Introducing Trail Tales, Our October Trail Academy Class Series
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz is proud to announce our October Trail Academy mini series: Trail Tales. Throughout the month, we’ll bring you brand new topics to discuss with experts in the field, and cover everything from fire ecology to trails planning and the public process.
Each class is one hour long, and will run from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. on weekdays, meaning you’ll be able to tune in on your lunch break. If you aren’t able to participate during that time frame, we encourage you to sign up anyway – we’ll send you a link to the recording so you can watch it on your own time!
We’re kicking things off on October 13 with our first class, How to Be an Everyday Naturalist with Alex Jones, UCSC’s Campus Reserve Manager. There are three more classes scheduled for the following weeks – find all the details and sign up below.
Trail Academy classes are free to attend, and donations are encouraged!
Tuesday, October 13: How to Be an Everyday Naturalist
What does it mean to be a naturalist? And how can YOU be one? Why should you? Join your hosts, Emma Ussat and Drew Perkins, Tuesday, October 13 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for How to Be an Everyday Naturalist – A Presentation with UCSC Campus Natural Reserve Manager Alex Jones. We’ll discuss tips and tricks you can use while recreating to transform your trail experiences from egocentric to ecoentric.
Thursday, October 15: Be Nice, Say Hi
We don’t need trail counter data to know that trail use is at an all-time high. New trail users are flocking to trails in the Bay Area in search of exercise, tranquility, and even a social life. In light of these new interactions, we bring you three trail enthusiasts from different user groups: an equestrian, a runner, and a mountain biker, to discuss how we can all recreate in harmony.
Join your hosts, Emma Ussat and Drew Perkins, Thursday, October 15, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for a presentation: Be Nice, Say Hi – A Discussion on Trail User Etiquette with Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz.
Our guest speakers include:
- Lindsay Overton, Santa Cruz County Horsemen's Association
- Dave Robinson, Ride Guides and CA State Parks Wilderness Patrol
- Chris Nestlerode, Santa Cruz Track Club
Thursday, October 22: Trails Planning and the Public Process
Did you know new trails on public land emerge thanks to input from folks like you? Join sustainable trail-building nonprofit Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz and land managers from across the Bay Area to learn the ins and outs of the trails public planning process and why it’s crucial for communities to participate. We’ll walk through what, why, and how the process exists, the impact of participation, and results.
Join your hosts, Emma Ussat and Drew Perkins, Thursday, October 22, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for a presentation on Trails Planning and the Public Process – A Discussion with Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz.
Our guest speakers include:
- Ben Blom, Central Coast Field Manager at the Bureau of Land Management
- Matt De Young, Executive Director of Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz
- Bryan Largay, Conservation Director of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
- Jason Spann, Landscape Architect at California State Parks
- Liz Westbrook, Trails Program Director at the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Thursday, October 29: Fire Ecology of the Santa Cruz Mountains
No one was prepared for the devastation of the CZU Fire Complex that erupted in the Santa Cruz mountains in August 2020. What happened? How did we get here? What’s next? Fire Ecologist, Ashley Grupenhoff, is going to help us answer some of these questions.
Join your hosts, Emma Ussat and Drew Perkins, Thursday, October 29, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for a presentation: Fire Ecology of the Santa Cruz Mountains – A Discussion on the Recent CZU Fire Complex Events with Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz.
