Park E-ventures Newsletter Archive

Getting Trained Up to Camp Out

This video is an introduction to the Camping at the Presidio Leadership Training (CAPLT). During this 30-hour, overnight leadership training course, participants learn about gear, transportation, educational programming, guided hikes, and more—knowledge they’ll use when they bring their groups for a full camping experience in the Presidio of San Francisco.

Since... more >>

The Story Behind the Newly Named Founders Grove

The importance of Muir Woods in the early conservation movement is best understood by considering those who made the decision to protect the area from destruction. There were many hands and voices that shaped Muir Woods at its inception, but three men were particularly influential—and they continue to be honored... more >>

My Day Carrying a Google Trekker Backpack

“You do know the pack weighs 40 pounds, right?” my manager asked, when I told him I wanted to spend a work day hiking around the Golden Gate National Parks with a Google Trekker on my back.

I said that I did know. Forty pounds should be no sweat for an... more >>

Park Quiz: Bones of Contention

In honor of Halloween and the Day of the Dead, we’ve got a bone to pick with you. Put on your thinking (skull)cap and see how many of these skeletal remains you can identify—of animals found in the Golden Gate... more >>

Institute Boosts Park Prescriptions Movement

Park Prescriptions has grown out of a conceptual phase into a period of rapid implementation. To ensure the sustainability of the movement, the Institute at the Golden Gate recognized the need to solve the operational hurdles present in collaborations between parks and health entities—as well as the necessity to hone... more >>

Soil Remediation and Community Conversations at the Presidio Bluffs

Since the Presidio began its conversion from Army post to national park, a myriad of projects were completed to preserve the rich history of the Army’s legacy while promoting a vibrant ecosystem that can be enjoyed by all. The soil remediation project on the Presidio Bluffs, southwest of the Golden... more >>

Parks: A “Home” for Homeless Youth

In San Francisco, an estimated 5,700 youth are homeless. With its mission to serve diverse audiences, the Crissy Field Center—an urban environmental education center—also provides programs for homeless children and families, through partnerships with organizations such as Hamilton Family Center, an organization that works to break the cycle of... more >>

Post-shutdown Power-up: We Need YOU for Planting Season

The parks are open and many of you are already back in action, keeping the parks spectacular and engaging our community at large. THANK YOU!
Thank you for your tireless support and dedication, and thank you for your patience while the parks were closed due to the federal government... more >>

Acorn Gathering: A Fall Tradition with a Long History

Though the seasonal change in the Bay Area can be subtle, the change in daylight and the slight chill in the air signify a shift in routine for most of us, and the park nurseries are no different. This time of year the nurseries staff is rounding out the growing... more >>

Big Bird, Little Bird: Size and Identifying Sex of Raptors

When observing animal species, the sexes often can be determined by noting differences in coloration, size, features, and even behavior. For example, male elk grow antlers, while females do not; in lions, the males have a mane, and the females do not. Among higher vertebrates, one manifestation of this “sexual... more >>