Every afternoon even on the weekends there is always a lot of commotion coming from behind by backyard. Kids talking. Kids laughing. When I try to peek out there to see what's going on, I can see them but I can't see what they are doing. I've always wondered what they were doing back there.
 |
| The view of the back of my house behind my fence. |
Well.. now I know. They were planting, irrigating, weeding etc.. Behind my backyard is Tule Ponds, a wildlife sanctuary to many animals and plants that reside in the area along with having a natural constructed wetland combined into a single ecosystem.
 |
| It looked like a mini greenhouse was being created behind my backyard. Oh I wish we had a part of this land! My backyard would be so much bigger! |
It is not open to the public rather it is open by appointment and reservation only. They mainly host school field trips and student and/or adults who desire to do some community service.
 |
Emily and her friends, Caryn & Adrianne, getting ready to do some physical labor!
Eww ..don't want to know how many other people have used those same gloves!! |
To celebrate Earth Day, KHA's middle school worked on several restoration projects:
non-native plant removal and...
 |
| Our 8th graders pulled weeds.. looks like they're working in the rice paddies in Vietnam right? |
...dry brush removal from the trails.
 |
| 6th graders shoveling dry brush |
Even weeding the potted plants.
 |
| My house is just a few doors down this street from this spot! |
It was a great opportunity to help restore and preserve God's creation in our hometown. The kids also took it one step further to support our environment by walking from school to the Ponds (1.55 miles) and taking public transportation back to the school.
My daughter, on the other hand, instead of taking the bus back to school for me to pick her up to come home, walked all the way home by herself. She exited the gate (see above) and walked to our house just a few yards away. :)
That was literally the very first time she walked all the way home after school all by herself.