In Her Honor: The Sara Walker Grant Takes 10 Young Explorers to the Summit

Some gifts leave a mark long after they are given. This is one of those stories.

In the summer of 2025, Marin Charitable lost one of our own. Sara Walker, a beloved member since 2016, passed away along with her husband Mark and son Johnny in the devastating floods that swept through Central Texas. Those of us who knew Sara remember her warmth, her generosity, and her deep love of the outdoors and nature. Her loss shook our community to its core. Sara is survived by her daughter, Ellie, who remains in our hearts and thoughts.

In the weeks that followed, our members came together to do what Sara would have done: turn grief into action. We raised $3,000, created The Sara Walker Grant, and directed it toward an organization whose mission Sara would have championed wholeheartedly.

That organization is the Bolinas Stinson Young Stewards of the Land.

This past July, The Sara Walker Grant helped make their Young Stewards Wilderness Excursion better: a six-day backpacking expedition into the Trinity Alps near Mt. Eddy for ten young people ages 11 to 17. The grant allowed the program to expand from its usual four days to six, and to bring a robust team of adult guides along for the journey.

Day 2: the hike begins

The group began their journey at the Sacramento River headwaters, making an offering to the land before heading into the backcountry. They pitched tents, swam in mountain lakes, and watched three mink dart beneath a dock at Lake Siskiyou. They backpacked deeper into the wilderness, their packs heavy and their spirits high, until they reached their camp in the high country, and then they kept going.

On day three, they summited Mt. Eddy.

Standing at the top, with Mt. Shasta rising even higher in the distance, each young explorer sat with their own thoughts, their own feelings, and a shared silence that only a summit can offer. They watched a rainbow sherbet sunset paint the sky on their descent, gathered wood for a fire, and counted stars from their sleeping bags.

Day 3: at the top

They challenged themselves with solo sit spots, one hour for the youngest, two for the middle, three for the oldest. Every single one of them met their challenge.

They made burritos and quesadillas, ramen and s'mores. They did yoga at dawn and sang songs at dusk. They carved wood, made beaded crafts and drew henna on each other's hands. They learned to move together as a group, to make decisions together, to take care of one another and of the land beneath their feet.

And on the last evening, sleeping under the open stars by a creek, they gathered one final time for what the Young Stewards call "the words before all else", a closing circle of gratitude, reflection, and connection.

Day 4: at base camp, art by E.E.

Guides Veena, Cody, and Meadow shared with us their itinerary and the following kind words:

"We wanted to let you know that your incredibly generous gift in honor of Sara Walker and her family was instrumental in our summer Young Stewards Wilderness Excursion, July 20-25th.

Your tribute to Sara enabled us to have a robust team of adult guides and to expand our trip from our usual 4 days to 6 days, in which the youth backpacked, swam in mountain lakes, summited Mt. Eddy to look out at Mt. Shasta, challenged themselves with sit spot solos, shared and listened in circle, and slept out under the stars. We truly appreciate your support and hope that you feel that Sara and her family have been well honored by this adventure."

We do. We truly do.

Sara Walker

Sara loved the outdoors. She loved young people. She loved community. And somewhere on the trail between Lake Siskiyou and the summit of Mt. Eddy, ten young explorers carried a little piece of her with them, even if they did not know her name then.

They do now.

The Sara Walker Grant was made possible by the generosity of Marin Charitable members. Thank you for being a member of this organization and for always showing up when our youth needs you the most.

To learn more about the Bolinas Stinson Young Stewards of the Land, visit https://bostinysl.org/

[Photos courtesy of the Bolinas Stinson Young Stewards of the Land Steering Committee, July 2026]

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