Dear Central Group Member, We know you share our passion for the outdoors. In this issue, several Sierra Club volunteers took time to tell us up close and personal what they love about nature.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS:
Sat May 17 5th Annual Kite Festival, 2 PM, Los Angeles State Historic Park
Sun May 18 Eating the Baddies: A Fundraiser Identifying, Foraging, and Gorging on Invasive Species, 10 AM, Elysian Arboretum
For more information on getting involved with the Sierra Club Central Group, please emailbarbarajhensleigh@gmail.com.
WHY WE GO OUTSIDE
By Amanda Stemen
Nature outings are one of the most beloved parts of the Sierra Club—and for very good reason. Nature is like a wise old friend who brews you a cup of tea, gives you a hug, and says, “Take a breath, you’ve got this.” Sunshine, fresh air, and a generous serving of green stuff (not the kale kind, don’t worry) lead to greater happiness, more peace, rejuvenation, and—get this—actual connection. Like, real connection. With other life. Remember that?
During the pandemic, we found ourselves mostly stuck inside. Aside from the masked walks and attempts at the masked jogs, there wasn’t much to do outside. Even parks and forests were closed for a while. In a time when we all rethought our lives and our priorities, I found myself thinking about something that I had always wanted to do. That was surfing. Despite being in Southern California my entire life, surfing was never a regular activity. I had lessons here and there, but didn’t have a board, nor was I even remotely close to comfortable in the middle of the ocean. But little by little, I discovered why people were so drawn to surfing and the ocean.
I live in South Central and work in Burbank. So I have to travel about 10 miles each way to get to work. But as everyone knows, in Los Angeles or cities like it, distance isn't what matters—only time does. In the morning, it might take me 30 minutes to get to work, but in the evening, it has sometimes taken me 75 minutes to get back home. This absurd and intolerable situation doesn’t just have catastrophic consequences for the environment—it also affects my well-being. It’s a sign of a city that, at some point in its history, fell into the car trap, at the expense of public services. In his book Freewaytopia: How Freeways Shaped Los Angeles, Paul Haddad explains this history—often disastrous—and the “solutions” that were sometimes proposed (such as building even more freeways!).
While this story is extremely important and interesting, it still raises a fundamental problem: me—my well-being. How do you keep acting like a civilized person in a world of drivers who are frustrated, aggressive, distracted, or even dangerous? How has our entire biological history—our evolution—brought us to the point where we spend a part of our day, and therefore our lives, in a closed, stressful metal box, big or small depending on our taste for cars, yelling at everyone?
"The outdoors brings me a unique sense of connectedness to the world and calmness to my body. Whether I'm hiking through the forest or relaxing on the beach, I love soaking in nature's energy.
Raj Patel is a volunteer with the Central Group, an instructor with the Angeles Chapter's Wilderness Training Course and the proud father of a 5-year-old.
“Hiking the John Muir Trail, I had an epiphany: I am not just a part of nature, I AM nature. The realization has changed my life and how I view our natural places. Backpacking is where I belong.
Barbara Hensleigh is the volunteer co-chair of the Central Group, and lives to hike and backpack in nature and advocate for it.
"I love exploring the outdoors both in my backyard and when I have the opportunity to travel. Last month, I went to Michoacan, Mexico to see the monarch butterflies as they gathered in the trees at the biosphere reserve. As the blue sky was filled with millions of orange and black wings, I was reminded of how natural it is for beings to migrate thousands of miles across borders. May we all travel and be free."
Mónica Mariko Embrey (she/her) is the Central Group's Political Committee Representative. She is a climate justice campaign consultant based in Los Angeles and previously was on national Sierra Club staff.
"I love leisurely hiking trails at state and national parks, especially ones that have lakes, bright fall foliage, or a variety of birds and wildlife. On my first multi-day backpacking trip I completed a 20-mile section bordering Lake Superior, and last September I backpacked in the Hoover Wilderness right into Yosemite National Park.
I am also passionate about events that bridge arts and conservation with communities of color, and you may spot me journaling at my favorite Griffith Park place, the Wisdom Tree."
Carolina Gamero is certified to manage the Chapter's lodges, and volunteers in communications. She is a freelance communications expert.
The Central Group is the heart of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, representing the areas from West Hollywood through East LA, and Griffith Park through South LA, and several Gateway Cities.
