News

“Spending time outdoors is proven to benefit mental and physical health—reducing stress, anxiety and depression while boosting cognitive function and memory. That’s why FBCS [Friends of Bear Creek Stables] is committed to making nature-based experiences accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and economic backgrounds.” They are raising $250,000 to support initial operations and programs, while Midpeninsula Regional Open Space has budgeted $6 million for infrastructure improvements.

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FBCS on the front page of Mountain Network News !! Volunteers have been greeting hikers at Bear Creek Preserve, often joined by horses from Bear Creek Stables. With horses on the way, they asked a boy if he had seen a horse before. He answered “‘Yes.’ After thinking for a few moments, he added, ‘But only in books.’ Friends of Bear Creek Stables hopes to change that… We intend to offer outdoor learning and exploring opportunities with hands-on nature and animal interactions.”

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“…the stables will offer horse and nature-based programs to people of all ages, physical abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds in the Bay Area…. Ashley Byington started riding her horse at Bear Creek Stables when she was nine years old. When asked what lessons she learned, she replied, ‘I learned self-confidence and assertiveness, good for a girl in Silicon Valley.’”

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Friends of Bear Creek Stables will operate the stables pending a long-term agreement with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space. Midpen will begin clean-up and restoration and Friends will begin fundraising to support initial operations. Midpen Board President Jed Cyr, “I’m incredibly impressed by all the effort and thought…Out of that emerged this challenge to create something that’s not been done before, and the enthusiasm is obvious.”

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Bear Creek Stables will remain open! The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District agreed to identify a non-profit to take over management of the stables, with major expansion of public-access programs focused on outdoor learning.

“Melany Moore, the nonprofit’s vice president,…said she’s glad Midpen is seeing eye-to-eye with Friends of Bear Creek Stables because the site is beloved. ‘I feel super grateful,’ Moore told San José Spotlight. ‘There’s so many people that have come together (for this).’”

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