Backcountry Restoration at Foothills Nature Preserve

Hike with Grassroots Ecology staff to a remote part of Foothills Nature Preserve to restore a crucial waterway and wildlife corridor. Volunteers should expect to hike approximately 5 miles with 10 – 12 lb tools, over hilly terrain and through dense shrubs. We will remove a weedy shrub known as French broom in order to support the health of this watershed.

Los Trancos Creek is home to unique wildflowers, gorgeous blue oak woodlands, and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peninsula. This special community volunteer event will occur for 6 hours. Leaving early will be challenging, as the group will be hiking to a remote area of the preserve.

Please wear long sleeves and long pants to prepare for interacting with plants and the environment. More information about how to prepare for outdoor activities below.

Visit Grassroots Ecology’s Foothills Nature Preserve page to learn more about the ecosystem and accessibility considerations.

Waivers/Registration: All volunteers attending the workday must be registered individually and have approved the online waiver through here. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Volunteers age 12 and under require an accompanying adult.

Parking: Meet at Foothills Nature Preserve Interpretive Center at 3300 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto 94304. Please carpool if possible. The road up to the site is very steep and curvy. Download driving instructions ahead of time, as there is limited cell reception up on Page Mill Rd. There will be a ranger at the park entrance, and volunteers will receive entry details in their confirmation email.

Alternate Transportation: Foothills Nature Preserve is mainly accessible by car. Strong bikers can lock their bikes to a rack on-site.

Meeting Space: We will be meeting in front of the Interpretive Center. While there is limited cell service, there is public WiFi from the City of Palo Alto. At our meeting space, there are several bathrooms and water fountains.

Prepare for Working Outdoors:

Long pants, long sleeves required

Backpack

Reusable water bottle (filled with water)

Lunch and snacks

Sturdy closed-toed shoes that can get dirty

Hat/sunscreen or rain gear/boots

Epi-Pen or allergy medicine, if applicable

Plan for hiking while carrying a 10-12 lb tool on hilly terrain

Plan for potential exposure to sun, poison oak, ticks, prickly plants, uneven terrain

Prepare for limited to no cell reception, no water fountains, and no bathrooms during the volunteer event

We will provide gloves and tools.

Event Cancellations:

We are committed to the safety of our staff and volunteers. In the event that we must cancel a workday due to extreme weather conditions or poor air quality, a Grassroots Ecology staff person will reach out via email no later than 5:00 PM the day prior to this event.

Accessibility concerns? Questions? Cancellations? Email tyler@grassrootsecology.org