On October 11, the Open Space Authority hosted students from San Jose's Harker Academy at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. More than 200 high school freshman students and staff came out, making it the biggest volunteer Land Steward service day in Authority history. The Harker volunteers gathered to hear San Jose City Councilmember Chappie Jones speak about the importance of protecting the environment, and then worked on trail maintenance, removing non-native mustard plants along the Arrowhead Trail.
The work the Harker group did at the preserve makes the trail more enjoyable for the more than 60,000 annual visitors, while improving the habitat for native plants and animals. In one day the students did work that would take Authority staff hundreds of hours!
The school covered the event in their online newsletter, which also included an article written by a Harker journalism student. Follow up activities with the school will include a hike during the wildflower season and a conservation careers presentation.
