Jace Ritchey never dreamed of becoming a park ranger, but today you'll find Ranger Jace greeting visitors and starring in social media posts from Muir Woods National Monument.

For the last few months you’ve been hearing from either Yakuta, Gabriel, or Jainita, but this month our team got bigger! Please welcome Jonathan Howell: A motorcycle-riding, mountain-climbing parks lover you’ll want to meet.

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.

Pathways through the Golden Gate National Parks don’t always mean trails.  For many staff members at the Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service (NPS), and the Presidio Trust, their paths to full-time employment started during internships or youth programs offered in our parks.

As the summer draws to a close and the Institute at the Golden Gate moves into its next phase of programming, the team is reading a number of great sources for inspiration. What are the staff’s essential end-of-summer reading picks?

Alcatraz Island is one of the most unique places to work in the Bay Area, and many Parks Conservancy team members keep coming back year after year.

In honor of the upcoming Rio Olympics, we asked: Which animals are the best swimmers, divers, and fliers in these parklands and waters? They’re competing tooth-and-nail (and claw-and-tail) to claim the “gold” at Golden Gate! Find out which species stand atop the podium.

Standing at Fort Point, surrounded by these totems, was a reminder of our weekly community volunteer programs where we are hoping to create a space to honor native people, and all the migrant cultures that represent the Bay Area.

In October, the terrible wildfires in the North Bay reminded us of the destructive power of fire. But can that power actually be harnessed for the benefit of nature and landscapes? Learn more from Greg Jones, the Fire Engine Chief at Golden Gate.

The park has partnered with SFSU and CCSF to engage college students in semester-long Academic Internships. The spring semester pilot in 2013 has been an incredible success and we’ve had the honor to work with some amazing young adults. Hear them share their experiences!