Hiking to a Local Arroyo

Both our Wiggle Worms preschool class and our afterschool Farm Friends class hiked to a nearby open space with an arroyo this week. Fortunately, it has been raining all week and the dry creek beds was coming to life with flowing water, mud, and plant life! We explored, jumped in puddles, drew pictures in the mud, asked questions about water flow, and practiced our Leave No Trace Principles by helping clean-up trash we found washed down stream. Arroyos, often dry riverbeds or intermittent streams, are crucial in a region's natural drainage system, found in arid environments and flow only during heavy rain or snowmelt. They serve as habitats for species adapted to fluctuating water conditions. Collecting trash from the arroyo helped our students practice environmental stewardship and build confidence in their ability to care for the Earth. It was an exciting day to be out observing all that water brings to the land, while challenging our bodies and building friendships.