The Santa Maria High School Alpine Club recently spent a doing volunteer trail work at Los Flores Ranch. Club members, in grades 9-11 helped to re-build and maintain a large section of one of the trails.

Los Flores Ranch is a 1,778-acre open-space area in Santa Maria Valley that offers an array of outdoor activities for nature-lovers. The park consists of more than 15 miles of hiking trails and lots of wildlife to view.

The Alpine Club has been working with Los Flores Ranch to do volunteer work annually for the past several years. The club helps build a love of nature, hiking, camping, and outdoor activities for Santa Maria High School students.

“We have enjoyed partnering with Los Flores Ranch to provide this opportunity to our students,” said Amy Hennings, Alpine Club co-advisor. “It is great to get them out in nature, but also to help them participate in a program that gives back to their community.”

Students were treated to a quick adventure through the corn maze at The Patch after their day of hard work.

“Going to Los Flores was a really nice experience doing new things I haven’t done before, and it was really good how we as a club did something for a good cause,” said Ruth Lopez, a ninth-grader.

“It was a fun new experience even though it was hard, it was cool and nice to be doing something that is for the good.” said Victor Guzman Hernandez, also in ninth grade.