Recently I went with some kids from Wilderness Youth project and Outside Now (from Slo) to the Arroyo Hondo Preserve. We set up tents and the tea area and just got to relax for a bit until darkness fell and the stars arose. We were all given a blindfold and followed the counselor to a trail, Noodle (Aka Nick the counselor) told us to put the blindfolds on and listen to his story. He the story of a shaman who traveled to the underworld, for a gift. Upon reaching the underworld he was offered any one thing he desired most, he could choose wealth, fame, anything. But he chose a small gift off the the side almost out of sight, the gift of story telling. The shaman went blind at the expense of this gift but he traveled the world sharing his stories with all those who would listen. One by one they led us to a rope and told us to let go as we crawled with the blind fold on, and to follow it wherever it led. I crawled around trees and my hand went into a pile of spikes but I continued until the rope ended, then I was told to trust the tunnel. I felt around until I felt a wall and kept as close to it as a could not being able to see what was around me. But I heard water rushing. I made it through the tunnel and was then told to take my blind fold off where my friends were lying on the sand waiting for everyone else. The sky was beautiful filled so many stars and the sound of the ocean filled my ears, I sat there with my friends enjoying it until we had to leave.

We split into the groups the next day, half went to the creek and to look for Edible foods and the rest of us went to the beach. At the beach me and my friend Ismael immediately went to the water but I quickly chickened out as it was VERY cold. So instead I went to check out the tide pools. Linco found a shark egg, a lot of sea slugs and other creatures.

Chloë found this super awesome sea slug who was not even the size of my pinky, it was so bright and looked beautiful. I got to see a seal, some dolphins and the most beautiful whale. Oh yes I forget to mention we went to secret beach, so I’m not gunna say where it was or what it’s called or anything.

Later in the day we went back to the camp to find the creek kids had come back and we’re chilling at the tea area.

Stories were shared and Noodle read us all book, my friends Skye, Grayson and I went and sat on the VERY old hammock together for a while until we went to go make pizzas. We had pesto sauce made from stinging nettle the river kids had picked. My friend Ben and I made a pizza together, the last one. It took us a while to make but it was quite delicious. After dinner some of us gathered around the fire while my friend Ismael read us the most ridiculous book called “There’s a hair in my dirt” (it was about worms). After the very strange story, most of us headed to bed sad that we would need to part from are Slo friends in the morning.

The next day we all packed up but my friend Skye wrapped me up in all the pillows and blankets from the tea area, it was very comfy. When we were done packing up we had a final moment to walk around the reserve and enjoy the silence of nature for about 20 minutes before we had to say goodbye to our friends till next time.

( Also were given nature names at the beginning of the trip and I was “Western Fence Lizard”)