Written by: Carolyn Zhang, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter

On September 27 at Coyote Hills Regional Park, families in the FCSN community participated in a fun hike filled with scenic views, fresh air, and friendly faces. The outing was the most recent event hosted by FCSN’s Hiking Special Interest Group (SIG), created to help families stay active while building connections within the community. 

In 2024, FCSN conducted a member survey, which revealed that walking and hiking were the most popular sports activities among families, with 70% of those surveyed expressing interest. Seeing an activity that most people could enjoy, FCSN set out to form a hiking SIG to organize regular community outings and bring members together. The idea quickly took root thanks to the collaboration facilitated by Helen Chou between FCSN and Troop 488, a special needs scouting troop. “We leverage what we already do in our troop and open it up to FCSN members,” Chou explained.

The hiking group’s early events drew eager participation from FCSN families. On January 25, 40 people gathered at Vasona Lake County Park for an orienteering challenge, where participants used maps to find hidden markers in a treasure-hunt-style adventure. The February 15 outing to Año Nuevo State Park was a guided elephant seal tour, allowing families to witness the animals during their mating season. “It’s very rare to see so many elephant seals on the beach, so a lot of people indicated interest [in the tour],” Chou said. With such interesting activities, these two events led by Troop 488 Assistant Scoutmaster David Ma were especially memorable.

After a few months of logistical challenges, Jim Chiao, the co-chairman of FCSN, decided to organize a hike for August 23 in order to get the program going again. This event consisted of an early morning hike at Sabercat Creek Trail followed by a visit to the 4th FCSN Art Exhibit. 17 participants joined this event, enjoying both nature and art in one day. The most recent hike at Coyote Hills was also a Troop 488 and FCSN joint activity, drawing 22 participants.

The success of these first outings has inspired organizers to brainstorm more creative activities for future hikes, as these interactive events typically garner the most community interest. “Now is the season for bird migration,” Chou said. “There are a lot of birds in Coyote Hills.” The SIG hopes to plan a hike around birdwatching, incorporating educational elements into traditional outdoor activities. 

However, organizing these events takes considerable effort and human resources. Deciding on locations and dates for the hikes, coordinating waivers and registration forms, and promoting the hike to the community often requires weeks of preparation. Chou notes that an additional challenge is balancing different fitness levels among participants. Some families are more athletic and walk faster, while others prefer a slower pace and less strenuous hike, leading to the group spreading out throughout the hike.

Despite these challenges, feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. Many participants appreciate the opportunity to take a break from their busy lives, spend quality time together with their families, and meet other families in the community. 

Looking ahead, the hiking SIG hopes to host monthly hikes, alternating between easier and more challenging routes in order to accommodate different families. In order to do so, Chou emphasizes the importance of community involvement in growing the initiative, hoping to have more dedicated members who are willing to plan and lead the hikes. Through these hikes, FCSN hopes to bring families together and strengthen community bonds.