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Seth Adams—Why I Love Krane Pond

Every kid deserves a pond. I had several. It’s one of the reasons I want to protect Krane Pond, and why I’m asking for your support.

So far, we’ve raised $308,532 of the $500,000 project cost. We need to raise $191,468 more.

We want to raise the funds by October 25, the date by which we must exercise our option. Once we exercise our option, we have 60 days to close escrow.

When I was in first grade, we moved to Hope Mills, a small town in North Carolina near Fort Bragg, where my dad was stationed.

There was a big lake down the hill at the center of town, Hope Mills Lake, a mill pond for a cotton mill. We lived up the hill in a new subdivision still surrounded by scrub oak woodland.

Across the street from our house on Golfview Road was a golf course with some ponds, and behind the golf course was Rockfish Creek.

I spent countless hours and days playing in the ponds and the creeks, often with little fish nets catching things—insects, fish, snakes, mudpuppies (salamanders)—that I took home with me.

When I was eight, my parents gave me the garage to get the animals out of the house.

I explored the woods and swam in the creek. Or fell in the creek.

My mom never complained when I came home wet and muddy. Later my dad and I rafted down the creek.

Playing outside in the woods and ponds and creeks—near my home— is where I learned my values and to be independent. They were my home, like Mount Diablo is for many kids here.

There was a larger pond nearby and a neighbor who encouraged my interest in nature. My mom would drop me at her house, and I’d spend all day there. Her pond was different, bigger, with marshy sphagnum bogs on the edges, and really interesting carnivorous plants.

Pitcher plants, sundews, and so on. The idea of plants eating insects is fascinating to anyone, but especially kids.

Water is life, and we’re hardwired to find it. If you pay attention, you can smell water, the direction of the breeze, the difference in humidity. Pay attention, and you can find your way. So can wildlife.

Krane Pond is one of the largest ponds on the north side of Mount Diablo State Park. It’s incredibly important for wildlife. And for kids in Clayton, or visiting Mount Diablo State Park in the future, who will get muddy there.

So far we’ve raised $308,532 of the $500,000 project cost for Krane Pond. We need to raise $191,468 more. Please help.