February 2025 Watershed News | |
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This special edition of the FOSC newsletter features articles and contributions from a
few of our incredibly talented and environmentally active young community members,
as well as outreach and stewardship opportunities designed for youth.
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“We helped Cal Fire by cutting off acacia trees because it decreases fire fuel. I felt good about it because if a fire ever happens then the fire won’t spread as much.”
-Aiden, 7th grade, Summit Expeditions Program 2025
Photo by Elena Stenger
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Friends of Sausal Creek is a volunteer-based, community organization. We appreciate your support of our education, monitoring, and restoration programs in the
Sausal Creek Watershed.
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Summit Expeditions Program
Summit Students Dig into Restoration
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In January 2025, seventh graders Jose and Aiden from Summit Public School in Richmond dedicated 45 hours to hands-on learning and restoration work in the Sausal Creek Watershed. As part of Summit's Expeditions Program, they learned how to support native biodiversity and enhance climate resilience. Their efforts included felling over 25 invasive acacia trees in Joaquin Miller Park, removing 148 golf balls from the creek in Dimond Canyon, and clearing more than 5 cubic yards of French broom in Wood Park and Fern Ravine.
Jose and Aiden shared that they are eager to inspire their peers to join in future restoration efforts with Friends of Sausal Creek.
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Friend of the Month
Daniel Grasman
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Meet Daniel, an Eagle Scout from Piedmont Troop 4, who recently rebuilt eight benches for the FOSC native plant nursery for his Eagle project.
Daniel’s project makes a lasting impact, replacing old bench tops with a durable material that allows for better drainage, is easier to clean, and simplifies moving plants. These improvements help reduce the risk of pathogens spreading among the thousands of native plants we grow every year for habitat restoration.
FOSC: What did you learn from the process of rebuilding the benches?
Daniel: "It took a lot of skill to rebuild the benches. I found that you needed to be pretty flexible in trying new things to get the project done. In fact, I needed to know how to saw, drill, stain, hammer, and sand. I had never done a project like this and I learned a lot. Rebuilding the benches also took a lot of creativity to reuse materials. It took some creative planning and careful checking to remake the benches so that everything would fit together properly."
Beyond the technical skills, Daniel found a deeper connection to the space itself. "Working there was peaceful and enabled me to connect to nature. When we were working late, there was an amazing chorus of insects that raised their voices at sunset. I think in that moment I felt the most connected to the landscape as the insects hummed and sang while we worked. The sunset was also a special moment as well where the sun rays split in light rays over the landscape."
Now, Daniel looks forward to being an advocate and helper for Troop 4 and FOSC.
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FOSC's Student Board Members
Welcome, Vick and Laila!
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Laila Robinson has lived across the East Bay and began volunteering with FOSC through her school’s Environmental Science Academy. Passionate about protecting pollinator species and native plant communities, she founded the Native Horticulture Club at Oakland High to promote community outreach and ecological restoration.
As a student board member, she hopes her efforts to restore and conserve natural spaces will uplift local communities and foster environmental stewardship.
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Vick Agarwal first discovered Sausal Creek during a community service day with his school, College Prep, where students explored Oakland’s natural spaces and learned about their conservation. Captivated by the creek’s hidden beauty, he decided to deepen his involvement by becoming a student board member at FOSC, contributing directly to habitat restoration efforts. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, cooking with herbs and produce from his garden, and exploring the Presidio. | |
Student Opportunities
Volunteer with FOSC
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Get your service hours completed with Friends of Sausal Creek. We have weekly (sometimes more!) volunteer opportunities for you to help your local environment. Three easy steps:
✅ Check out our volunteer calendar to find event times and locations.
✅ RSVP online and sign these two waivers: FOSC and City of Oakland.
✅ Just show up! No experience necessary. We recommend shoes with good grip, long sleeves and pants, sun protection, and a water bottle. We’ll provide the gloves, tools, and instruction.
Are you an Eagle Scout interested in doing a project that supports FOSC’s restoration efforts? Fill out this interest form!
Opportunities via Our Partners
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Join Dimond Improvement Association’s 4th annual Dimond Shine Day neighborhood cleanup event! Connect with fellow community members while weeding tree wells, removing graffiti, planting flowers, mulching, painting, and picking up litter throughout the Dimond commercial district.Sunday, March 23, 9am - 12pm.
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More info and RSVP here.
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Check out East Bay Regional Parks District’s Careers for Students and Youth. They are currently accepting applications for summer jobs like interpretive aides, student laborers, gate attendants & recreation leaders.
- Attend the Virtual Youth Job Fair via Zoom
- Saturday, March 1,10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
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Enter the Climate Video Challenge via California Coastal Commission
- Whether you are inspired by others' work, already part of an active group, or looking to turn an idea into reality, the California Coastal Commission challenges you to answer the question: How is your community responding to the climate crisis?
- Who can enter? California middle and high school students
- Entry Deadline: May 29, by 5 p.m.
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FOSC Highlights from Our Watershed | | |
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Fern Ravine: FOSC has secured funding to install new fencing at our Sausal Creek headwaters restoration site in Fern Ravine, enhancing protection for this critical habitat.
Pallid Manzanitas: With a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, FOSC collected cuttings from pallid manzanitas to propagate in the nursery, contributing to the recovery of this endangered species.
Collaboration: FOSC partnered with Sogorea Te' to identify native plants for protection at Rinihmu Pulte’irekne ahead of Cal Fire’s fuels reduction work.
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We need volunteers in the watershed now more than ever!
Join us for one of our many workdays.
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Friends of Sausal Creek is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to restore, maintain, and protect the Sausal Creek Watershed.
We educate future generations, involve the community in local environmental stewardship, and collaborate with agencies and other nonprofits to have a positive impact on the local ecosystem.
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Photo credits:
Elena Stenger, Daniel Grasman, Laila Robinson, Vickram Agarwal, Kate Berlin
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