This year the sixth graders went on a trip to the Marin Headlands.  The Marin Headlands are known for their historic sites, such as military camps and the Point Bonita LightHouse.  Not only does the Marin Headlands have rocking seas, it also has sweeping grasslands, prairies and even lagoons.  The Headlands is truly one of the most vast and distinct areas of Earth.  The Marin Headlands might make you think it was always like this, but it wasn’t.  There are many military bunkers around the Headlands to protect the San Francisco Bay from attacks during the World Wars.  It was also the site of two nuclear missile defense sites.  Thankfully, the two missiles were not launched from the Marin Headlands.  The headlands also have many distinct animals, such as bobcats, foxes, coyotes, deer, pelicans, herons, and even hawks.  In the cold ocean, there are seals, whales, otters, sharks, and also many crustaceans.  

I have interviewed three sixth graders.  Starting with Owen Amaral,  Owen says, “ I had a great time. Our tour guide told us about the history behind the Headlands,  the missile sites, and the two forts and three batteries of the military.  We saw loads of wildlife such as seals and deer and also got to see the beach.  The food was great, way better than Yosemites.”  We all stayed in the same cabin; there was a boys and a girls cabin”.  We got breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday.  It was probably some of the best times in my life.  I had a blast.”  Next is Jack Michon.  Jack says, “ I had an awesome time,  we stayed in a boys cabin and the girls stayed in the girls cabin.  The food was great, better than Yosemites.  I was in the hiking group and hiked many mountains and visited the Point Bonita Lighthouse.  We also saw the biggest military camp in the Marin Headlands, Fort Cronkhite.  Which is located north of Rodeo Lagoon.”  Fort Cronkhite was established in the late 1930s and was a World War ll military post.

This is some of the Marin Headlands recent activity.  First, the Point Bonita Lighthouse is closed for repairs on the bridge.  On the Hawk Hill, they are removing invasive trees and restoring native grasslands to enhance the habitat for the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly.  Recently, in August 2024 coyotes attacked dogs at Crissy hill.  Some rules are to keep children close, leash your pets, and no approach to wildlife or feeding wildlife.  Lastly, is Hardy.  Hardy says,  “ It was really fun.  We stayed in a big cabin that had at least twenty bunk beds.  We also got to stay in a station where we got to pet sea urchins and some crustaceans such as crabs and lobster.  The food was awesome and I had a great time.”  All in all, the Marin Headlands sounded  great and it seems like they had a great time.