ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In 2001, Crissy Field Center was established with one major goal: to offer relevant, multicultural environmental education that would inspire young people to lead positive changes in the national parks, their communities, and their lives. 2011 marks the 10th Anniversary of Crissy Field Center, take a look at our report to see the last 10 years of connecting urban communities to our national parks. View full report >

In summer 2011, I-YEL interns accepted the Take Pride in America National Award . Take Pride in America, is a nationwide partnership program authorized by Congress to promote the appreciation and stewardship of our nation's public lands. Take Pride in America recognizes and honors outstanding volunteers through its annual national awards ceremony.

Every year, I-YEL interns have the honor of hosting a reception for all recipients of the Goldman Environmental Prize. The Goldman Environmental Prize is the world's largest prize honoring grassroots environmentalist.

Ernesto Pepito, Youth Program Coordinator of Crissy Field Center was invited to the White House in March 2011. He had the esteemed privilege of meeting President Barack Obama at the launch of America’s Great Outdoors initiative. 

In October of 2010, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar came to Crissy Field Center as part of the Let’s Move Outside campaign, citing the Center’s youth programs as examples for getting the nation’s young people active in the outdoors.

Through the Years

Oct 1999 – Sept 2001
• Implemented Help Grow Crissy Field campaign
• Conducted preview programs and outreached at community fairs
• Hosted monthly community advisory meetings
• Established Youth Advisory Council
• Crissy Field Grand Opening on May 8 for 75,000 visitors
• First set of community programs entitled “Intersections” at Crissy Field Center
• Center gave six Community Heroes Awards to outstanding local environmental leaders

Oct 2001 – Sept 2002
• Launched Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (IYEL)
• Initiated weekend walks, talks, and workshops
• Partnered with Urban Watershed Project to launch weekly Project WISE classes for Galileo High School
• Partnered with City College Older Adults to host weekly art and computer classes

Oct 2002 – Sept 2003
• Launched school field trip program for K–8th graders
• Served 384 campers in the Center’s first Summer Camp
• Coordinated first annual EcoCareer Day conference for 120 youth
• I-YEL interns wrote, produced, and performed Not In My BAAAck Yard, a play about environmental justice

Oct 2003- Sept 2004
• Ernesto Pepito represented Crissy Field Center at World Park Congress in South Africa
• Novato High School performed Not in My BAAAckyard
• I-YEL coordinated Self-Conscious event including video and eco-fashion show
• Urban Trailblazers pilots

Oct 2004 – Sept 2005
• I-YEL won NPS Hartzog award
• I-YEL presented Mayor Newsom with the U.N. Tunza Youth Accord
• Hosted first annual Point Reyes National Seashore Adventure
• I-YEL hosted Global WARNing Carnival to bring awareness to climate change
• Urban Trailblazers doubled in size

Oct 2005 – Sept 2006
• Center celebrated five years of serving over 377,880 people since opening
• Center hosted first annual Earth Stroll event
• I-YEL created For Some, For None video after visiting Yosemite and Grand Canyon
• Center became a green certified business

Oct 2006 – Sept 2007
• 5 Center staff represented at U.N. Environmental Education and Sustainability conference in India
• Center hosted first annual Golden Environmental Prize Youth Reception

Oct 2007 – Sept 2008
• I-YEL doubled in size
• Camping at the Presidio launched
• Center partnered with Teacher With A Bus biodiesel company

Oct 2008 – Sept 2009
• Host America’s Best Idea Campfire’s partnering with National Japanese American Historical Society and SF City College Mission Campus
• Produced eight PSA’s in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Urdu
• Center gives 40 percent of campers scholarships

Oct 2009 – Sept 2010
• Crissy Field Center celebrate gREen Opening at 1199 East Beach
• Ernesto Pepito, Youth Leadership Program Manager on White House Panel for America’s Great Outdoor Conference
• 5 youth attended Outdoor Nation conference in New York
• Held youth listening session leadership training for Department of Interior

Oct 2010 – Sept 2011
• I-YEL hosted 120 students at Youth Summit
• Center celebrated 10 years of serving over 580,000 children, youth and families with over 1,300,000 contact hours
• Crissy Field Center receives the 2011 National Park Service Environmental Achievement Award
• I-YEL receives the Take Pride in America 2011 National Award