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This month we are highlighting the experiences of our two summer interns, Joseph and Kevin.

We asked them to create a project of their choosing that showcases their time with Save Mount Diablo.

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Joseph Anduray

Working with Save Mount Diablo has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had.

It showed me that protecting nature is about more than just saving beautiful places. It’s also about helping wildlife, supporting the community, and making sure future generations can enjoy nature too.

One of my favorite parts of this experience was visiting Save Mount Diablo’s Curry Canyon Ranch.

I really liked how peaceful and quiet it was, and it was nice to get away from busy everyday life. I also enjoyed seeing kids of all ages come to learn about nature and explore the park. Being outside helped me appreciate all the plants, animals, and scenery around me.

My favorite area was the ponds because they were full of different kinds of insects, amphibians, birds, and even snakes.

I also liked visiting the creek because the kids got to paint, relax, and enjoy being outdoors.

One thing I learned is that there are many ways people can help protect the environment. Whether it’s restoring habitats, teaching others about nature, or volunteering at community events, every little effort makes a difference.

Working with people who care about the environment inspired me to do my part and showed me that even small actions can have a big impact.

Overall, this experience taught me that conservation is not only about protecting nature today, but also making sure future generations can enjoy it.

I’m thankful I had the opportunity to be part of Save Mount Diablo, and I hope more people get involved in helping protect our environment.

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Kevin Perlacia

I chose these animals [see below] because I saw them all around Curry Canyon, and at first, I was thinking of ideas for my final project, so I decided that taking a walk through the canyon might help me come up with something.

During my walk, I realized my project could be a collage of the animals I spotted. From that point on, I started looking for wildlife and writing down every animal I saw.

At first, I wasn’t sure where to look, so I wandered to a creek looking for frogs. While I was there, I heard something shaking behind me, and it sounded like a Mexican maraca.

So I turned around, and I realized it was a rattlesnake staring right at me! I was so scared that I turned around and ran away.

After that, I kept walking and heard something moving in the trees. At first, it looked like a big flower vase, but when I looked closer, I realized it was a barn owl.

Later, I walked to another creek, and this time I didn’t find any snakes, but I did find frogs. They were hopping all around the creek, so they were hard to catch. When I finally caught one, I was surprised about how small they were. They were the size of my fingertips!

The next day, we explored farther into the canyon, and I spotted a wild coyote standing in the tall grasses. Seeing such an amazingly unique animal living so close to us made me realize how amazing the wildlife is in a place like Curry Canyon.

Having the opportunity to intern at Mount Diablo has made me see things I would have never been able to before.

I got to see so many animals and places I have never been. Places like Curry Canyon, Mangini Ranch, Mount Diablo State Park, and I am so grateful for all the things I got to do here.

And the things I learned didn’t just help me, they also helped my family. Because of what I told them, my family now wants to go outside in nature more often, and they even want to go to Mount Diablo State Park with me.

They also want to go camping, when before they would have never dreamed of doing those things, but me working here has changed that.