Plant Pals - A Native Plant Scavenger Hunt

Authors: Citlali M. and Isabelle S. 

Three youth apprentices in grey t-shirts examine a bush covered in white flowers. In the background, a large, white-colored statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stands tall over the Pacific Ocean. 

Summary:

Plants, while often overlooked, at the backbone of terrestrial ecosystems. Animals and people rely on plant communities for food, shelter, oxygen and more! Dive into how scientists at Cabrillo National Monument protect rare and sensitive plant communities at the park, how the youth apprentices have helped with these efforts, and how you can get involved too! 

Introduction

Throughout the summer, CESAP apprentices (Conservation Environmental Stewardship Apprenticeship Program) have been working towards their final capstone project; a scavenger hunt that invites the public to explore and learn about Cabrillo National Monument’s native plants. This quarter, apprentices learned about how scientists remove invasive plant species around the park, how we can study phenology (life cycles) of native plants, and also the inclusion of technology for conservation biology. As visitors take part in this scavenger hunt, the apprentices will engage them with the native plants, and see a preview of conservation efforts by the staff and volunteers at Cabrillo.

A black bug with orange and white markings sits atop a round pod that is part of a plant with long skinny green leaves.

The Great Green Quest

Leading up to this capstone project, the CESAP apprentices thoroughly researched and explored the ins and outs of native plants, and the significance of environmental science. They have collaborated on assembling seed bombs containing the seeds of native plants, volunteering with the vegetation technicians to remove invasive plants, and collecting phenological data. Cabrillo National Monument is located in San Diego, a biodiversity hotspot, meaning the ecosystem is very diverse, protecting this delicate ecosystem is necessary to promote biodiversity and uphold the health of the ecosystem. This means that educating the public about native plants is important science communication to teach people how they can protect their local ecosystems and avoid spreading invasive species. 

The Plant Pals Scavenger Hunt created by apprentices will give the public the opportunity to learn about native plants through hands-on and observation-reliant endeavors. The questions will range from finding and documenting native plants to native plants to scoping out their likely pollinators. Along the way participants will learn the importance of conservation, phenology (the study of life cycles), and plant adaptations. 

In the upcoming scavenger hunt, visitors and apprentices will be able to utilize an app called iNaturalist, which allows the user to classify organisms based on images. This means that each user can document their findings of interest with the app and be able to confirm it with other scientists. Even submitting observations of a few plants at Cabrillo or even on a stroll outside of the park can make a huge impact in gathering data for park scientists to utilize. This data can even help find new species and inform management decisions, such as where to restore native plants. 

Conclusion

We urge you to join us on 08/17/25 outside of the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center to participate in the scavenger hunt or catch one of our other apprentice-led events highlighting native plants and biodiversity by finding the “Upcoming Events” tab on the EcoLogik Institute website! Events are included with your park admission fee.

A group of youth apprentices walk through a tunnel created by two large shrubs and are spotted with shadows of the leaves.

About Our Authors: Citlali and Izzy

Citlali started as a student of CESAP this quarter. She looks forward to exploring areas of science like environmental science and biology. Izzy has been with the EcoLogik Institute for more than two years - first as a summer camper and now as a CESAP apprentice! She loves science, robotics, and learning about space.