This past weekend, I led an interpretive hike for a local Boy Scout Troop. The Troop had contacted me seeking help earning their backpacking merit badge. They needed to hike with a backpack and identify 10 useful plants. I suggested a local trail and the Rangers graciously agreed to host us. We had twenty adults and Scouts on the hike, which was two hours and covered 3.2 miles of trail. I interpreted and helped the Scouts to identify 19 useful [medicinal, edible, and tool wood] plants as follows: Bay Laurel Black sage Chocolate Lilly Coast Live Oak Coyote Bush Deerweed Fennell Hummingbird Sage Manzanita Milk Thistle Mugwort Plantain [ Narrow Leaf] Purple Needlegrass Soap Plant Sticky Monkey Flower Toyon Wild Rose Willow [Arroyo] Yucca [Spanish Bayonet] The Park Rangers contributed as well, and I learned some new things from them. A really great collaboration that benefited local youth!
Very kind of you to help pass on that knowledge to a younger generation. We are all better off when that is done!
@WOODSDEVIL That’s really awesome of you. I am personally trying to find a good fit for me in the local BSA and I’m thinking teaching classes / guiding outings might be it.
