Can local soils be improved? Students tested beds like these to find out.
For the past 10 years, local high school students have conducted scientific research on the environment in the Wagner Ranch Nature Areature Area, all supervised by UC Professor Emeritus Reg Barrett. And the Friends of the Wagner Ranch Nature Area (FONA) are looking for local high school students to continue the tradition during the coming school year. (Interested students should email Kathy Barrett at kdbarrett08@gmail.com.)
That tradition began with the Orinda Bee Man, Steve Gentry. Gentry was the first president of FONA and was a firm believer in providing scientific research opportunities for youth. He also guided student volunteers as they helped restore the Nature Area plants and animal habitats.
Several students researched the needs of Nature Area bees and butterflies, then installed “bee hotels” (Miramonte’s Annie O’Dell’s Gold scout project) and pollinator gardens.
Many more research projects followed.
Miramonte student Arman Marchiel successfully re-introduced a native Western Pond Turtle into the Nature Area. Another student cohort was able to set up camera bait-stations throughout the Nature Area, then photograph and identify deer, bobcats, coyotes, racoons, hawks and many other birds.
Students uncovered many additional species from tracks, scats (poop), mole runs, owl pellets, and amphibians and reptiles hiding under the cover boards.
At night, owls fly silently through the Nature Area woods snatching and gobbling mice, shrews, rats, birds and baby skunks. (Did you know that owls swallow their prey whole and digest the bodies in their crop (stomach) until only the bones, fur and feathers remain?)
During this study, Miramonte student George Destino created and installed a large interpretive sign to educate viewers on the four species of owls that hunt in the Nature Areature Area.
Another student visited replica Miwok villages, and from that research was able to build a life-sized replica Miwok lodge in the Nature Area for local children to experience on their field trips during the school year.
It has been a beloved landmark in the Nature Area for many years.
Our most recent cohort of 10 students studied ways of improving garden soil to support pollinator plants that help bees, butterflies and beetles flourish.
Their experiments were halted in March 2025 when the Orinda Union School District needed to close the entrance to the Nature Area garden until the greenhouse could be replaced.
Thankfully, a private citizen in Orinda volunteered his backyard open space so students could continue and complete their research mission.
When Gentry died in 2020, he left a legacy fund for FONA to carry on science projects for teens.
FONA is excited to engage our local youth in adapting scientific research principles. Although there is uncertainty about the future of the Nature Area, FONA members will do their best to continue the Steve Gentry Citizen Science Legacy, be it in the Nature Area or other local open space.
Contributing Writers Kathy Barrett and Rebeca Dahlberg can be reached at kdbarrett08@gmail.com.