Friends of the Sandia Mountains partnered with Menaul School on February 11 to remove trash and locate graffiti in the Foothills trail system south of the Embudo Trailhead on both City Open Space and Cibola National Forest lands. The activity was a part of the school’s annual “Mission Week” during which students participate outside the classroom in a community service project. Lou Romero, FOSM Volunteer Youth Programs Coordinator, and Hannah Scanlon of the Menaul faculty organized the event.

Twenty-eight sophomore students and 5 faculty members were divided into four groups accompanied by 5 FOSM volunteers for 2-hour hikes. Frequent short breaks enabled students and adults to discuss a variety of educational topics including geology; plants; wildlife; trail etiquette, signage, and maintenance; GPS usage; electrical transmission; and fresh and waste-water management. Objectives and histories of City Open Space, National Forest lands, and the Sandia Mountains Wilderness Area also were discussed.

Special thanks to Lou and Hannah for organizing such a fun and rewarding event. (Planning began in mid-December.) Thanks also to Mike Madden, Sim Cook, Sam Beard, and Kerry Jones for serving as guides.