Park E-ventures Newsletter Archive

One Finch, Two Firs, Red Fox, Blue Fish

A flash of silver in the creek. A whir of wings from the branches above. A bushy tail disappearing into a tangle of undergrowth.

For most of us, encounters with wildlife in the Golden Gate National Parks are fleeting. Rarely do we have the opportunity to document, share, and fully appreciate... more >>

Beyond BioBlitz: Project WISE Youth Bring Science to the Parks

Just two weeks before the BioBlitz in the Golden Gate National Parks, the Crissy Field Center’s Project WISE (Watersheds Inspiring Student Education) program will hold their annual Environmental Science Symposium. On March 19 and 20, Advanced Placement Environmental Science students... more >>

Feeling Proactive in a Time of Drought: Don’t Panic, Plant Natives!

Even though Mother Nature was kind enough to turn the waterworks on in mid-February, California continues to be affected by a severe drought and the recent rains may not be enough to reverse the trend.

According to dendrochronology, or the dating of past (climactic) events by measuring tree ring growth, trees... more >>

Little Changes, Big Problems? Why Phenology Matters

With an unseasonably warm and dry winter, spring appears to have come early for many Bay Area flowers. While these displays are beautiful, their early arrival may indicate significant changes in climate or long-term weather patterns. The study of phenology holds the key to unmasking the consequences that climate change... more >>

Climate Change and Our Shifting Sense of Place

From March 28-29, participants in the upcoming BioBlitz will be racing throughout the Golden Gate National Parks to survey the area’s biodiversity by finding and identifying as many species of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible. During similar events around the country, observers are discovering that... more >>

Feeling Proactive in a Time of Drought: Don’t Panic, Plant Natives!

Even though Mother Nature was kind enough to turn the waterworks on in mid-February, California continues to be affected by a severe drought and the recent rains may not be enough to reverse the trend.

According to dendrochronology, or the dating of past (climactic) events by measuring tree ring growth, trees... more >>

Muir Woods’ Boardwalk Empire Expands

Muir Woods is a peaceful place of wonder. The parking lot and visitor center welcome visitors to explore the remarkable coast redwood trees. Once inside the woods, the Main Trail’s boardwalk leads visitors deep into a gentle valley ringed with old-growth trees. One such ring of old-growth trees, Founders Grove,... more >>

The Ravens of Hawk Hill: Intelligence, Play, and Social Behavior

On any visit to Hawk Hill, you might notice the resident common ravens (Corvus corax) hanging out on fencing, sitting on platforms, or acrobatically tumbling through the air. 

Ravens belong to a taxonomic family of birds called the corvids, which also... more >>

Bioblitz: Test Your Species Spotting Skills

On March 28–29, you can join expert-led teams at sites all across the Golden Gate National Parks for a historic Bioblitz—a 24-hour event in which volunteers count as many birds, insects, fish, mammals, lichen, and other organisms as possible!

Organized by... more >>

Change Makers Report Highlights Five Years of Institute Success

A nine-year old with ADHD. A teenager studying climate change. A café owner serving healthy, local food. A senior citizen with Type II diabetes.

What do they all have in common? The answer is our nation’s parks and open spaces!

Here at the Institute at the Golden Gate, we believe passionately... more >>