Teens take a kayak trip on Lake Berryessa. Courtesy photo.

WOODLAND – As the end of summer nears, Tuleyome will take its last few groups of young adults kayaking on Lake Berryessa.

It was an active year for Tuleyome as more than 120 young adults participated in the annual Youth Outdoor Exploration Program. The kids love it. They learn teamwork, listening, and respect for the environment. Mostly, they just have fun.

The program is funded by the Yocha-De-He Community Fund, the Strong Foundation, Don Saylor’s Soups On! Event and private donors. The project began in 2005 to take local underserved teens rafting on the Cache Creek State Wild and Scenic River who might otherwise not have had that opportunity. This year Tuleyome expanded the program to include trail building, hiking, and kayaking.

Yolo County’s parks and public open spaces provide habitat for wildlife, scenic vistas, and places for people to enjoy the outdoors. Yolo County purchased the Otis Ranch, across from Camp Haswell Park, in 2002. The County Parks Master Plan, which included Otis Ranch, called for the creation of multi-use trails on the property.

Tuleyome volunteered to help Yolo County Parks begin trail construction, by mobilizing volunteers to build the first trail on the property. Teens from Tuleyome’s Youth Outdoor Exploration Program joined with other volunteers to help build the trail, working to clear a route around some of the scenic cliffs found on the property. The teens were enthusiastic and enjoyed seeing the results of their hard work.

After more than

400 hours of volunteer effort, Tuleyome is pleased to announce the first mile-and-a-half of the trail has been constructed. “Yolo County’s leaders were visionary in purchasing the ranch for the public, and we wanted to give back by helping them build the first public trail on the property,” said Andrew Fulks, Tuleyome president and project coordinator for the trail construction.

Vallerye Anderson, outreach director for Tuleyome commented, “These programs have been truly astounding. When the kids are working along side the adult volunteers they get a deeper understanding of what it means to help the community. Many of the youth commented that they would bring their families out to the trail since it was so close to where they live. Thanks to the volunteers at Tuleyome these kids were able to create a lasting connection to this area and can now share that piece of nature with their families. We especially want to thank Dan Garrett of Garrett Landscaping, who donated not only his time, but his Bobcat skid steer for grading work and the materials to build steps on the steeper sections of the trail.”

In addition to enjoying the water and the trails, the young adults get a unique chance to see a different world. On Lake Berryessa, the teens see wildlife including bald eagles, osprey, ducks, fish and turtles.

Jennifer of the Esparto R.I.S.E. after school program writes, “My favorite part of the trip was learning to use a kayak, and I only wished the day was longer.”

Joshua Basofin, an environmental lawyer and Tuleyome volunteer, comments “It is great to be part of the Youth Outdoor Exploration Program. Spending a day on the lake, talking about the natural history of the area, building teamwork skills, and just having fun is rewarding for everyone involved.”

For more information on Tuleyome check www.tuleyome.org or call 530-350-2599.

Children also are able to take hikes in the great outdoors thanks to the program. Courtesy photo.