2ND ANNUAL LILAC TRAIL 5K RUN TEACHES KIDS ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS

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By Janis Mork

February 15, 2014 (El Cajon)- On Saturday February 1, the 2nd Annual Lilac 5K Trail Run took place at the Crestridge Ecological Reserve. This event was a fundraiser for environmental education and outreach programs of the Earth Discovery Institute.

There was a kid’s fun run, where participants were handed out ribbons, and a 5K, where participants were given T-shirts. Massages were also offered from the Wellness Center. No official horn started the race, but a representative from the Earth Discovery Institute, who organized this event, shouted “Go” and the runners were off.

Dena Rosenberger, a board member from the Earth Discovery Institute, participated in an exclusive interview with East County Magazine.  Participation in the race was up this year, she noted.

Asked how people can become a part of the Institute, she answered,”People can learn more at earthdiscovery.org.  We often on Saturday, have volunteer hours, where we are planting native plants and recovering non-native plants.”

The mission of the Institute is to build environmental stewardship through innovative, effective science education and community outreach and programs that are directly integrated with ecological conservation.  

Funds raised are used to “bring elementary children up from the city with their teachers, and we usually do a three day program with them, where they’re learning about native plants and animals. They also can do some planting for us,” Rosenberger said, adding, “We’re hoping to provide these kids with an early immersion into how important native plants and animals are. We also have some Native American artifacts here. We have grinding holes and some of these stones, which tell us that the Native Americans used this grove in the past to grind their acorns.”

Harper Cleves, a 5K participant and stepdaughter to Rosenberger, said she decided to participate because “my stepmom and my dad are putting on this race, and my stepmom is on the board of the Crest Ecological Reserve, so I grew up running around here and thought it was a good cause.”

The winners of the 5K were Alemu Talcott, Ciro Pluma-Melendez, and Robert Fine.

Learn more about the Earth Discovery Institute at: http://www.earthdiscovery.org/.

 

 


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