Park Stories

Do parks have a role in educating us about the local impacts of climate change? Would you listen? This November, the Institute at the Golden Gate’s will convene Parks: The New Climate Classroom to contribute to the growing movement for meaningful, practical, and local climate change education and communication in parks and communities nationwide.

You may have heard about the incredible restoration effort going on at Mountain Lake in the Presidio, but did you know that this project also entails learning about and growing mysterious (and slightly stinky) submerged aquatic plants? Plunge in for a soggy adventure.

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.

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.

Every autumn, up to 19 species of birds of prey make their annual appearance over the Marin Headlands. With tens of thousands of raptors counted during the fall migration, it’s the largest flight of its kind in the western U.S.! Read on for hawk-watching tips from our Golden Gate Raptor Observatory program.

Summer Camp 2013 at the Crissy Field Center is finished! We had a great summer with the campers and can’t wait to do it again next year! Check out our video slideshow to see some of the fun we had.

The California poppy is the much-loved, vivacious floral icon of the Golden State. But is it actually illegal to pick the poppy? Discover the truth behind this rumor—and more fun facts about one of the most recognizable blooms in our parks.

Here's our hand-picked list of the best hikes for kids in the Golden Gate National Parks, at Mori Point, Lands End, and Tennessee Valley. Bring the whole gang for a family-friendly nature adventure.

It’s time to grab your reusable gloves, buckets, bags, and litter-picking tools! Gear up for California Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 21, 2013, and head to your local shorelines and parklands to provide some much-needed TLC and fall cleaning.

Hawk Hill isn’t just a spot for watching raptors. In the fall, visitors who point their binoculars at smaller birds might be treated to the aerial acrobatics of migrating swifts. Learn more about these amazing—and mysterious—insectivores.

To humans, bird vocalizations can be inspiring and soothing—or annoying, in the case of those early morning arias. But for birds, they perform critical communication functions. Read on to learn about five types of vocalizations, and what they teach us about birds’ surroundings.

In a rapidly urbanizing world, parks and public lands are seen as vital to human, social, and ecological health. Learn how the Institute will highlight innovative programs that leverage parks to make stronger, healthier, and more vibrant communities.