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Our Work

friends at beach
A Look Back at an Unforgettable 2013

The year 2013 was an eventful one for the Crissy Field Center. We were able to serve more youth, said goodbye to some dear staff, welcomed new colleagues, celebrated life events, and even had a few special visitors. Hear what our staff had to say about the memorable year.

Crissy Field views
Fielding Suggestions: Share Your Feedback on Refreshing Crissy

Crissy Field—San Francisco’s beloved front yard and one of the Conservancy’s signature projects—continues to evolve as a visitor destination. As we assess its uses and evaluate maintenance needs, we’d love to hear your ideas on improving this shoreline park.

Jute fabric stabilizes soil
Did Jute Know? Fun Facts about a Formidable Fabric

As you stand in the new parking lot at Muir Beach, you may notice the expanse of tan fabric covering the restored floodplain. What is this strange, straw-looking material? The simple answer is jute fabric—but what exactly is it?

Mission blue butterfly (Icaricia icariodes missionensis)
Five Lessons I Learned from the Mission Blue Butterfly

This winter the Golden Gate National Parks will be planting over a thousand lupines, the host plant of the endangered mission blue butterfly. As we prepare for this restoration work, a Park Stewardship manager reflects on the big lessons he’s learned from this little butterfly.

Dragonfly
The Smaller Winged Creatures Flying Through the Headlands

At the GGRO, we specialize in migrations. Generally we’re talking about the raptor migration through the Marin Headlands each fall, the largest in the Pacific states. But over the past few weeks, we have noticed another sizable migration—of dragonflies.

Getting Trained Up to Camp Out

Rob Hill in the Presidio is the only overnight campground in San Francisco—and it takes a special leader to bring groups camping there. In this new video, learn about Camping at the Presidio (CAP) Trained Leaders—and their two-day training course.

Muir Woods hikers
Institute Hosts “Groundbreaking” Event on Parks and Education

On November 6–9, 2013, the Institute at the Golden Gate hosted over 140 educators, rangers, experts, and innovators at Fort Baker to brainstorm ideas on leveraging parks as places for climate-change education. Read on to learn what they discussed.

Google Trekker Backpack
My Day Carrying a Google Trekker Backpack

We sent our somewhat-slothy reporter out on a steep, clifftop trail with a 40-pound Google Trekker. Read on to discover how he felt—and what he learned—while volunteering for this pioneering effort to capture “Street View”-like images of all our park trails.

Muir Woods Historic Redwoods
The Story Behind the Newly Named Founders Grove

Thousands of people from all corners of the world experience the magic of Muir Woods every year. But who are the people who influenced the creation and establishment of this national monument? And how are they honored in the redwoods today?

Batteries to Bluffs Trail
Soil Remediation and Community Conversations at the Presidio Bluffs

Have you been met by chain-link fences while wandering the trails that lead to the Golden Gate Bridge? Curious about what is happening behind the fence? Discover how the Presidio Bluffs remediation project aims to create a healthier ecosystem.