Wilderness Amphitheater Part Of Cycles Of Restoration

Overlooking the west branch of Struve Slough there is now a small amphitheater where elementary students come twice a year for “Cycles of Restoration.”

Wetlands have been widely destroyed and degraded in Santa Cruz Country and California has lost more of its wetlands than any other state, according to Watsonville Wetlands Watch.

Education is the solution, the hands-on variety.

Thanks to Eagle Scout Ty Widell, senior at , 300-400 students per year will do art projects perched on sturdy new benches at the end of their wetlands tour. They'll have collected seeds or cuttings from native plants, done bird sightings and checked water quality as they make their way from station to station.

“They make their own observations and get their hands dirty,” said Noelle Antolin, Education Director of Wetlands Watch. “Amesti teacher Betty Aboytes has been bringing her students to the wetlands for 10-plus years and has been a leader in heightened teacher and student interest in wetlands restoration.”

It was Antolin who suggested the idea of a mini-amphitheater to Widell. The scout researched and designed a small amphitheater, organized the work plans, got the green light from Wetlands Watch and recruited about 20 fellow scouts and volunteers to help him.

They made nine 4-by4 pressure-treated Douglas fir benches with 2-by-6 redwood planks.

“We dug 18 inches for each post, three per bench and dry set them in cement, which moisture will harden into concrete," Widell said. "We put three benches in a row with three rows, in an area that was already in a sort of arc shape. Home Depot and Big Creek were extremely cooperative and donated all the materials we needed.”

A Boy Scout since he was 11, Widell is just one badge short of being confirmed an Eagle Scout. A major requirement to achieve that rank is to do a community service project.

Another local scout also did his projects in conjunction with Watsonville Wetlands Watch.

Eric Wells of Soquel High School has been a Boy Scout since age 12. Now, at 16, he too aims for Eagle Scout rank,. His project was designed to attract burrowing owls.

“This is a species of special concern. We've seen one around the Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center, and hope it will stay this spring and breed in the area,” said Antolin.

Wells researched the right type, size and placement of a nesting box, in part by looking at designs that work at San Jose Airport. He used plastic utility boxes—approximately 12-by-17 inches—made so they won't decompose and put in some grass.

“The owls will bring in their own material. It would be nice if owls had a growing population here. A lot of restoration is being done around the wetlands to attract animals,” said Wells.

Both Widell and Wells agreed that major hiking trips are the hardest and most satisfying parts of becoming an Eagle Scout. Wells' favorite is the annual 50-mile hike in the Sierras, as well as other 20-mile hikes in the dry season.

Widell said, “The hardest part is just gaining experience by hiking in the New Mexico wilderness, straining your physical abilities, adapting to weather, making fires. It's also the most fulfilling.”

Antolin said, “Preservation and restoration of the Watsonville sloughs are central to the work of Watsonville Wetlands Watch. Our reward is seeing wildlife return to an area and thrive. We are proud to have the talent and generosity of Ty, Eric and other Eagle Scouts as part of our work.”