09 Dec Trey Aviles Introductory Vlog GOGA 2025

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Introductory Vlog! by Trey Aviles

Arriving here at our new home on Rodeo Beach in Fort Cronkhite gave an immediate sense of peace. Strong waves crashing into the sandy shore as the sunset created a beautiful show of colors in the clouds that transformed from warm golden orange to soft, dreamy pink. Surrounded by weathered mountains, estuaries, and remnants of bunkers from world war one and two, we are nestled in a truly unique and hidden gem of the Bay Area. There are hiking trails that meander north and south through the headlands. Crumbling sand stone bluffs blend in with marvelous walls of stone including serpentine, one of the stones that makes this area so unique geologically and special biologically, and red jasper.

An opportunity to further my education couldn’t be any better. I’ll happily be working with the North Marin vegetation team in Muir Woods. Work has yet to begin as we are still settling in and attending orientations. But the previewed description from my team lead, Elliot, included work such as native species planting, invasive species removal, salmon creek restoration, and building artificial beaver dams to help raise the water table in the forest for times of drought.

I had been living on Hawaii Island (Big Island) for the past 3 years attending school and doing volunteer planting work on Mauna Kea to restore dry land forests by planting Koa Acacia, iliahi (sandalwood), and māmane. I was also volunteering in Volcano NP to plant endangered, endemic species and remove invasives such as kahili ginger. I miss my island home, but being here in the Bay Area offers me a chance to learn more and be closer to my family while being able to take road trips, arguably the only thing I was unable to do in Hawaii.