Helloooooo Oddacious readers, friends, clients, and casual wanderers of the world wide web! We hope you are having a wonderful day and have been able to enjoy some lovely Spring weather.
For our Terrific Tuesday, the Odditeam decided to welcome Spring with a scenic hike. With the birds chirping and the cool breeze outside, it was a no-brainer.
We decided to explore the historic Knights Ferry recreation area. The historical park is situated next to the Stanislaus River and has become a popular destination for hikers, bird watchers, and nature lovers. Knight’s Ferry has a rich history dating back to the Gold Rush era (cha-ching!) It was my first time at Knights Ferry, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to welcome Spring--birds were singing, the sun was shining, and the flowers were in bloom. But it wasn’t wholly unspoiled. Since it is a popular spot, we expected to find litter around the park. And sure enough, we did. We found many plastic beverage containers, food wrappers, and articles of outer and under clothing (eeewww!).
But the trash was a welcomed discovery in a sense. We weren’t just hiking to take in the sites; we also wanted to leave our oddacious mark on the place. So, we were picking up trash along the way.
Now, you may be thinking, “Did I read that correctly? The company went on a hike and picked up trash?”
Yup, we did.
The Odditeam is committed to service and to operating consistent with our Oddacious Values. One of those values is “Leave it better than you found it.” Trash Tuesday was born out of those commitments after our founder, Chris, shared that he would often bring a bucket and a trash grabby-thing with him as he walked his neighborhood. The idea sparked a lot of interest in the team, and we wanted to do the same as a group.
It has turned into a great team activity. It allows us to go into our shared public spaces and serve our neighbors by tangibly leaving the place better than we found it. In the process, we enjoy a break and a walk as a team that helps us connect and de-stress.
Maybe little practices like trash Tuesday can help beautify and preserve our public spaces for all to enjoy. Maybe you’re inspired to undertake your own version of Trash Tuesday. What person, place, or organization will you “leave better than you found it”? Be the change you want to see in the world. #BeOddaciouslyDifferent
Don’t have a plan for getting outdoors this Spring yet? Go out and explore the state parks and hiking trails around your area. We have included some links below for our favorite local parks:
Yosemite National Park: https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Knights Ferry, Oakdale CA: https://knightsferry.com/
Mavis Stouffer Park, Ripon CA: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mavis-stouffer-park-ripon
Dry Creek Trail, Modesto CA: https://www.traillink.com/trail/dry-creek-trail-(modesto)/
Tuolumne River Trail: https://www.traillink.com/trail/tuolumne-river-trail/
Alum Rock Park, San Jose CA: https://www.sanjose.org/listings/alum-rock-park
Mission Peak, Milpitas CA: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mission-peak-loop-from-stanford-avenue-staging-area
Castle Rock State Park, Los Gatos CA: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538
