My parents instilled a love of the outdoors when I was growing up. During short and long vacations, we visited every national park and nature recreation area in California and some in adjoining states. Since moving to Ojai, I have spent so many pleasant hours walking and hiking in the Los Padres National Forest and on the Ojai Valley Nature Conservancy's preserves that I have come to appreciate the outdoors even more. Now I am taking a course in becoming a Certified California Naturalist, which will enable me to be a docent for the OVLC, lead tours of the wonderful properties they are restoring and preserving, and (I hope) inspire others to live in harmony with our natural environment and work on its behalf.