Rangers Educate Through Nature Walks

Residents of the Inland Empire will have a new opportunity to enjoy nature with Ya’I Heki’ Regional Indian Museum’s recently inaugurated Guided Nature Walks around Lake Perris State Recreation Area. The walks, which are free and will take place on the fourth Saturday of every month at 8:30 a.m., are open to all ages and spearheaded by Kimberly Seltmann, state park interpreter at Lake Perris State Recreation Area. Seltmann and assisting park rangers will take visitors on various trails around the park, pointing out details about the nature and wildlife of the surrounding area and providing an educational opportunity that even the youngest of hikers can enjoy. “I come alive when I’m leading people out in nature on walks, so I want to share that joy and passion that I have with others,” Seltmann said. “My hope and desire is that they can see the great park of Lake Perris and enjoy it, as well.” On Jan. 23, Seltmann and park ranger James Huelsman held the first inaugural Guided Nature Walk of the year, which attracted a crowd of about 150 visitors that was split into two groups. The visitors included families with babies in strollers, toddlers and even dogs. The turnout was more than Seltmann and Huelsman expected. Many people had heard about the event through Facebook. “This is so inspiring,” said Juanita Robles, a realtor from Canyon Lakes. “You don’t expect people to show up like this.” Robles said that she loved nature and enjoyed the opportunity to take a guided hike with a ranger. She and her husband Paul plan on bringing their five-year-old granddaughter next time. Throughout the hike around the lake, Seltmann pointed out different habitats of the park, like the sage scrub habitat, and mountains that surrounded the lake. She also explained the different activities that visitors can do at the park, such as biking, fishing, camping, hunting and boating. In fact, Lake Perris is home to over 400 camping sites that are open to people year round. She also encouraged audience participation, and at one point passed around a desert cottontail rabbit pelt for people to touch. While it was passed around, she said the park houses rabbits, ground squirrels, gophers, kangaroo rats, mule deer and even a couple mountain lions. Lauren and Chris Enriquez, residents of Homeland, said they enjoyed the hike and will definitely be attending more in the future. “It’s such a good way to wake up in the morning,” Lauren said. “You get to learn some stuff, you get to see these beautiful views, get to see the lake. You get to learn all about the creatures that are native to this area that you don’t ever think about.” Seltmann and the rangers are planning on taking different trails every month to keep things interesting for park visitors. Huelsman mentioned that the recent nearby construction of Perris Dam has closed certain areas of the park, but that they will try to pick spots that are “accessible and have enough interesting content.” After the hike, participants had the opportunity to head back to the museum for workshops covering a wide array of topics, such as pottery, animals and the food chain.