Laguna Canyon Foundation Volunteers Take Parents and Youngsters on Hikes

Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers Jeanine Tiemeyer and Stacey Hegarty met their friend Michelle Magno at Canyon View Park on a chilly morning to go on a "Baby and Me Hike."

All three women brought their toddlers to enjoy, not only a hike through the oak lined canyon, but also a chance to socialize.

Magno and her daughter Abigail Magno, 2, have been hiking with the group for about five months.

"The reason I looked for something like this," said Magno, "is because, for me, becoming a stay at home mom was a hard transition. I think it's great to play at the park and at the playground. But at some point you realize it's great for the child, but not so great for 'momma.' So I was looking for something that was good for both of us."

Tiemeyer brought her son Aidan Busenberg and Hegarty brought her daughter Penelope Krueger.

"The big mission," said Tiemeyer, "is conservation and public use...being able to get people out into nature and interacting with nature and preserving nature. There's a lot more here than what most people know about. We thought it would be a really good idea to get [parents] and babies out and just go play in the wilderness a little bit."

Tiemeyer enjoys watching the kids discover what's happening in the wilderness. She admits that when the children are very little, they do fall asleep. But then as they get older, they begin to notice all there is to see in nature.

"To watch [Aidan] start to focus on the trees," said Tiemeyer, "and to watch him start to hear the sounds and sort of become aware of what was going on. And now, [when it's time for a hike], he goes running over to his backpack and tries to climb in. He just loves being outside...and seeing deer and all the bugs. I just love watching [the kids] learn to interact with nature and to feel like they're comfortable here and playing and having a great time."

Tiemeyer and Hegarty are both trained volunteers with Laguna Canyon Foundation.

"I went on this hike one day and loved it," said Hegarty. "Jeanine was leading it with another lady and they were looking for new people to cycle through [and train]. So I got involved."

"It's fun to just go hike," said Hegarty. "We know each other and we get to talk and enjoy nature together so it's really fun. Dads are welcome, too. On a lot of the hikes, we talk about babies and their schedules and what they're eating and what they're doing. So it's a really great kind of 'peace of mind experience' to just talk to other [parents] out there."

The Laguna Canyon Foundation asks for a donation of $2 per person and there is a $3 parking fee at most trailheads.

New hike leaders are needed not only for the baby hike, but also for specialty subject hikes. If you are interested, please contact Max Borella of the LCF at max@lagunacanyon.org or call 949-497-8324.