82 Volunteers Serve with SCA on San Bruno Mountain
Volunteers from across the Bay Area 
gathered to celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service with SCA through a morning of service to the land and community. This day also marked the launch of ConSERVE Bay Area, a public service initiative devoted to mobilizing the community in support of the Bay Area’s public lands. In conjunction with San Mateo County Parks Department and San Bruno Mountain Watch Conservancy, 82 volunteers gathered on San Bruno Mountain to clear invasive ivy and restore native riparian areas.
San Bruno Mountain Park is a local landmark of regional significance, standing as a unique open-space island in the midst of the Bay Area peninsula’s urbanization. It is a sanctuary and home to three endangered butterfly species and a variety of flora and fauna. Consisting of 2,416 acres of rugged landscape, San Bruno Mountain offers excellent hiking opportunities and outstanding views of San Francisco and Central Bay Area.
Heading up the work projects were leaders of SCA’s Peninsula School Year Community Crew alongside staff from San Mateo County Parks Department and their Stewardship Corps. Participants included volunteers from Abraham Lincoln High School Green Academy, Foothill High School, Woodside Priority School, Menlo Atherton High School, Redwood High School, San Mateo High School, San Mateo Youth Commission, Salesforces employees, community members, as well several returning SCA alumni. Kahil Laltoo, a high school student and SCA alum who served at Olympic National Park, was excited to join in the SCA community: “I traveled more than an hour just to join this event because SCA was putting it on.”
In total, volunteers removed 2,400 pounds of invasive English ivy that were suffocating the trees along the Old Guadalupe Trail. In addition, 
the Park’s Department Stewardship Corps planted 178 native plants along the Bog Trail including Douglas Iris, Primrose, and Alum Root.
Big thanks to San Bruno Mountain Watch Conservancy for their contribution to the success of this event. A special thank-you goes out to San Mateo County Parks Department for their longstanding partnership with SCA, bringing to life the mission of engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.
SCA will host four service events this year as part of the ConSERVE Bay Area initiative. Check back at www.thesca.org/events for information on the next event!
https://www.thesca.org/connect/blog/conserve-bay-area-mlk-service
