Our club's Floating Classroom recently hosted an invited environmental group including historians and naturalists; and members of organizations and businesses. We came together to hear Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie's presentation of "The Village under the Lake and other stories of Chumash Life".
Program Chair Reggie Wood began the tour citing "the mission of our Floating Classroom was the extension of environmental education throughout our community." Julie then shared her family history and the songs and stories of the Chumash people. There were recordings of Chumash songs and stories and the trip ended with a swing by the eagle nest. We were rewarded with a sighting! Not only are compliments still coming in but we also received $90 in donations.
The group included local historians Craig Walker, Brian Aikens and Wendy Barker (representing the Ojai Valley Museum); naturalists from both Channel Islands, MERITO Foundation and the NOAA marine sanctuary program; Lanny Kaufer of Herb Walks, Nathan Wickstrum of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Taft Garden staff and Tony Thacher of Friends Ranch, to name a few.
Thank you to Reggie and the club's Boat Committee members Steve Adams, Linda Burr, Donna Jones, and Michelle Henson for clean-up, set-up, water, and take down.
