Camp Internet Trail Guides - Liz Mason

Lis Mason's role as Assistant Naturalist at Cachuma Lake is formost an educational and interpretive one. She teaches Cachuma visitors about the rich cultural and natural history of the area, touching on the history of the Chumash people and their traditional uses of native plants, resident and migrating birds and other wildlife, and the landscape, including the native plants and geologic history. Venues include the eagle and wildlife cruises on Cachuma Lake, nature walks, presentations in the Cachuma Nature Center, campfire talks, as well as visits to classrooms, service organizations, and other Santa Barbara county parks. Classes from elementary to college level and Elderhostels also take field trips to the Lake. One of her favorite subjects is the design of nature, and how it reveals function. In her talks, she encourages people to think about this as they learn about the natural world. For example, what is the benefit to a turkey vulture of having a bald head? Among Liz's current projects are coordinating the mid-winter Bald Eagle survey at Cachuma Lake, writing and producing a newsletter for the Park, and compiling a reference of Native American uses of plants in the Cachuma area.

Liz has lived in Santa Barbara for 18 years. She received her bachelor's degree from UCSB, where she studied cultural and physical anthropology. She also studied botany and biology, and worked for several years as a writer and editor at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. She was also an interpretive Naturalist for the US Forest Service in the Columbia River Gorge.

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