Trees for an afternoon of respite and connection. After chatting and laughing during the 30-minute ride to Occidental, the teens grew quiet as they ventured out on a meandering walk along lightly curving paths at LandPaths’ 40+ acre redwood sanctuary; The quiet was no surprise as multiple studies have demonstrated that spending time in forests reduces anxiety, calms the nervous system, and eases the spirit.
About 20 minutes into the hike, the group came upon a redwood with a large gap at the front flanked by signs in English and Spanish alerting passers-by to the presence of bats roosting inside the “fire-hollowed base, known as a cat’s face.” The teens, still quiet up to that point, grew more animated, clamoring to get a peek at the tree. “Can we look at it?” one of the teens exclaimed. The search for bats brought a spirit of adventure and delight to the moment. (Don’t worry – no bats were disturbed in the process!)
Stand for the Land, a new program at LandPaths, currently focuses on referrals related to youth and gang violence prevention or intervention through the City of Santa Rosa. It is a partnership between LandPaths, Santa Rosa City Schools, Santa Rosa High School’s Restorative Resources staff, and the City of Santa Rosa’s Violence Prevention Partnership.
LandPaths provided transportation from Elsie Allen High School and other spots and our New Audiences staff – Danny, Nancy, Gilberto – led the outing. “It was a very supportive environment – from picking the youth up at school, getting to know them on the car ride, and having enough adult mentors on the outing,” says LandPaths’ New Audiences Manager Danny Chaparro. “It wasalso great to see youth from Santa Rosa High School and Elsie Allen High School talking and bonding with each other over the meal we shared afterward.”
Stand for the Land will offer a new outing each month to various preserves and open spaces, along with food and other opportunities to nurture positive connections with nature, leadership and self-confidence, a desire to care for the land, and a sense of belonging.
“Thank you for taking care of my son,” said one parent after their child was dropped off after the trip. “He needs to stay busy. I don’t have much time after work so I’m glad he’s going out with all of you instead of being out where I don’t know where he is.”
This year, potential plans include snow trips, a summer camp out for the teens and their families, and even overnight adventures that combine visits to a nature preserve with tours of college campuses!
“It’s cool that there are outdoor spaces like this close to home,” said one teen participant. “If we could one day go to the snow that would be dope. I’ve never been to the snow!”
Interested in supporting Stand for the Land? We are looking for donations of outdoor gear that will help the teens feel more comfortable on their adventures in nature. Or if you are an organization with youth referrals through the City of Santa Rosa, feel free to reach out to see how your program might benefit! Contact Danny Chaparro at [email protected] (
Partners
