Summertime hiking series fun for all

by Briana Santos for KUAM News

Guam - If you're looking for something to do that's not only fun but also educational, you'll definitely want to check the free hikes to the Masso River.  The Bureau of Statistics & Plans, the Guam Coastal Management Program in partnership with the Piti Mayor's Office, and the Environmental Education Committee are offering a free educational hiking event called, "Get to Know the Masso River."

Elena Todd is the project coordinator for the Guam Coastal Management Program anjd said, "This is a very exciting hike. This is hopefully the first in a series of hikes it's called 'I love my watershed' and this is the Get to Know the Masso River.  And so, the hike is all about getting to know this beautiful village of Piti and one of the rivers that flows out of it," she explained.

Participants will learn a great deal about the Masso River watersheds and what they can do to protect the natural resource.  "So we're going to take participants all the way up to the top of not where the river starts but as close as we can get without a five mile hike and show them kind of what happens to the river as it goes through the village and makes it way out to the sea. And show them the unique species that lives there both the plants and animals and then show them some of the things that are affecting the watershed," said Todd.

She expects about 150 people to take to the trails, noting, "But we've had a ton of calls and we're really, really excited about it."

The hikes begin at 7am and run every hour on the hour up to ten o'clock tomorrow morning at the Piti Park across from that village's Catholic church. Aside from the educational information they will be receiving, adults who attend will receive discounted admission to the Fish Eye Marine Park, while children will be allowed in free of charge.