Environmental Education for Santa Clara Valley Schools

In August 2009, the Board of Directors authorized the allocation of $184,000 for the purchase of a property on El Toro, the iconic hill that rises on the western edge of the city.

Bay Area Wilderness Training will host 4 train-the-trainer outdoor leadership courses at subsidized rates in the Santa Clara Valley for residents, educators, and youth workers in the region. The Authority will help fund two Front country Leadership Trainings, one Wilderness Leadership Training, and one Hiking Leadership Training. These courses will reduce barriers to outdoor access, equipping educators and youth workers with skills needed to take youth on fun, educational, safe, and culturally relevant outdoor trips.

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council (Ridge Trail) is expanding public trail access at Máyyan 'Ooyákma – Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve (Coyote Ridge) and growing public support for recreation, protection, and conservation at the preserve, under the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s (Authority) Urban Grants Program. The Ridge Trail is hosting eight guided trail outings at Coyote Ridge for 12-24 participants, in coordination with community partners, to broaden access for individuals and/or families within the Authority’s jurisdiction who have been historically underrepresented. These 3-7 mile nature-based, hiking experiences introduce residents to the trails at Coyote Ridge, scheduled to open for limited access to the public in late 2023.