For Ryan, his first visit to the Park was unforgettable. As a struggling high school student he was placed in a program which encouraged learning outside the classroom walls.  An early outing to the Presidio native plant nursery captivated his imagination, and he announced his desire to work as a Park Ranger before the program ended that day.

With support from both Park and Conservancy staff, Ryan was able to realize this dream in relatively short order. He advanced from talented student intern to full time Natural Resource Ranger shortly after he graduated from high school.  In 2002, Ryan accepted a position at the Parks Conservancy as a Youth Development Coordinator and Program Manager where he led and inspired thousands of local students connecting many of them to the parklands for the first time.

During his time at Golden Gate, Ryan epitomized all the Parks Conservancy stands for: dedication to the parks; love of the outdoors and natural resources; affection for teamwork with his colleagues; leadership of young people and volunteers; pursuit of the “ladder of learning”; innovation and creativity; and diversity and outreach to new audiences. Ryan blossomed at the Parks Conservancy, moving from high school to college, and then completing his degree. His passion for youth programming inspired his colleagues and gave us the confidence to establish new programs such as LINC and I-YEL. 

Ryan’s professional talents were matched by his amazing personal character. Ryan always brought a positive mood to his life and work. His capacity to bring joy to his colleagues, to team members, and to young people was breathtaking. His smile was infectious and his happiness irresistible. And all that joy found its place in his beautiful illustrations of the park he loved. His amazing gift to explore, capture and exude the beauty of life was uniquely his.

In honor of Ryan, the Ryan Jones Program Fund will be used to support Park’s Conservancy programs which focus on youth development and environmental stewardship, including leadership programs, connecting youth with open space, and expanding service and career opportunities for youth.

Overall, this fund will be used to increase the relevance of open space and environmental stewardship for youth, to build future environmental advocates and leaders, and to broaden and deepen the impact of our work on both the students and ourselves.

Give to the Ryan Jones Program Fund