Student volunteers from Cajon High School planted perennials and wildflower seeds in the meadow at SkyPark at Santa’s Village.

Students help restore the meadow

Submitted by Gina Richmond

On Nov. 7, students from Cajon High School in San Bernardino met at SkyPark at Santa’s Village to work on an ecological restoration project using native plants and seeds.
The student volunteers were also introduced to a variety of environmentally focused careers and they learned about the history of SkyPark and the park’s continuing restoration efforts in the meadow. The students worked in groups of five assisted by volunteer mentors.
The project was sponsored by the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD) through the Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship Program (SLEWS) and the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).
Even though the low temperatures made planting a bit challenging, students were able to plant 58 native perennials and sow approximately 18 pounds of native wildflower seeds. They also removed invasive plant species and learned about local birds, along with details on how to build birdhouses.
SkyPark at Santa’s Village has a history of active conservation efforts, focusing on both forest management and enhancing wildlife habitat.
For more information on similar projects, visit https://iercd.org/slews.