On Saturday, April 21, Avalon Lions Club members and their families were joined by the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Education Department’s staff and a bus load of Islanders for the reopening of the playground at Haypress and a Catalina Conservancy Families in Nature program. The festivities included an interesting nature activity showing the abundant animals and plants in the Haypress waters. Set up under the blue Catalina Conservancy’s pop up shade were microscopes and equipment for one and all to observe the various animals that live in the waters of the Haypress reservoir. The activity was supervised by the Catalina Conservancy’s Education Staff.
Avalon Lion Tom Jordahal cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings for about 75 people. Tom’s Daughter Brenda provided her extra special yummy baked bean dish which was a crowd favorite. The Avalon Lions Club built and maintains the playground, BBQ and picnic tables for all Islanders to use. Enjoy the beautiful interior of Catalina at Haypress at often as possible.
After the BBQ lunch Willie Richards of the Catalina Conservancy Education Department lead a hike to the rim of the Grand Canyon Overlook. Hikers learned about the plants and animals they encountered along the trail. The two small reservoirs near Haypress still have some rain water in them. That water is drying up as the days get hotter and longer. It is great fun to walk along the edge of the reservoirs and see all the many form of life that live in that environment.
Just before the hike there was an amazing bison stampede down the East hillside of Haypress Reservoir, across the dry area pond and up the West hillside of the reservoir. The dust cloud was huge and the bison were all running very fast. Something or someone must have scared the bison to start the stampede.
Never ever approach or scare a bison. If bison feel threatened or frightened they may charge you or you may start a stampede which could injure you and a lot of other people.
The new playground equipment was a big hit with all the kids from the little tykes to the Moms and Dads. The equipment is surrounded by a 12-inch layer of tree bark to cushion any tumbles that may happen. The Avalon Lions Club wants to be sure the swings and slides safe for everyone. When Islanders and guests are at Haypress please do supervise everyone when they are using the Haypress playground equipment. If anyone observes something that needs to be repaired at Haypress call Lion Burney Ramming at 310-422-1406.
