Hiking Humboldt Kids
Vesper Society lifts up through service, breaks down barriers, and elevates community voices. During the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, First 5 Humboldt encouraged families to stay active and spend time outdoors in nature. They reached out to hiking legend Rees Hughes, author of Crossing Paths: A Pacific Crest Trailside Reader and Hiking Humboldt Volume 2 to create a resource for this purpose.
The wonderful result of this collaboration is Hiking Humboldt Kids, published by Backcountry Press. First Five Humboldt purchased complementary copies for local families with children ages 0-5, just in time for summer break. As it turns out, older folks really enjoy the length of the hikes too.
It took almost two years to produce the book that includes history, fun facts, and activities, all designed to inspire wonder and appreciation of nature. Educators, photographers, artists, and translators all contributed to this bilingual English/Spanish edition.
Respect for the complex history of Humboldt and the humility of the leaders who made this happen is notable, in the Land Acknowledgement, at the very beginning of the book.
The rich and stunning lands within the boundaries of Humboldt County include the traditional, ancestral, and present homelands of several Indigenous nations, including the Hupa, Karuk, Mattole, Wailaki, Wiyot, and Yurok. These lands were taken from these communities during an extended period of forced removal and genocide that has had far-reaching impacts, yet these peoples have been and continue to be stewards of this place. We honor and acknowledge the strength and resilience of these communities that came before us, that are with us now, and the future Indigenous peoples of this area. We have endeavored to weave in this recognition throughout this book.
We would like to extend our gratitude to those who have shared perspectives and knowledge with us on our journey creating this book. It has been a time of deep growth for both the individuals working on this project and our agency as a whole. Thank you. We acknowledge that First 5 Humboldt, as an organization, is still working to uncouple our agency from the legacy of colonialism and want to own any omissions as unintentional but, also, First 5 Humboldt’s responsibility. This book represents our understanding of the impact of history and current practices at this point in time, we know we have more to learn, and we welcome the opportunity to continue learning from our community.
We are inspired by this effort and hope you have the opportunity to visit Humboldt, learn about the community, take these walks, and connect with nature. By doing so, we are one step closer to our vision of a compassionate world that protects and enhances the dignity and potential of humans, the earth, and all living creatures.