Standing alone and viewing the ocean for the first time, 12-year-old Jonathan recorded his thoughts at Wildcat Beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore:

“I’m telling you about this beach. I’m here to tell you: do not come to this beach! We are here near San Francisco and this is the only beach they got! And all around are these signs that say: “WARNING! HELP PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE! DON’T FEED, TOUCH, OR DISTURB ANY MAMMALS. IT IS HARMFUL AND ILLEGAL.” Then it says it means by mammals: “SHARKS, WHALES, AND SEALS!” We saw dead crabs and two dead sharks (two-foot sand sharks)! Sharks come to the shore. Something might happen! So I’m out! Right now I’m kinda scared you know, cause I’ve never been on the beach.”

The full text of this article is in the print edition of Coast & Ocean.