GONZALES — Thirteen Gonzales youth went on a kayaking journey to Monterey Bay’s Elkhorn Slough on July 27.
The kayakers saw harbor seals, sea otters, sea birds and jelly fish on their adventures. Tour guides provided information on sea life, the slough ecology and biological diversity of the slough, as well as answered questions along the way.
According to chaperone Maury Treleven, most of the youth who attended the trip were also experiencing their first kayaking trip.
The kayaking adventure was through the City of Gonzales Environmental Leadership Academy Outdoor Adventures program that is funded through a $15,000 grant from the Foundation for Youth Investments that the city received in 2013.
The program is open to youth ages 14 to 18 who want to visit wild places on a nature-based adventure and be exposed to the natural world. The program emphasizes youth experiencing nature in order to value it and want to protect it.
“We have been able to make good use of this grant funding for the past four years because the City of Gonzales provides matching funding to pay for staff hours,” Treleven said. “All grant funds are used to pay for program materials and adventure costs.”
Past trips include zip lining in the redwoods, camping in Big Sur, two kayaking adventures and star gazing at the observatory at Fremont Peak.
