Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2021

Volunteers celebrate at Rodeo Beach

Chuck Barnes/National Park Service

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 18, 2021, is the 26th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. This year, we are honoring this day a little differently due to COVID-19 restrictions. We invite you to engage with your parks in a different way through a variety of COVID-safe activities:

• MLK Day Virtual Bioblitz Launch
  This program will provide an introduction to  iNaturalist, including  observation, identification, and annotation to get ready for the Golden Gate National Parks MLK Day of Service Virtual Bioblitz. We will send you off with information about the amazing animals, plants, and fungi that you can observe in the parks and near your home this time of year. We will also cover tricks for  smartphone nature photography, attracting nature to your home, engaging young naturalists, and have some thought-provoking discussion of natural history in our cities and community sciences in our lives.  More information here >>
• Anti-racism and Social Justice Resources for the Parks and Beyond 
  To build a future where everyone feels welcome in outdoor spaces falls on the shoulders of all outdoor enthusiasts. Here at the Parks Conservancy, we believe in the power of nature, public lands and the history of resistance to inspire and educate. Here is an ongoing list of resources to help you in your journey to be an anti-racist in the parks. More information here >>
• Storywalks
  A StoryWalk is a creative way for children and their families to enjoy the park on a family-friendly, accessible trail while reading an adventure at the same time. Pages of a children’s book are put on signs and placed along the trail. Walk along the trail and read the story, step-by-step and page-by-page! More information here >>
• Virtual Activities & Tours
  Bookmark this page to find the latest online resources to keep you engaged with the parks from the comfort of your home! We know you love your parks, and now you can explore all 80,000 acres of them online at any time. More information here >>
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area Trails Information
  For many of us, the sprawling and spectacular trail system at Golden Gate is how we experience the parks and encounter their many wonders. More than just a line through the woods or a swath across a bluff, the trail is where we can marvel at nature, learn about culture, and understand history. Trails are as unique and complex as the ecosystems they help protect and the extraordinary people who help care for them. Introduce yourself to one of the trails in the Golden Gate National Parks and get ready to meet magic. More information here >>
• Golden Gate National Parks Trivia
  Who is the person in your household or friend group who knows the most about the Golden Gate National Parks? It’s time to find out! The following six rounds of park-themed trivia will test your knowledge of everything from movies filmed in the parks to rare animal species that call the parks their home. Grab some snacks, think of a one-of-a-kind team name, decide on a prize (maybe that last roll of frozen cookie dough?), and turn your house or video chat into the week’s most competitive trivia night. More information here >>
• Park Postcards Podcasts
  Check out the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's new series of digital audio stories featuring the voices, memories and park experiences of rangers, partners and visitors!