Friends of the Inyo is “Over the Moon” as it Announces the July 1 Kickoff of its FREE Summer Interpretive Hike Season with a Moonrise Stroll at Buckeye Hot Springs

Bishop, CA – Local conservation nonprofit Friends of the Inyo’s Events calendar at FriendsoftheInyo.org/Events is quickly populating with an ample offering of FREE activities this summer that range from interpretive hikes in nature led by our Trail Ambassadors, to half-day volunteer cleanup events at popular Eastern Sierra destinations, to multiday restoration projects in the backcountry, and more.

One of our most popular offerings each summer season are the interpretive hikes led by our team of Trail Ambassadors—five this year—hired in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to serve in Inyo and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest ranger districts throughout Mono and Inyo Counties. Besides performing important trail maintenance work, Trail Ambassadors educate trail users on how to best recreate responsibly, engage volunteers in public lands stewardship events, and provide interpretive talks and hikes on such fascinating Eastern Sierra topics as local geology, glaciology and volcanology; wild edibles and medicinal plants; local history; local fauna; wildflowers and nighttime skies.

Wildflowers and nighttime skies will be the topic of our first 2023 Trail Ambassador interpretive hike this Saturday evening, July 1, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., as Bridgeport Ranger District TA Kelly Kish leads a Moonrise Stroll at Buckeye Hot Springs. Details on the Moonrise Stroll and other events as they are posted on our calendar can easily be found at FriendsoftheInyo.org/Events. It is important for the public to read the description of each event to know how to prepare accordingly. Details from vehicle/road access to suggested gear to level of physical exertion required for each hike are always provided with attendees’ best interests in mind. Each event in nature requires attendees to RSVP by filling out an electronic waiver form for health and safety reasons, and to keep group sizes manageable. Most of our events have a cap, so interested participants are encouraged to RSVP as soon as they know they will be attending one of our hikes or volunteer activities to reserve their spot.

You can read about Kelly and our other Trail Ambassadors by visiting FriendsoftheInyo.org > About > Staff and Board. Any questions about Friends of the Inyo’s interpretive hikes or stewardship events can be addressed to Stewardship Director Lindsay Butcher at [email protected].

Friends of the Inyo’s mission is to protect and care for the land and water of the Eastern Sierra. Most Friends of the Inyo’s events in nature are FREE to the public thanks to generous grants, and corporate and individual donations. Anyone can make a donation at FriendsoftheInyo.org/Donate to help Friends of the Inyo continue to offer amazing educational and stewardship experiences to Eastern Sierra visitors and locals.