|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Dorothy Leonard |
| Children enjoy Ms. Frizzle in the Visitor Center amphitheater |
|
|
|
Dorothy Leonard |
| Pony rides and face painting were popular with young children at the Equestrian Staging Area |
|
|
|
Dorothy Leonard |
| Art demonstration by Betty Blount on the visitor center terrace. |
|
|
|
Dorothy Leonard |
| The City of San Diego Fire and Life Safety Department brush rig was popular with children and their parents. |
|
|
|
Dorothy Leonard |
| Reptiles of San Diego County were presented by Mission Trails volunteer Alicia Berg. |
|
|
|
Dorothy Leonard |
| Mission Trails volunteer George Varga assists visitors with sun spot viewing. |
|
|
|
Dorothy Leonard |
| Richard Cerutti demonstrates flint knapping on the visitor center terrace. |
|
Record Crowds Turn Out for Explore Mission Trails Day 2009
by Pam Crooks
Saturday, May 16, dawned clear and cool for Explore Mission Trails Day 2009, as young families made their way to the Park for the big event. With more special activities than ever and a cooler day than predicted, hundreds and hundreds of people turned out. In the Equestrian Area, by 9:30 a.m. lines were already forming for the pony rides as 20 adults and 30 kids set out on a special guided walk called “Who lives here—the Critters of Mission Trails”. Over 160 folks were in attendance in the amphitheater at the Visitor Center for Ms. Frizzle™’s first program about coyotes.
By 10 a.m. hats and sunscreen were necessary but they just kept on coming—to visit the Santee Historical Society and SD Archaeology booth, attend the special workshop on photography, see the reptiles and watch the flint-knapping demonstration at the Visitor Center. Many stopped to take a look at sunspots through the specially-equipped telescope out on the terrace or the birds of prey inside.
Two more programs by Ms. Frizzle and other child-themed nature walks starting from the Visitor Center were very well-attended. (In fact, altogether over 500 adults and children enjoyed learning about coyotes from Scholastic Publishing’s Ms. Frizzle at this year’s event.) On Cowles Mountain every high-tech hiking pole was tried out more than once by the time that booth shut down at noon in the heat of the day.
Over at the Equestrian Area, mountain-biking demos and Project Wildlife animals drew crowds while little ones participated in the arts and crafts projects and climbed aboard City of San Diego fire fighting equipment. Meanwhile the ponies kept up the pace almost non-stop with free rides given until 2 p.m.
From the early bird walk in the Kumeyaay Campground Area to the twilight hike followed by star-gazing, many San Diegans and their children were introduced to the limitless opportunities that exist in Mission Trails year-round. In fact, more than one family group was overheard saying they’d never been here and would definitely be coming back often. By the end of the day, attendance at the Visitor Center and Equestrian Area beat prior Explore Mission Trails Day records with 2419 counted, 18% higher numbers than the best-attended prior event held in 2007. In fact, nearly 50% more people came this year than last, due in part to the very hot weather last year.
Special thanks to our sponsors who made all those great activities possible—San Diego Landfill Systems, the County of San Diego and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, Olive Garden Restaurants, Superior Ready Mix, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego Firefighters #145, San Diego County Water Authority, and our media sponsor KyXy radio. And of course to the Mission Trails Regional Park staff and many, many volunteers who contributed their time and talents to making this the best Explore Mission Trails Day yet!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
