Early this October, nearly 100 of Orange County’s volunteers, trail guides, naturalists, and interpreters, including our own Nature Reserve staff and volunteers, attended OCWild’s Docent Day 2025. This year’s theme was “Cultivating Curiosity and Connection”, with sessions exploring conservation vs. preservation, traditional ecological knowledge, and our relationships with the natural world.

In the quiet morning of the bay, prior to sessions, everyone had an opportunity to network with each other over coffee, tea and breakfast snacks. The day opened with a land acknowledgement led by Adelia Sandoval, the Spiritual Overseer (Púula) of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians/ Acjachemen Nation. Then participants went to their selected sessions led by local experts covering topics such as native plants, fire ecology, birds, insects, and marine mammals.

The Nature Reserve staff had the honor of introducing Mike Evans at his “Great Big Nature, Wee Little Patio” workshop for bringing native plants into the limited space many of us have in our living space. He also took the opportunity to let everyone one know how his work at the Tree of Life Nursery was transitioning to the California Native Horticultural Foundation. Another great partner with The Nature Reserve, Bob Allen, shared his passion for insects and plants to bring home how important the partnership between the two are for our native plant community. Rounding out the presenters that work closely with us was Joanne Schwartz. Joanne is an avid, amateur mycologist who has studied fungi for decades and helps lead our very popular Mushroom Walks. 

While the theme was cultivating curiosity and connection, we noticed that during the whole event, there was a sense of gratitude. Gratitude not only to the speakers sharing their time and knowledge, but gratitude to fellow participants and stewards of the earth. We are also especially grateful to OC Parks Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center staff and volunteers and the Newport Bay Conservancy for gifting the space to hold Docent Day at such an amazing facility and natural space.