HOTL Monthly Trips

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2025

FALL: We kicked off the school year with a trip to McLaughlin Natural Reserve in October by assisting PhD student Olivia Parra with constructing burn piles for an upcoming experiment investigating controlled burns as restoration tools. On our way there we met a rattlesnake who let us know they would prefer to not be disturbed – we left them be we were all happier for it. Some participants were lucky enough to help another graduate student Kekoa Nelson, with a controlled burn in a meadow ecosystem. It was gratifying to contribute to restoration research that will hopefully be useful to land managers throughout California! It was a sunny, burn-heavy weekend so we enjoyed ample rest in the afternoon, a sunset stroll in the evening, and delicious veggie and turkey chilli for dinner, made by former participant and first-time trip lead, Gavin Chaboya. In the morning, we relished the serene, cool air as we used water color to paint our favorite nature scenes from the weekend. Participants took breaks throughout the weekend to find inspiration for their water color paintings. Some of these water color paintings will be featured in Hands on the Lands upcoming Anthology and Art Exhibition, supported in part by The Green Initiative Fund.

WINTER: Our January and February trips took us to Cahill Riparian Reserve, just 30 minutes from Davis. We helped Reserve Director, Paul Havemann, establish pitfall traps, camera traps, and cover boards as part of the Sentinel Site Network. Establishing cover boards had us climbing over dense thickets and safely crossing streams. One portable charger was lost, and recovered, but never forgotten in this valiant effort. In February we overnighted at Quail Ridge Reserve and took in a stunning sunset amidst the cold temperatures. In the morning we were greeted by a perched golden eagle near the field station and for our place-based activity we designed stickers for future Hands on the Land swag. 

SPRING: In April, our team headed off to Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve for a day trip. We broke into smaller groups and worked on multiple projects. Our first project was a Bumble bee survey, which was a part of the bigger Bioblitz survey ongoing at the reserve. We learnt it takes a lot of patience to wait for the bumblebee to come out on a not-so-sunny day. But when a few of them did come out, it was so special! For our next project, we did a trail cleanup collecting trash and clearing paths to keep our trails clean and beautiful. Some of us also learnt to use Weed Wacker for the first time! And finally, our third group assisted Dr. Laci Gerhart and her student Gabi in installing a memorial plaque for Priscilla Castro and transplanting wildflowers around it to celebrate her life and her love for flowers and butterflies. This experience gave us time to pause and reflect, making it a meaningful way to honor her life. It served as a reminder of how small acts of service can carry lasting significance for a community.

Our final 2025-2026 trip will be May 16-17 to McLaughlin Natural Reserve. Sign up for our email list to be alerted when sign-ups open! Stay tuned for our trips in the 2026-2027 year!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2024

FALL: The 2023-2024 school year kicked off with an awesome trip to McLaughlin Reserve in October. We spent the morning collecting seeds of several native plant species. In the afternoon, we used these seeds to restore the soil bank of a pond that had been eroded. By reseeding the area we encourage restoration through the growth of native plants and stabilization of the surrounding soil. On Sunday, co-leader Becca Nelson led a poetry workshop that encouraged participants to reflect on our experience on the land. After enjoying good weather all day on Saturday, a steady rain appeared just in time to make our poetry session ultra cozy. The rainy day magic made everyone super brave sharing out their work, and we were blown away by our group’s inspiration and creativity. Some of the best poems came from participants who had never written poetry before. Experiences like these inspire us to work on a Hands on the Land anthology in coming years. 

WINTER: We had beautiful visits to McLaughlin Reserve and Stebbins Reserve. For our January trip to McLaughlin, we participated in clearing downed trees, and processing logs and branches to prepare for controlled burning. Enjoying s’mores around a fire was the perfect way to complete the day. In February, we went to Stebbins Reserve, where participants worked under the guidance of reserve managers to complete trail maintenance. 

SPRING: We had a wonderful time visiting Quail Ridge Reserve and helping with restoration through stabilizing an erosion gully and clearing roadways of fallen trees. After the day's work, participants enjoyed a refreshing dip at the local swimming hole and a delicious dinner cooked by our very talented Dylan Moore with the 360 views overlooking gorgeous Quail reserve. On Sunday, participants went on a herpetology walk, where you can momentarily flip over boards that provide habitat and shelter for different herps and animals. Like all of our trips, there was zero cost to participants and this trip in particular was sponsored by the Student Equity in Mental Health Programming Award. Our May outtake survey revealed the amazing impacts that our year-round trips have on participants’ including: an essential feeling of connection to a tangible community, feeling inspired by others’ shared passion for the environment, feeling a greater sense of purpose and connection to nature, and feeling more optimistic and motivated in general.