This week, we’re giving the editorial keys to Athena Thasiah and Abby Gonzalez, interns for Runners for Public Lands.
Our names are Athena Thasiah and Abby Gonzalez. We are student interns at Ventura High School and have been working closely with Runners for Public Lands helping to organize different trail work days and bringing together young people, high schoolers like myself, to be a part of something that’s helping our planet thrive.
Public lands are often described in definitions — as protected areas, federally managed spaces, places of recreation, wildlife preservation, and more. But to me, public lands are really about something deeper. They’re about access, memory, and responsibility. They’re the places we go to feel small in the best way — where the mountains don’t ask who you are or what you’ve done. They’re open to everyone, and in a world where so many things feel gated, that’s rare.
One of our trail events is in Horn Canyon, tucked into the front country of the Los Padres National Forest, is one of those places. The trail winds through chaparral, oak woodlands, and in the springtime, you’ll even find bursts of wildflowers tucked between the brush — things like California poppies, lupines, and mariposa lilies. There’s wildlife too: deer, hawks, and even the occasional black bear, all relying on this landscape the way we do.
However these trails don’t stay beautiful on their own. They weather storms, drought, heat, erosion — and over time, they will need our help to hold them together. That’s what we’re here for. This is our way of saying thank you. This isn’t just environmental work. It’s community work. When we show up to take care of trails like Horn Canyon, we’re not just protecting plants or clearing paths — we’re making sure people can continue to come here and experience the world as we did.
For our generation, especially, public lands are going to become even more important. We believe there is a misconception that the earth belongs to us and we can use our resources at our free will. As we look around at what is happening today on our planet, we hope we can all realize that we belong to the earth and the planet comes with many limitations that we are seeing more of today. It’s our job to help spread the word and help protect our planet.
We feel very lucky to have grown up in a place with access to such amazing public lands. From hiking with our friends on the weekends, to running at Harmon Canyon with the cross country team, we have made countless memories as a result of these beautiful places so close to my house. We are so excited to be involved with the RPL Trail Work Series, contributing to the effort of expanding access to trails in Ventura County.
Athena Thasiah is a senior at Ventura High School getting ready to graduate and head to Chapman University for Film Production. From Athena: “Being part of Runners for Public Lands has shaped who I am—not just because my family founded this amazing organization, but because it’s given me incredible opportunities to grow and learn. I’m passionate about film and literature, and I love exploring how to pursue these interests in sustainable ways. Working with Runners for Public Lands has taught me so much about storytelling, project coordination, and using media to make a difference. I’m excited to bring this experience with me as I dive deeper into filmmaking and continue finding ways to create content that matters.”
Abby Gonzalez is a senior at Ventura High School heading to UC Berkeley this fall to study Art Practice. From Abby: “I’m passionate about art, design, and music—I play the flute and love creating visual designs. Working with Runners for Public Lands designing stickers that connect with our community has been such an amazing opportunity. It’s taught me how to take ideas and turn them into designs that actually communicate something meaningful. I’m really excited to take everything I’ve learned about combining creativity with purpose into my college studies and see where it leads me in the art world.”