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The Loop

January 25, 2021
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From the Editor 

Thanks to the holidays, the pandemic, world events, and the editor’s general level of distraction, this issue of the Loop will cover both January and February. As you’ll read in a separate article, neither the date for the annual meeting nor the complete slate of nominees for board positions has been set, so you can expect a separate e-mail on those topics later on.
 
As you will also notice, one of our regular columns, “For the Love of Trees,” is missing from this issue of the Loop. The writer, Lauren Hubele, has recently joined her husband, Joachim, in France. And although she intends to be there for at least three months, she plans to continue writing her column, which resume in the next issue.
 
Finally, if you haven’t checked out our YouTube channel, give it a look: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC80ELZRUiZRHJ0BexvOLKCA.
 
If you have questions or topics you’d like to see addressed in the Loop, please e-mail me at smga.membership@gmail.com.
  

Susan Hanson,
SMGA Board and chair of the Outreach Committee

News & Updates

Annual Meeting To Go Virtual

So you’re thinking, “Oh joy! Another Zoom meeting!” But wait. This won’t be just another ho-hum virtual experience. No, this will be an Exceptional Virtual Experience, a production starring some of your favorite SMGA leaders and volunteers. 

Read more >>

New Posters Coming!

If you’ve been out in the natural areas lately, you may have noticed that some of the display cases at the trail heads are getting a facelift. New plexiglass is being installed, and old, faded materials are being removed.

Read more >>

Trail Notes: Finding Color in Winter

“Love winter when the plant says nothing,” mystic and poet Thomas Merton wrote in his poem of the same name. Those of us who do love the silence and tranquility of the colder months may not demand or expect a lot of drama from the natural world in winter, but we can nonetheless find bursts of color and signs of potential life even at this time of year.

Read more >>
 

San Marcos Christmas Bird Count 2020

The annual Christmas Bird Count in San Marcos took place December 20. Forty-six individuals fanned-out across the city in 16 groups to identify, count and record the different bird species seen on that one day.

Read more >>

Hiking Made Fun from Otter Bee Outdoors

As parents, we encourage our children to stay active. An afternoon of exploring the trails at a local park or a big hiking adventure may seem like fun to you but your kids may not agree.

Read more >>

On the Trail: Updates From the Trail Crew 

Stewardship Committee Chair Scott Henize reports that the Trail Crew continues to make progress installing pavers on a section of Blind Salamander in Spring Lake Natural Area.

Read more >>
 

Moments of Nature

During this stressful time, we suggest getting outside to enjoy nature. The following images were taken by SMGA Board Member, Susan Hanson, while enjoying the Spring Lake Natural Area and at Spring Lake in San Marcos this past month. Take a few minutes to enjoy and de-stress!

In this time of COVID, the trail crew is in hiatus and only working individually at the direction of the stewardship committee.

Trail Building
Trail maintenance is a tough job and volunteers are always needed! Join the SMGA Trail Crew every Thursday from 7-8:30 am. Email us or follow @SMGreenbelt on Twitter to receive location, directions, and last-minute weather cancellations.

Gloves, hard shoes, eye wear required. Water bottle, long pants, hat recommended. We supply tools and bug repellent.

Giving Back

The mission of SMGA is to create and conserve an interconnected system of parks and natural areas for our community and future generations. 

We can't do it alone. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to SMGA

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