Sophie McClean, our Native Plant Specialist, and Martin Schenker, our Restoration Field Manager, lead this exhilarating and informative hike

Help the OVLC celebrate Native Plant Month with a Native Flora Hike led by OVLC’s Sophie McLean and Martin Schenker. This moderate to strenuous 5-mile hike will take you deep into the Ventura River Preserve as you search out native plants of the Ojai Valley. Hikers will visit several different plant habitats including riparian, chaparral, and oak woodland and learn about native plant identification. 

OVLC Native Plant Specialist, Sophie McLean, was born in Ventura County and was fortunate to spend the early years of her life exploring the Santa Monica Mountains and Channel Islands. Her love for plants began while working on a sustainable and biodynamic farm in high school, and she carried that education to Montana State University where she studied Plant Biology. Her education of plants opened up worlds in botany, restoration science, and sustainable food systems. Now back in her homeland, Sophie strives to give back to the land that raised her as well as striving to understand the ecology and botany of the Ojai Valley.

Martin Schenker is from Ventura and is a botanist and geologist with a deep appreciation for learning the tales of ancient ecosystems and how they influenced and built the world today. He is spearheading innovative restoration on OVLC's preserves, and extending this passion across the entire watershed through leading on the ground Arundo removal. His strengths lie in caring for the community of all living things and teaching any ears willing to listen about the specificities of our relationships with our natural environment. 

This event involves a moderate to strenuous hike from the Oso Trailhead, up Wills Canyon Trail to El Nido Meadow, and returns along Rice Canyon Trail. Total hike length is roughly 5 miles on varying terrain, including crossing a river bed with moderately steep banks. Please bring your own backpack, water, snacks, sun protection, sturdy walking/hiking shoes, and hiking poles if desired.