Coastal Transit to Trails: Ballona Wetlands, Where the Only Constant is Change

Meet up location: Compton Creek Natural Park at 8:30am near the open pavillion. 

Upon arrival, CNC staff will check-in folks and have guardians sign waivers. Once everyone is gathered, we will dive into an ice breaker. We will then board a bus and cruise through the California Coast to visit the Ballona Wetlands, which will take about an 1 hour (traffic pending). 

The bus will drop us off at Del Rey Lagoon where Kya Marina-Le, CNC Program Coordinator, will lead us into a team builder. CNC staff will pass out binoculars for folks to use; we ask everyone to treat the community-shared binocualrs with care and respect for more community to use them in the future. Before starting our stroll, we will allocate time for restroom break, given the limited access (portal potty style) on site. Our stroll to the Ballona Wetland will consist of attentively passing the crosswalks by staying close to the group since this area can be heavily trafficked on Culver Blvd. As a way to prepare, we are asking guardians to share this information with the youth in preparation for our visit.

Once  arriving to the Ballona Wetlands, Zee Zetino, CNC Pogram Coordinator, and Nature Nexus Institute staff will welcome us to the site: its history and importance. Things to keep in mind, the trail consists of a flat dirt path, occasially transitioning to sand, and eventualy some steps. Some of the trail will be narrow with some overgrown vegetation brushing as we pass through; therefore, we highly reccomend wearing breathable long pants and sleeves to avoid the plants brushing on you (if that's not desired). 

We will continue practicing our keen observations with a fun Loteria game (Spanish bingo style game). During the program, we will get a chance to use microscopes and nature journal some species found at the Ballona's estuary. After strolling through Ballona Wetlands, we will visit the jetty and observe all the life that is found at the Ballona creek and  imagine what the space was like before the Marina Del Rey was built. When we end at the jetty, we will make our way back to Del Rey Lagoon to enjoy lunch together. After lunch, we will have the option to stay near Del Rey Lagoon or visit the beach side (approx. 1 hour, with no access to swimming due to CNC policy). 

We expect the Ballona Wetlands to be mostly cloudy with high temperature at 70° and low temperatures at 50° (subject to change), so layer up with thin layers + a water resistant top layer, if available, that can easily be added or removed (think of layers like an onion!). We will spend 8:30am-4:00pm (7.5 hours) together so make sure to bring enough water, a nice filling lunch, backpack to carry your belongings, a blanket/towel to sit on, and curiosity for the ocean. Please make sure to arrive at Compton Creek Natural Park on time (5-10 mins early) because the bus will not wait; and in honor of people's time, we would love to follow our schedule accordingly.

When registering for this event, make sure to add your correct email and phone number, so that you can receive more details of what to expect on our trip and any recent program changes. Please use the coupon code that was provided to register for our trip!

Reminders: We will be strolling to the Ballona Wetlands after being dropped off at Del Rey Lagoon, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. If the tide pools are low, keep in mind that your shoes might get wet and sandy. We are expecting the day to be mostly cloudly with morning drizzle, so bring proper attire and/or products to protect your skin. Although we are visiting the beach, CNC staff will not take responsibility for anyone swimming in the water. 

If you need any accommodations (ways that we can help you have a safe and enjoyable experience) to make your trip as comfortable as possible or need to communicate with CNC staff about our Transit to Trails, please reach out to our Program Coordinator Zee Zetino, zee@communitynatureconnection.org AND ttt@communitynatureconnection.org. 

Please familiarize yourself with the following: 

Covid Guidelines 

Wavier & Photo Release Form