Hidden Villa facts for kids

Hidden Villa is a unique place in Los Altos Hills, California. It's a non-profit organization that teaches people about nature and different cultures. It started in 1924 as a working organic farm and a wild natural area. This special spot is located on the foothills of Black Mountain, near Adobe Creek. Hidden Villa is famous for being the first youth hostel in the western United States. It also hosted the nation's first summer camp for children from many different backgrounds.

A Look Back: Hidden Villa's History

The land where Hidden Villa is today has a long history. In 1840, it was part of a large land grant given to Ohlone Native Americans. Later, in 1867, George Washington Moody built a road through this area. His home eventually became what we know as Hidden Villa Ranch.

In 1923, Frank and Josephine Duveneck bought the land. They were very thoughtful people. They remodeled an old house on the property, which used to be a stagecoach stop. It was even called the "Halfway House" because it was halfway between San Jose and Pescadero.

The Duvenecks were active in their community. Frank Duveneck helped start the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club in 1933. This group works to protect nature. The Duvenecks also helped people returning from internment camps during World War II. They even provided a safe place for César Chávez, who was organizing farm workers.

In 1937, the Duvenecks opened the first American youth hostel in the West at Hidden Villa. This was a place where young travelers could stay cheaply. In 1945, they started the first summer camp for children of all backgrounds. Hidden Villa became a non-profit organization in 1960. Its environmental education program began in 1970.

When Frank Duveneck passed away in 1985, the Duveneck family gave Hidden Villa to the public. They wanted to make sure the beautiful Adobe Creek and its water source would always be protected. They bought more land to keep the entire area natural and clean. Today, most of Hidden Villa's land is protected as open space, fulfilling the Duvenecks' wish for a permanent wildlife sanctuary.

Learning and Fun: Educational Programs

Hidden Villa offers many exciting programs for learning. These include:

• Environmental education: Kids learn about nature and how to protect our planet.
• Summer camps: Both day and overnight camps are available, where kids can explore and learn.
• Community programs: These teach about living sustainably, caring for animals, and understanding nature.
• Community supported agriculture: This program provides fresh, organic produce to local communities.

About 30,000 people visit Hidden Villa each year for these programs. Even if you're not in a formal program, you can visit the farm animals, explore the gardens, or hike on the eight miles of trails.

Exploring Nature: Hiking Trails

Hidden Villa is surrounded by beautiful open spaces like Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. The farm and hostel are in a valley. You can take an easy two-mile hike along the "Creek Trail." This trail follows the east fork of Adobe Creek, where the water flows all year.

If you like a challenge, you can hike up to Black Mountain. Two trails connect Hidden Villa to the Black Mountain Trail: the Hostel Trail (1.3 miles) or the Creek Trail (1 mile) which connects to the Ewing Trail (0.3 miles). From there, the Black Mountain Trail goes up about three miles to the top of Black Mountain.

Wildlife and Plants: Ecology at Hidden Villa

Hidden Villa is home to many plants and animals. Steelhead trout used to live in Adobe Creek. People reported seeing them in the creek as far back as 1877. The parts of the creek upstream from Hidden Villa are great places for trout to live.

Adobe Creek used to flow all year long. This was important for steelhead trout because their young fish need fresh water for their first year. Old records show that the creek sometimes ran dry because water was taken for farming. This shows how important it is to protect our waterways.

The California Native Plant Society has a special nursery at Hidden Villa. They grow plants that are native to California. They also hold plant sales twice a year, in April and October. This helps people plant local species that are good for the environment.

Images for kids

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  Hidden Villa shelters many California native plants such as this native honeysuckle Lonicera hispidula 2010

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  The Hidden Villa Education Center uses special building methods like solar heating and straw bales.

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  This plaque marks the founding of the Sierra Club's Loma Prieta Chapter in 1933.

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  When plants along a stream are lost, the water can cause more erosion.

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  This drop under the Hidden Villa bridge is one of several barriers to steelhead trout spawning runs on Adobe Creek.