Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Introducing "Rotary Community Heroes of Hope" - a podcast dedicated to showcasing the profound impact of Rotary in District 5330 and beyond. Join us as we explore the remarkable stories of rotary heroes and initiatives that are transforming communities and creating hope around the world.
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Desert's Hidden Powers
What if the barren desert landscape you see is actually hiding a vibrant ecosystem more effective at carbon capture than rainforests? In this eye-opening conversation with Karen Jaffe from Friends of the Desert Mountains, we explore the surprising ecological importance of California's Coachella Valley desert and the critical conservation work happening right beneath our feet.
Karen reveals how desert plants create an "underground forest" of roots that excel at capturing carbon dioxide and storing it deep in the soil—performing this vital climate function better than rainforests. We learn about the delicate balance of water systems in the desert, from historical wetlands to modern challenges with development and water management, and how these changes affect everything from air quality to wildlife corridors.
The conversation shifts to the organization's three-pronged approach of conservation, education, and research, showcasing how these interconnected strategies protect biodiversity while creating meaningful ways for the public to engage with desert ecosystems. From guided hikes designed for diverse abilities to school programs that inspire environmental stewardship in children, Friends of the Desert Mountains demonstrates how conservation success depends on community involvement.
Most compellingly, Karen shares stories of collaboration with local indigenous tribes, incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into modern conservation practices. "The Cahuilla didn't try to fight the desert—they learned to live with it," she explains, highlighting the wisdom of working with natural systems rather than against them.
Whether you're fascinated by environmental science, looking for unique volunteer opportunities, or simply curious about the hidden complexity of desert landscapes, this episode offers fresh perspectives on conservation and community engagement. Visit desertmountains.org to discover how you can experience and support this vital ecosystem preservation work yourself.
Hello and welcome to the Community. Heroes of Hope, a podcast where we shine a light on the remarkable individuals and projects in Rotary District 5330 that bring hope and change to our local and global communities. I am Judy Zelfikar, your co-host and the current District Governor of Rotary District 5330.
Speaker 2:And I'm Niren McLean, the Rotary District Governor-Elect. Together, we're diving deep into the heart of the community service, showcasing the impact of dedication and collaboration in addressing some of the most pressing challenges our communities face.
Speaker 1:Each episode will tell stories of incredible people making a difference, innovating solutions and inspiring others to take action.
Speaker 2:We'll also be giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the projects that are transforming, making a difference, innovating solutions and inspiring others to take action. We'll also be giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the projects that are transforming their lives, and we'll discuss how you, too, can get involved, contribute and be part of the positive change. Whether you're a seasoned Rotarian or just looking to give back, this podcast is for you.
Speaker 1:So join us as we explore the journeys, challenges and successes of people like you who have stepped up to make a difference. Let's celebrate the spirit of community and the power of hope together.
Speaker 2:Don't forget to subscribe to the Community Heroes of Hope on your favorite podcast platform. Stay with us on this journey of inspiration and let's spread the message of hope further than ever.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning in. Let's get started.
Speaker 2:Well, karen, it is. I don't remember, I don't know if you remember this, but I saw you. I happen to have been out at the Palm Desert Rotary Club when you were doing a presentation there and I was just very, very much interested in your friends of the Desert Mountain and the work you were doing and I said I'd love to have you come and speak in Riverside. We were never able to put that together, but I'm excited to have the opportunity to have you talk to our district and tell them about what are you doing, what's going on and the needs out in the Coachella Valley, in the desert, because that's such an important part of our district and our state and I love that. The desert, because that's such an important part of our district and our state and I love that. So, governor Judy, that's how I met Karen and it was really a fascinating, fascinating talk that she gave at the Palm Desert Rotary Club.
Speaker 1:Well, that's why I love this podcast, because I get to learn new things every day. And I don't know, karen, I don't know anything about what you're doing. So this is very exciting and I hope to ask lots of questions. So forgive me if I jump in and start asking questions.
Speaker 3:No, that's okay. Adhd is my specialty, so let's keep it interesting. Yeah, my kind of gal.
Speaker 2:So, Karen, if you could tell us exactly the Friends of the Desert Mountains and how you got started and what is your focus and share with our district Rotarians who went out there at Palm Desert so don't know anything about your organization.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, and we find that a lot of people don't always know what we're doing here. We're one of the secrets the best kept secrets of Coachella Valley. My name is Karen Jaffe. I am the Marketing and Development Associate for Friends of the Desert Mountains Friends of the Desert Mountains. Our mission is we connect people to the land through conservation, education and research, all of which are really big concepts, so I really like being able to break it down for people into bite-sized pieces, right. So our desert is pretty big here and a lot of people think there's nothing going on out there, but it actually plays a really pivotal part in keeping our air and our water clean. And when we talk about preserving species and biodiversity, people think we're talking about our endangered species, which we have the peninsular ranges, bighorn sheep. We have desert tortoises. We have all kinds of plants and lizards that exist no place else but here, which indicates right there there's a lot of things growing and living in the desert, but one of our most important species that we also help protect are humans.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're kind of important a little bit.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we're one of those species that keeping clean air and water and protecting biodiversity actually benefits our community now and in the future, and that is what we really are excited about. For the most part, it's one thing that we're saving big swaths of the desert and people get to go out and play in them, and everything but the land that Friends conserves is pretty unique. It's not just wide open, beautiful spaces, it is places that protect, specifically here, our water supply. Coachella Valley is a big bowl.
Speaker 1:It's all very important and you know, one of the big areas of focus, a recently added area of focus of Rotary which is probably why that we had you were speaking at a Rotary club is the environment, and it is a very obviously very important part of all of us creatures, human and otherwise, being able to live and sustain on this planet. So I'm really excited to hear about what you're doing out in the desert to serve all of us, both the people and the planet.
Speaker 3:Judy, yeah, you nailed it with sustain. That is what we're doing here, yeah.
Speaker 2:So, Karen, normally you hear the forest or the Amazon being the lungs of the earth and cleaning it. Tell us how the desert does it, because that's not something you typically hear. At least I haven't.
Speaker 1:I haven't either. I'm excited to hear that.
Speaker 3:Exactly. We flip that, we flip that.
Speaker 3:So our desert is a forest underground.
Speaker 3:So when you see, like the little tiny tip of a plant here, like our creosote the ubiquitous creosote that's everywhere, underneath it is an entire forest of roots that are doing a really great job of pulling in that CO2, the carbon from the air air and then sticking it down in that calique clay so it doesn't ever come up again.
Speaker 3:So our desert actually does a better job of that than the rainforest and it holds it down really well too. So that's part of the reason we're, like you know, stay on the trail and don't bust the crust, and why we do get concerned when big parts of the desert get torn up for development and stuff, we're re-releasing all of that carbon right back into the air. So when you see space around those plants, that big open space that's kind of around the creosote, that's because its roots are out there and they're kind of holding hands with the plant next to it saying, hey, let's keep our desert clean. So that's why we love creosote, besides the fact that it smells fantastic after the rain. But yeah, our desert does a really good job of taking care of us if we take care of it.
Speaker 2:So what is unique, then, about the desert? You've explained about the air, which is fascinating. I did not know that. What is unique about the desert as far as the water is concerned?
Speaker 3:You know there's a song that talks about I miss you, like the desert's missed the rain, and the desert's like, well, we don't know when it's going to come again, so I can't really wait around for that. And there are things that we think of as a cyclical like. We think of like April showers bring me flowers no, not here. We need that rain back in October to soften up seeds that they'll be able to bloom when the springtime comes. And our water stuff.
Speaker 3:Here it's a complicated story, right, our valley used to have wetlands. It used to have flowing rivers and wetlands that came down into it. But one of the things that happens when development happens is we go up and we try and dam up those water areas so they don't flood our low-lying communities. You know, rancho Mirage is kind of down there, and further on down the valley those areas are lower and in the middle, and when we develop around those areas we don't want them to flood. So we dam up our waterways and we dam up a lot of other stuff.
Speaker 3:By doing that, there's only two ways that sand can get across the valley. It's constantly breaking down from our mountains, that's what water does to it, and then it flows down the mountains and the water drops off and goes into our aquifer. Yay, nice, clean water. And then the sand just kind of sits there and says how do I get across the valley to hang out in the sand dunes so that the fringe toad lizards have a place to live? Well, I've got two fun words, because they always give me the fun words to say you can either. Sand can either travel fluvian or aeolian. Fluvian is by the river and by water flow. Aeolian is in the air. So when you dam up the water flow, there's only one place left. They can't take Uber or Lyft. Those sand grains hit the air. And that's what we see when people are like oh, the air is so dirty here.
Speaker 3:Sandstorms happen in the desert. We all know that we have magic words for it haboobs, they really happen. But we are contributing to that by damming up our waterways so that we can kind of control the land, and you can't. I mean, the desert's always going to win. It was here before us, it'll be here after us.
Speaker 3:Right, it'll be here after us, right, yeah, but we have a right and a privilege to take care of it while we're here and leave it in the best condition for the generations that will follow us. You know, there's a reason the desert looks so good is the Cahuilla didn't try to fight it. They learned to live with it.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 3:So they're such a great example and that's why we're so excited to be working more like with our tribal leaders and learning their ways of knowledge and trying I mean even like forest management. They have gone and said you know what? The tribes had it right in the first place. So it's kind of exciting to be able to learn from the people who've been here since time immemorial and to partner with them. And, you know, try and take care of the desert in the same way, because they've got kids, we've all all got kids.
Speaker 3:I don't have kids, but people have children.
Speaker 2:People have children, some people have children, some people, some people have children and.
Speaker 3:I want this desert to be here for them. I really do. I grew up here, I was born here in Southern California and I have pictures of my parents driving around on my dad's motorcycle tearing up the sand dunes. There's a shotgun strapped to the front forks. He's a korean war vet and there's a lot of vets who come here to the big open spaces of the desert to just kind of let go and be and process the experience and I get that and I want that place for them here too. That's why I love chuckwalla right. Lots of space out there in the chuckwalla national monument for off-roading and hunting and hiking and still respecting the culture and the nature and everything that's out there in the Chukwala National Monument for off-roading and hunting and hiking and still respecting the culture and the nature and everything that's out there Desert has so much wonderful space. I just get excited about it.
Speaker 1:I'm a cheerleader for Chukwala and I want to talk about it and you talked a lot about, you know, working with the local tribes, which I think is incredibly important. How else can our community connect with you, Rotarians or non-Rotarians, to help to achieve the goals of preserving our environment and preserving this particular wonderful thing that we have in our valley?
Speaker 3:Right. So we've talked about conservation and the reasons that we do conservation Education. You nailed it. That is the next thing.
Speaker 3:If we cannot convince people to fall in love with the desert and help us take care of it the 109 of us that are friends of the Desert Mountains, which is like nine staff and 100 volunteers we can't do it all. We need people's help. So we do it in really insidious ways. We take people out hiking and we show them how beautiful it is out there. We do educational seminars where we talk to people about things like water and the impact that it has, planting native plants and the impact they have. There's these conservation is this really big concept? But there's little, tiny steps that everyday people can do to help. You can be an advocate. I mean, that doesn't cost you anything. That's just opening your mouth and saying I believe that this is important. But you can also come on a hike with us. Again, that's free. We love donations. I'll never say that we don't love donations, but our hikes are free and we have a variety of them and a variety of capacities.
Speaker 3:We actually lead hikes for people with disabilities as well, all because we know that they want to be, and deserve to be outside as much as anybody else, so like if you're older and you're a little concerned about, maybe, your abilities my abilities. Thank goodness we have some trails that are out there and you can go check them out. There's several places like morongo, big morongo preserve. We have a quarter mile trail up here at the santa rosa, san jacinto mountains national monument that you actually, if you're using a walker or a wheelchair, you can still go out here in the desert a little bit see the plants. I was out there this morning for five minutes and saw like bunnies and white-tailed squirrels and two different kinds of lizards. I did see a snake but honestly he's the office snake and he works here, so he doesn't really count.
Speaker 3:Robbie's kind of a ringer, but he's a ambassador, so that's like the open part of the public. We love for you guys to come out and get involved with us. We also have volunteer projects. Sometimes they're one-offs, like a national public lands day or earth day. We'll do a big cleanup here at the visitor center so that people can come and get their hands in the dirt and feel that ownership that comes with being a part of your public lands. Right, we're always like, yeah, these are your public lands, and today is your day to help clean it up. So there's ways that we get people involved all the time, and the really sneaky part that we're doing now is we're actually bringing more and more kids out to the land too, because they need to understand this is their future and they have to invest in it To be good environmental stewards of their land.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, because you know when they're little and we hear such stories that I would never want to stomp on any kid joy. But you hear stories about how fun it was to maybe kick a cactus down the hill and watch it roll, but like that cactus was the desert bighorn's food. Or that people like to take fountain grass and it has that wonderful feathery stuff on it and it's so fun to throw it and let it walk, you know, waft off in the wind Again, awesome. But fountain grass is a non-native species that really likes to plant itself here, suck up the water from the other local plants, then die off and become a fire hazard, right. So it's like an education thing where I think when people know better, they want to do better, they want to be part of the solution, and we are so here for that. We love giving people the big words to say so they can be the cool person at the cocktail party, whatever it takes.
Speaker 1:I'm taking that Pluvian word just saying I know, Aeolian, Pluvian, right. What was the other one, Aeolian, Aeolian. That makes me I'm thinking like Aeoli which is mayonnaise.
Speaker 3:but that's okay, I'll remember it.
Speaker 1:Pluvian and Aeoli. Now I have big words.
Speaker 3:See, my work is done here. I'm going to go, but yeah, we just love getting people excited about the desert. You can see that it gets me going, but it got you going. It gets you going, we're doing great.
Speaker 2:Let me ask you just from a perspective is there any difference between the desert that and not just in a topography, but the kind of desert that's up in the 29 Palms area, down into Coachella, going all the way out to Arizona? Is there differences in the type of desert? Is there such a thing as a type of desert?
Speaker 3:There really is a difference in the type of desert and these actually have different names as well. So the area you're talking about a little north of here and heading out towards Vegas and up towards Southern Utah, that's the Mojave. That is the world famous Mojave Desert. There's a Mojave River that runs through it. There is all kinds of water that happens in the desert. Sometimes it's seasonal, a lot of times it's underground but constantly flowing. There's even like frogs that know to wait in the mud and wait until it rains again and show up. So the desert has its life cycles like that.
Speaker 3:Now our desert here in the Coachella Valley is actually considered the lower Colorado desert because the Colorado splits us. The Colorado River is right at the edge of California here, like 50 miles from us. Who knew right? So we are below that lower Colorado and so we're actually kind of like the Sal and it's called the salt and sink. We're a very low point here. The mountains on the other side of us, which is the santa rosa, san jacinto mountains national monument and san jacinto being like one of the second, uh, tallest mountains here in california, and we live in the rain shadow of that. So if you'll look at it, if you go to like lake kimmett, which is just on the other side of the mountains. Here it's covered in trees, there's a lake, there's grass, everywhere. It's all very pastoral and nice. It's because the rain stops when it hits the back side of the mountain. You don't get the rain here. So that is the reason our desert exists is because there's a combination of the colorado river kind of flowing and taking all of the water down towards the gulf of mexico, and then we're in the rain shadow. So we create this whole little dry dip here, which is why we have this wonderful aquifer down below us and that's why the land that we get as the water comes off the sides of our mountains and flows down into the aquifer, we want to keep that land clean from development. We believe in development as long as it's smart and there's places for it.
Speaker 3:Here in the valley we have what's called the and here's another one, not exactly a big fun for cocktail parties, but the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Wow, part of those species is humans, land, part of those species is humans. So we have a thoughtful plan that has decided here's a good place for development. Here Maybe not so much because you're. Here's right where the mountains meet the land and we want to keep that clean for water. But over here in this area, where it might be a little windier but it's a good place for development.
Speaker 3:Now they're going to tell you can only develop like three quarters of the land so that there's still a place for sand and lizards and snakes and birds to move through, because the desert is not deserted. We are part of the pacific flyway, so when all these birds are flying to and from their places for the winter or the summer, they pass through here. Right right, there's constantly, as it gets hotter, the animals that are down low know to move up the hills and if we have blocked them from moving up those hills, those animals will not thrive and they will die. So we have all of these kinds of things in place that sometimes people think like land conservation, you're doing it because you don't like development. Like no, we do. We like thoughtful development. We know people are going to come to this valley and we know that we have I mean, according to our water authorities, we have the resources to accommodate people. So we want to work together with that because we know everybody wants to come and live on the desert. So that's what we're doing.
Speaker 3:When we get visitors here, we educate them. When we get school kids here, we educate them. We appreciate so many opportunities the Rotary, you guys, have given us a chance to talk to like a different group of people than we've reached in a long time and we really appreciate having that, because we get excited and we get so insulated and we talk to each other all the time about all the magic that's going on here. But we have to tell other people about it and let them know that they have a chance to help. I moved here back down here. As you know, you always end up where the wife is from. I moved back here from Northern California where I lived in an apartment building for 30 years that was older than any building here in Coachella Valley. So, judy, when you said sustain literally the valley and the development and the concept here is so new, we all have a chance to really make this a very sustainable place. We've seen what happens when they build up the hillsides of other places.
Speaker 1:And then it really isn't sustainable. So you're doing well. First of all, I want to say I don't know how many clubs you've visited in Coachella Valley, but there's more than one. There's like 18 of us, so I hope you get a chance to visit more of them.
Speaker 2:Yeah call them right.
Speaker 1:And, secondly, I love that we have. You have free opportunities, you have opportunities for kids, but I'm going to ask you a question Because of the area focus of environment being what we do, one of the things that we do, and because we do international grants all over the world, including in our own backyard is there a big project that you're working on that might be something that Rotary can engage with you and work, and I'm talking a project that's, you know, $30,000 or more? Is there something like that you're working on that Rotarians might be interested in collaborating with you and working with you?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I love that you are asking that, because we do actually have something that would be really neat. Now, mind you, friends of the desert mountains, our land is conserved in perpetuity, so the lands that we have there's not going to be development on there. There might be an occasional new trail or something through that. But where we live, where our offices are, right out here that you can see when you look over this way that thing, that's actually where our desert tortoise lives. Here we have a resident desert tortoise and just beyond these green trees is our parking lot. We have so many people.
Speaker 3:Since COVID, Our visitorship has quadrupled literally from like 20,000 people a year to almost 100,000 people a year thousand people a year. And in between that parking lot in here there's no shade, no place to sit down and take a lunch and have a break and just enjoy the desert. So, working with our Bureau of Land Management partners, we've identified an area out there that we would like to put in just a few shaded structures so that families could come here and enjoy some time in the desert, especially if you're not a big hiking kind of family but you still want to be outside. And from where we sit, if you look across to the mountains up there with binoculars, you'll see desert bighorns, we've got lizards, we've got tortoise, We've got all kinds of things going on.
Speaker 1:So if we could talk to you guys about maybe making that kind of you know, I don't know what we call it a desert island just a place to take a break and again, I'm not making any promises, but I always like to open the conversation because environment we're working on a couple of environmental projects throughout our district and I just kind of like to open these conversations and we can maybe at least start the conversation with maybe some of the clubs that are in the area. Niren's going to be taking over this next year. He's got district-designated funds and clubs that are going to be trying to put those dollars to use and we want to put them to use in a sustainable manner that follows our areas of focus.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely Do you have, Karen. Do you have and you might have mentioned this but do you have functions or events where Rotarians can come out and help, like you said, clear a trail, clean up, you know whatever types of things, but Rotarians like to be hands-on?
Speaker 2:We like to come roll up our sleeves and grab a rake, grab a shovel, whatever you need us to do. So do you have those kinds of things that maybe we could be plugged in and maybe you could talk a little bit about your website and mention that so people can go there, because this is going to go not only in the Coachella Valley but, as I mentioned to you when I met you, I'd like to get that knowledge out to the rest of the Inland Empire who may not be as aware of the Coachella Valley and desert.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. I mean literally. We couldn't get anything done if it were not for volunteers. Public lands take public hands right. So we have on the daily.
Speaker 3:There are regular volunteers who come here and do everything from watering plants around the desert because we're actually at a visitor's dinner so the watering of the plants, but we help maintain over 310 miles of trails throughout Coachella Valley. Some of them are in the National Monument and some of them are on our other public lands. We have, so that used to, that's normally called like Trail Tuesdays. So we have our trail master will get together with a bunch of people and go out and take care of the trails. We have weed warriors who do a combination of things. Sometimes they go out and they hike and they're just looking for the invasive species of plants that shouldn't be there. They come back and they report it to the Bureau of Land Management. Then we coordinate what it's going to take to monitor and maintain and perhaps get rid of that species of plants. So if you're somebody who really likes to kind of just take a hike but make it a hike, that counts, that's a great way of doing it.
Speaker 3:Hike with purpose, right, because not everybody's into pulling plants. I enjoy it in my own yard, but I don't do it too much here. But we do have National Public Lands Days and Earth Days, and this year it's actually the 25th anniversary of the santa rosa, san jacinto mountains national monument, so there'll be some stuff coming up later in the year with that. So we do have, if you've ever been to, the coachella valley wildflower festival, which happens the first weekend in march in palm desert, that is a big event literally. We get about 5 000 people in about four hours who come through there, yeah, and so we always need volunteers to help with that. There's volunteers that help set up, there are volunteers that work the day of the event. There's a whole kid zone that has to be staffed. There is walking around and even just welcoming people and helping them get to the information that they want to find. That's all very good for us.
Speaker 3:We staff the visitor center here at the National Monument. It's open Friday, saturday and Sunday and we often need people who are willing to sit in there and look out at the most amazing view and then just tell people about how wonderful it is and where they can go to find what they're looking for the part of the desert they would like to experience. So there's ongoing commitments, there's one-time commitments. We have our one annual fundraiser a year called Friends and Champions, and that is in La Quinta this year at Silver Rock Park on November 12th and that actually takes again more hands because we do. There's a live auction, a silent auction. We actually have a caterer who comes in and everything.
Speaker 3:So we don't expect you to serve people dinner, but getting it all set up and being the people who stand there and wave a little glowing stick when somebody is raising their paddle to help us, you know, fund whatever project we've got going on, whether it's working with youth or taking care of a new piece of land, or one of our new favorite things is donating land to the tribe, but that's another story for another time. There is all kinds of opportunities for people to volunteer and if you want to see them, you would go to desertmountainsorg and that's mountains plural, because it's all of them, not just one Desertmountainsorg and you can click on any of the thing in there. It's a new website, so we're still developing it out some, but you've got a little bit of our history, the things that we've accomplished here so that you can feel good about participating with our group, and you'll see that our volunteers, for the most part, are people that look like us. Right, they're people our age, so we're trying to get younger people involved too.
Speaker 1:So I know there's hey, what are you saying about me? No, I'm just saying, I'm saying, as people are age and that's really awesome.
Speaker 3:But and this is our legacy that we have actually gotten so many more kids involved in this now that there's. So there's other organizations that are starting, like Audubon is working with young people, other groups, MDLT working with young people. We're all starting to really understand that if we don't convince the young people that the work that we did is important, they'll let it go, They'll let it slide and they won't ever understand until it's too gone.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much for joining us today. It's been very insightful. I really enjoyed learning more about the desert and about what you're doing there and helping our environment in the Coachella Valley.
Speaker 2:Again. For me it's been fascinating and I learned a lot more than I did the first time I heard you. So I'm going to continue to do that. But I really am excited that some of our other Rotarians who are not out in the Coachella Valley can learn the importance of the desert and what they can do to assist with that and certainly a place they can take their kids or their families and go and safely hike and learn a lot, et cetera. So thank you very much for that. I did want to ask you a question without getting political, but I know that there have been some challenges to funding. That goes to either Bureau of Land Management or some of the national forests, et cetera, the national park designations. Has that affected you at all in any way?
Speaker 3:It has a little bit. Yes, we have a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Land Management that we work with here. That has gone away for a while and that impacts us somewhat. But let me tell you it just made us want to double down and know that the work that we do is super important and we're going to find any way to do it. And we're going to find any way to do it. So if we can't necessarily find the resources for a bus to bring the kids up here, we're going to go meet them and go to the nearest natural space that we can with them and get them excited about it. Still, we're not going to let that get in our way, not whatsoever. Like I said, we have an obligation. The desert needs us and we need it.
Speaker 1:Well, the passion is definitely there and we really enjoyed you connecting with us today. I hope you keep connected with the Rotary and all of those that are in our Valley. I know that I'm going to bring my mom to see you because she would love this stuff. And maybe my grandbaby. So we'll get both sides of that spectrum right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Summertime things get a little quieter down at the lower levels because it's so hot, but that's when we encourage people to go up to some of our higher locations. Go to Lake Hemet. I will tell you and I'm like I can't show it to you on my phone because the phone never really works on this as well but I actually got to go help band two baby eagles at Lake Hemet on Wednesday morning.
Speaker 1:That is so cool at Lake Hemet on Wednesday morning.
Speaker 3:That is so cool. It is pretty cool because that is one of those species that was on the brink and darn it. Humans worked together and brought them back, and they're doing really well. Now we are starting to see some toxins in the birds again, so we're just going to have to keep on it, keep on it, keep on it, because people forget have to keep, keep on it, you know, keep on it. Keep on it because you know, yeah, people forget and it's it's really easy for people to forget how much they impact nature.
Speaker 2:Well, we're glad that you're able to assist us with that, and and rotary is is certainly open to helping you in any way that we can, both the individual clubs as well as at the district level.
Speaker 3:So please, uh, please, let us know how we can help oh yeah, now that, now that we've had any kind of conversation about my, my dream island out there, but, literally call us um.
Speaker 3:We have so many different kinds of presentations that we were happy to share with you. We have a new native planting guide that we've been sharing some out. We do have a presentation about water. We talk about all the work that we do been sharing some out. We do have a presentation about water. We talk about all the work that we do and why our environmental education program is different than a lot of education programs.
Speaker 1:So call us. Thank you, we're happy to share. Thank you, we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 3:Thank, you have a great day Thanks guys Bye.
Speaker 2:Bye-bye.
Speaker 1:So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope. We are so happy that we have an audience out there listening. We want you to subscribe, share and tell your friends about the Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the word out about the impact we're having in this world.