Park E-ventures Newsletter Archive

Summer Crews Step Up to Improve Tennessee Valley Trail

The National Park Service’s Golden Gate Trail Crew has been at it again! If you haven’t recently visited Tennessee Valley, then you’ve missed out on an incredible new improvement. Over the course of the summer, the National Park Service Trail Crew restored a portion of the Tennessee Valley Trail... more >>

Mountain Lake’s Underwater Vegetation: Adventures with Stinky Plants

A little more than a year ago, I learned that we would be collecting and growing submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) at the Presidio Nursery. Honestly, up until that time, I’d never even given a second thought to those stinky “seaweed”-like plants that grow under the surface of the water.  ... more >>

How Can Parks Help Teach Climate Change?

With the exception of the Bay Area, it was another hot summer across America. Not the record-breaking waves of heat that scorched the country in 2012, but hot enough to exacerbate the wildfire season, deepen ongoing droughts and water issues, and get people talking about climate change.

It has also been... more >>

Rapturous Raptors: Insider Tips on Watching the Fall Migration

Although Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) volunteer hawkwatchers have been happily counting hawks since mid-August from their usual perch, the hawks really start pouring through in mid-September. So now is a perfect time to plan your trip to visit Hawk Hill—just across the Golden Gate Bridge!

The best raptor hours are... more >>

Surf’s Up for California Coastal Cleanup Day

California Coastal Cleanup Day is always a watershed event here in the Golden Gate National Parks. The reason? You! Our dedicated community of enthusiastic volunteers, motivated site captains, and generous sponsors is what makes this annual event such an incredible success every year.

Last year was no exception. In 2012, in... more >>

The Speedy Swifts: Living Up to Their Name

Undoubtedly, the best place in California to view migrating raptors is Hawk Hill. Hoping to view some impressive birds of prey, you grab your binoculars and head up to the hill. While you are scanning the skies for hawks, a cloud of tiny birds zooms into view, filling your binocular... more >>

Crissy Field Center Summer Camp Slideshow

Summer Camp 2013 at the Crissy Field Center is finished! We had a great summer with the campers and can’t wait to do it again next year! Check out our video slideshow to see some of the fun we had.

Twitter 1.0: Dissecting Five Types of Bird “Tweets”

Most of us are aware that birds frequently vocalize. Some might find the sounds inspiring and soothing (scientific studies have shown that birdsong tends to make humans feel relaxed), or bothersome (a pesky house sparrow that begins bleating outside your bedroom window before dawn). Some sounds are distinctive (most people... more >>

Outdoor Fun with Kids – Three Hikes for All Ages

A good hike is one that appeals to a child's sense of exploration and adventure. Make sure to look for discoveries along the trail and encourage kids to keep their eyes open for signs of wildlife and seasonal wildflowers! We found these three trails are full of discovery, easily accessible,... more >>

Is the Prohibition of Poppy Picking Purely Poppycock?

Often when I use my smartphone to look up the subject of some insignificant curiosity, I have this feeling that surely there are no more believers of harmlessly romantic legends in this age of information.

Yet, time and again, I’ve been asked, with a hint of excitement, “Is it true that... more >>