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Volunteers

HONORING OUR COMMUNITY HEROES: Crissy Field Center Marks Its Ninth Year of Celebrating Local Environmental Heroes

Crissy Field Center will honor four Bay Area individuals and collaborative groups with its annual Community Heroes Award on Saturday, May 2.

MLK Day of Service
Winter Guide to the Parks for the Hip and Happening

Critters might crawl into a hole and hibernate through the winter, but that’s no reason for you to do the same! Learn about some fun activities that you and your family can enjoy in the coming days and weeks…it’s our “hot list” for the cold months!

National Park Rangers at Work in Tennessee Valley
Habitat Restoration Team

When: Sundays, 9:30 am–2:30 pm |

Where: Marin, locations vary |

Help restore and protect critical natural areas from the Marin Headlands to Bolinas Ridge.

Volunteers transplant toyon at the Presidio Nursery
Presidio Nursery

When: Wednesdays (commitment required) and one Saturday per month |

Where: Presidio Nursery |

Learn to grow and care for native plants from seed, while helping to preserve and restore your national park.

Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, Board Trustee, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
National Public Lands Day: Celebrating Parklands that Welcome All

In a personal essay, Parks Conservancy Board Trustee Odette Alcazaren-Keeley shares why public lands represent the best of our democracy—and how we at Golden Gate continue to strive to make national parks open, welcoming, and relevant to all.

Alcatraz Historic Gardens
Unearthed: Secrets of Alcatraz Gardens’ Ribbon-Winning Compost

We caught up with “Chief Composting Officer” Dick Miner to get the scoop on Alcatraz Historic Gardens’ award-winning compost—and learn some tips for your own.

bird watching
Birds of a Feather: A GGRO Volunteer Finds Her Flock

When volunteer Christina Cambie “migrated” from England, she had no idea she would find comfort and community in her new home by studying another migration—that of raptors over Hawk Hill.

Turkey Vulture
Talkin' A Different Kind of "Turkey"

Here’s one “turkey” you might not want around your Thanksgiving dinner. The Turkey Vulture defecates on its feet, vomits as a defense, and feasts on carcasses. But it’s also one of the most fascinating animals in our parks. Learn how the GGRO is trying to unravel its mysteries.

Tennesee Vallery Nursery
Tennessee Valley Nursery Closes; Its Legacy Grows On

Established in 1987, the Tennessee Valley Nursery closed its nearly 30-year run in May 2016. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, the facility produced thousands of plants for habitat restoration sites all across the parks. In this video, hear from some of the amazing people who made it all possible.

Students search for migrating raptors
Will You Have the “Best Day” on Hawk Hill?

What’s the greatest number of raptor (bird of prey) species seen in one day on Hawk Hill? And what’s the highest volume of raptors spotted in a day? Read on to find out—and learn how you can witness a possible “best day” at the West Coast’s premier hawk migration monitoring spot.