Park E-Ventures Article

Through a national convening in early October, the Institute at the Golden Gate took a big step in establishing “park prescriptions”—a cross-sector effort to give health providers the tools they need to prescribe time outdoors to improve patients’ overall health.

The federal government shutdown also shuttered our park volunteer programs. Learn how many hours of stewardship we unfortunately lost—and how you can now help us get back on track, with a big planting season just around the corner!

Along with preparing plants for the busy winter planting season, nursery staff members are also keeping their eyes peeled for a signature seed of the season: acorns! Vital to our restoration efforts in the parks, they’re also important to the indigenous Ohlone tribes of the area.

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Here in the Golden Gate National Parks, Crissy Field Center provides programs for young people struggling with homelessness. Through these experiences, children and youth get much more than just a walk in the park.

As a nature lover hiking through the Marin Headlands, you might be able to quickly identify a couple of raptors flying overhead. At first glance, you also might discern their relative sizes. But what does that tell you about the sex of the raptors?

The Golden Gate National Parks have been selected for the next BioBlitz, an opportunity for the public to participate in documenting the parks’ amazing biodiversity. Mark your calendars for two days of fun, exploration, and science on March 28–29, 2014!

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and see how the Golden Gate Trail Crew—alongside teams of dedicated youth volunteers—restored a portion of the Tennessee Valley Trail. Learn about the wonderful properties of a favorite trail feature: the box step.

In addition to our annual hawkwatch, banding, and radiotelemetry programs, the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory has launched several new research projects to further understand raptor movements and health. Read on to discover how you can help!

Three students from Ex’pression College lent their talent this semester to produce a commercial, aimed at youth, for the park’s volunteer programs. We think they deserve an “A”—and two thumbs up! Watch their awesome work; we think you’ll agree.

Crissy Field Center often works with schools and individual students—but did you know that we also work with community organizations? Our Community Group Programs lead programs and trainings throughout the year, all over the park. Learn how you can get involved!