Park Rangers Brandon Samson and Amanda Trogdon
From exotic animals to a traveling tidepool, Menifee’s Wildlife Appreciation Day will bring hands-on wildlife experiences to Central Park on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The free community event offers interactive exhibits where attendees can get up close and personal with animals, learn about their environments, and celebrate wildlife.
“Southern California is just such a beautiful place to live and experience nature,” Menifee Park Ranger Amanda Trogdon said. “It really gives our community an opportunity to see what we have to offer here. It just comes back to our love of sharing nature and letting people know there’s multiple ways that they can be stewards.”
Local and state agencies will also attend Wildlife Appreciation Day, offering information and other services at the event.
Menifee Park Ranger Brandon Samson said while there aren’t any big national park areas close to the city, there are a lot of agencies that work throughout the Southern California region to focus on conservation efforts.
“We thought it’d be a good idea to invite stakeholders like that to the City of Menifee to share about what they do, and also incorporate some animal encounters,” he said. “It’s nice to have it as a part of the portfolio of things to do here in Menifee.”
As far as the encounters go, the tidepool will offer community members an intimate experience with sea creatures. Visitors will have to attend the event to find out which exotic animals will be there.
Trogdon said city staff have worked hard to bring the event to life.
“We’re really lucky here in Menifee. We have a great team and community services. The recreation division helps us a lot,” she said. “It’s really exciting to see how it has grown.”
Trogdon has been a park ranger for almost 15 years. A big outdoor advocate, she said she enjoys sharing her love of nature with Menifee.
Samson, going on his 11th year as a park ranger, grew up in Menifee. He has held a position with the Coast Guard, as well as Riverside County, but jumped at the opportunity to work where he grew up.
“Making the outdoors your office is definitely a benefit of the job, but it’s also great to interact with the community,” he said.
The pair recently visited Mesa View Elementary School and participated in their career day program. They said they often visit area schools and offer programming throughout the year to organizations, Boy Scouts, clubs, etc.
Other ranger responsibilities include patrolling Menifee’s parks, trails and open spaces and providing safety and education to the community. Every other Friday, the rangers host Good Morning Nature, a hands-on learning program for kids that features a nature walk and activity at a local park.
“It’s a fun way for the family to get out in the morning, get a little walk in and learn about nature,” Samson said.
In the summer months, the rangers will host a campfire series, including a nature talk, craft and s’mores.
