Editor's Note: In September 2024, President Bob Hermann announced that our Club had secured a $1,000 grant from Rotary District 5150 to fund an exciting environmental project in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco Castro that also secured a $1,000 grant from Rotary District 5150. Thank you to Yana Sharma of our Club for leading this project. Thank you also to Margaret Miley for supporting Yana and the team. Below is a report of the project that took place on June 21, 2025.
On the morning of Saturday, June 21, 2025, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the Rotary Club of San Francisco Castro along with high school students gathered at the Aldea Center on Mount Sutro to learn about bugs and how to restore native bug environments. After a light breakfast, Norm Gershenz and Evelyn George from Save Nature introduced the Insect Discovery Lab and guided us via an interactive experience to view a diverse world of insects and other anthropods and to learn about their key role in the web of life.
Attendees of all ages were brave and held the insects in their hands. We learned about Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers, Desert Stink Beetles, Giant African Milipedes, Australian Walking Sticks, Malayan Jungle Nymphs, Giant Whip Scorpions, and the adorable Madagascar Hissing Cockroach.
After visiting the Insect Discovery Lab, we enjoyed a Mediterranean lunch. Then, Sophie Haruna Klimcak, the Health in Nature Program Manager at Sutro Stewards, led the hike up the mountain to participate in stewardship work (caring for the plants that nourish and sustain the insects) and to construct a bug habitat on Mount Sutro. On the way, Sophie explained the importance of insects, their role in nature, and our role in nature.
With Sophie's guidance, we worked on removing three invasive plant species from the summit of Mount Sutro: Wild Radish, Fumaria, and Nasturtiums. These invasive plants displace native plants and reduce biodiversity. They affect local insect populations by disrupting their food sources and habitats.
By removing these invasive species, we gave more room for native plants such as Mugwort and California Poppies to grow. Since it was the first full day of summer, the weather was warm and beautiful!
After the invasive plant clean-up, we hiked back down the mountain to the Aldea Center and enjoyed lovely views of the San Francisco skyline.
We concluded the day by giving all attendees a mixture of California Native Wildflower seeds that they can plant in their own backyard and contribute to building an environment for California native insect populations. They also received a stuffed bee to commemorate the day!
Lisa DeZordo (RC SF Castro), Janet Leiva (RC SF Castro), Greg Scott (RC SF Castro), Yana Sharma (RC SF), Margaret Miley (RC SF), and Maggie Snyder (RC SF Castro)
