January 2026 Watershed News | | |
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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Between our Solstice planting in December and our MLK Day workdays in January, over 200 students joined us to roll up their sleeves to plant, pull, water, and restore, making up 40% of the volunteers at these events. Youth are a vital force in caring for the Sausal Creek Watershed, like this group from Brothers on the Rise who helped clear invasive vegetation and reduce fire risk in Dimond Canyon on MLK Day.
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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Upcoming Events
Valentine's Day Family Creekside Crafts
February 14, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Dimond Park
| | | | Join us on Valentine's Day for a cozy morning of crafting by the creek. This family-friendly event is especially great for those with young children. Instructions and materials will be provided for creating cyanotype (sun print) Valentine’s cards, with additional art supplies available for open-ended crafting. | | |
Arctostaphylos: A Wonderful and Confusing Genus
By Student Board Member Oliver Hopkins
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If you're anything like me, seeing the features of Arctostaphylos thrills you. Muscular, twisting, smooth trunks and beautiful red-brown peeling bark contrasts strikingly with green to near white leaves. They range in form from imposing trees to creeping mats less than a foot tall at maturity. When springtime comes, beautiful white-pink flowers are borne in clusters that resemble tiny paper lanterns. Now, circling back to being like me, you may find yourself struggling to tell them apart!
There are around 90 species of manzanita; mostly native to California with some ranging from British Columbia to Northern Mexico. Unfortunately for us, many of them share extremely similar characteristics, often making identification difficult, but here are some tips I’ve learned to make it easier.
—Oliver Hopkins, FOSC Student Board Member and Skyline High School Junior
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FOSC's Student Leadership
Welcome Oliver, and Welcome Back Laila!
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Oliver Hopkins is an Oakland native who is passionate about youth climate literacy, invasive ecology, and gardening. He has interned with the local nonprofit organization Earth Team for several years, working on restoration projects throughout the Bay Area and creating climate education frameworks for his school district. Oliver first volunteered with FOSC in his sophomore year and discovered this position through his school's Green Energy program.
As a Student Board Member, he hopes to engage more deeply with Oakland's ecosystems and contribute to the ecological rehabilitation of the watershed.
| | | | Last year, we were fortunate to have Laila Robinson as one of our Student Board Members. This year, Laila has transitioned into a new role as a Student Ambassador, continuing to deepen her involvement at our Bridgeview restoration site while supporting outreach efforts at community events. | |
Student Opportunities
FOSC Spring Stream Team 2026
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FOSC and Youth Employment Partnership (YEP) are teaming up again to offer PAID environmental internships for Oakland high school students this spring.
The program will run from mid-March through May, with an opportunity for afterschool or weekend sessions.
Make a positive environmental impact while growing skills, building your resume, and connecting with others. Learn how to identify local plants and insects, grow seedlings and care for plants, test and monitor water quality, and more! Eligible students are ages 15-18 Oakland residents. More details and instructions to apply are coming soon. Help us spread the word!
| | REAP Climate Center Paid Training | | | | Check out this other paid opportunity from REAP Climate Center, a 6-week (48-hour) entry-level training program with hands-on learning in soil health, composting, and restoration. Open to anyone 18+ in the Bay Area, just enroll by January 30, 2026. | |
Community Grant Opportunity
Dimond Improvement Association
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The Dimond Improvement Association (DIA) Community Grants Program supports community-based projects that enhance the Dimond District through public art, neighborhood beautification, educational programs, and other initiatives that bring people together. Grants, typically ranging from $250–$1,500, are open to individuals and Oakland-based non-profit groups.
We are grateful to have been a recipient of a DIA Community Grant in 2025 for our Rooted in Dimond Community Learning and Stewardship Series, which supported our ability to host exciting community events like an invasive ivy basketweaving workshop, print bilingual interpretive signage, and plant hundreds of native plants in Dimond Park and Canyon. If you or anyone you know would be a good candidate for this grant, we encourage you to share this opportunity!
For more information, guidelines, and to apply, visit the DIA Community Grant page. Apps due March 2!
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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, Oliver Hopkins, Laila Robinson, REAP Climate Center, Eliana Thompson
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