Hikers make their way into Wildwood Canyon
Exploring Burbank's Expansive Backyard
Children get outdoor education with their daily exercise through wilderness program organized by city's parks department
By Jackie Conley, Photo by Roger Wilson
As he made his way down a trail in Wildwood Canyon, 6 year old James Lord stopped to admire several fallen pine cones.
"Look at this one," James said as he shared with the rest of the group what he discovered.
James was one of six children who participated Wednesday in Wilderness Adventures, a program offered by the city's Park, Recreation and Community Services Department. For James, the 3.5 mile hike was a chance for him to explore a different world.
"James is a bookworm," said Carol Lord, the boy's mother. "So this is an opportunity for him to get out in nature and socialize with other children.
The program, an outdoor activity class that meets once a week for nine weeks, gives parents and children ages 5 to 10 the opportunity to play in Burbank's backyard.
"it's a good combination of exercise and education," hike leader Mike McHorney said. "We can talk about things as we come across them."
The dirt trail starts on an uphill slope and then plateaus into a curvy path through the canyon. The children take several breaks throughout the hike to drink water and to observe Mother Nature at work.
McHorney actively teaches the group with real life examples of the native agriculture life, animals and other unknown facts about California.
"We see lizards, snakes and last week, we saw some scat [animal feces]," said Madeline Barkley, 6. "It's fun."
The nine week session costs $29 per person, and hikers are accompanied by a volunteer chaperon and an experienced hiker as they make their way up the Verdugo Mountains.
For more information on the Wilderness Adventure, call the Stough Canyon Nature Center at 238-5440.
McHorney talks to Elaine MacMartin about the finer points of nature photograph during the workshop on the subject Sunday at Stough Canyon Nature Center.
MacMartin take a shot of some wildflowers
Getting Focused On Nature
Photography Workshop at Stough Canyon Teaches Participants the Basics of Taking Pictures Outdoors
By Jackson Bell, Photo by Roger Wilson
Elaine MacMartin and her husband braved the afternoon rain Sunday to take pictures of the outdoors during a nature photography workshop at Stough Canyon Nature Center.
MacMartin wasn't deterred by the scattered showers because she wanted to learn how to use her new digital camera in an outdoor setting.
"It was worth taking a a chance, and it actually turned out to be a beautiful day, with just a little drizzle," she said. It was a great opportunity to learn more about photography, as well as getting outside to enjoy our Burbank hills."
The free workshop, typically scheduled once a season, gives people of all ages the opportunity to learn simple camera operations and then hike through Stough Canyon to take pictures, said Mike McHorney, a center employee who teaches the workshop. The hour long class started when the center opened about three years ago.
"[Nature photographs] is an expression of yourself," McHorney said. "Plus, it's great to come out, relax and get away from the city."
The excitement of snapping photos outdoors, he added, is that people never know what pictures they are going to get. McHorney's favorite photo from last year was when he came across a rattlesnake swallowing a rat.
MacMartin said she uses a snapshot she took of a dewy bush, with red berries in the foreground and the blue sky in the background, as her computer's screensaver.
"It was great to be outdoors on a rainy day and having a knowledgeable guide," she said.
The next nature photography class has not been scheduled, but will probably in late May, McHorney said.