Saying goodbye is never easy.  Despite developing a healthy, loving relationship with the chaparral over the last seven months, we’re currently taking a break.  For the past month I’ve left behind my beloved field work behind for long hours inside the office.  Saying that sitting leaves me antsy is an understatement.  I long to frolic in the chaparral once more!

Although cubicle days can be tough and data entry an undeniably necessary evil, it does have its perks.   Working on a multitude of education and outreach projects for Pine Hill Preserve is a great outlet for sharing my enthusiasm.  Throughout the field season we had a handful of regular student volunteers, but our current efforts aim at getting many more excited about rare plants, conservation, and BLM.  A large part of which has been tabling at local career fairs.  This week’s event alone had over 1,400 students!  I love hearing students whose initial questions were “The BL-who? Chapara-what?! ” leave enthusiastic about conservation.  Hopefully we’ve inspired a new botanist or two!

 We’ve also been working hard to develop new education and outreach materials for the Preserve.  Most recently this has included brainstorming for our booth at the upcoming Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary celebration.  Ten thousand girl scouts are expected!  My days are filled with color book pages, display boards, and bright photos– not to mention the immeasurable challenging of distilling down chaparral, the preserve, and rare plants to an appropriate level. How do you explain gabbro soil intrusion endemic chaparral plants to first graders!?

The crayons are calling! over and out.

Sophia Weinmann

CLM Intern: El Dorado Hills, CA