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Youth Programs

Youth Advisory Council members smile at an event
Park Youth Collaborative

A growing coalition whose mission is to support and harness the collective capacity of youth-serving organizations in the park to benefit young people on their pathway from cradle to career.

A group of educators stand together outside a building in a national park
Crissy Field Center

Engaging communities who traditionally have had little-to-no access to national parks, the Center offers multicultural urban environmental education for youth.

wind turbines
Crissy Field Center Wind Turbines on the Cutting Edge of Energy

Crissy Field Center isn’t just built on green principles and clean energy—it’s actively advancing sustainability technology. Discover the story behind the wind turbines on the lawn in front of the Center, and how they are generating invaluable data on urban wind energy.

Library Summer Stride Reading
Explore New Worlds this Summer, From Tales to Trails

It’s time for an adventure—in the pages of a book or on a path through our parks! Learn about free and fun activities from the San Francisco Public Library, National Park Service, and Parks Conservancy—including reading programs, ranger talks, park shuttles, and more.

Kids enjoy camping at the Presidio experience at Rob Hill
Tip of the CAP: Program Has Served Nearly 25,000 Youth

Entering its milestone 10th year, Camping at the Presidio—a program based at the only campground in San Francisco—has been an unqualified success. Its legacy, which continues to grow, is powerful and enduring: giving thousands and thousands of children their very first camping experience.

Parks Grow Girls’ Interest in Science, Restoration Ecology

In November 2015, four staff members from our parks showed a group of 3rd to 5th grade girls that women play an important role in heavy-duty ecological field work. In response, one young student shared her love for working in the mud too—through a poem.

Intern Hailey Gavin (right) at the finale of Packing the Parks
A Life-Changing Program, Through the Lens of an Alum

Get a real insider’s view of one of the Conservancy’s most innovative—and impactful—youth programs: LINC. A recent graduate of the program returned this summer to produce a video that captures the moments that can change a high schooler’s life.

National Park Service Ranger with Summer Campers
A Legacy Takes Root, Programs Blossom

Learn how an amazing young leader’s memory continues to inspire, see how Crissy Field Center’s environmental education programs continue to lead and innovate, and discover how our I-YEL interns are giving a powerful and compelling voice to their generation.

Crissy Field Center education
Our National Park: A "Bucketful of Joy"

“Going to Chrissy Fields is as amazing as a kid not getting homework for the rest of the year.” See how school kids described their trips to Crissy Field Center, in words and pictures. Share in their inspiration and delight as they give thanks to the parks!

I-YEL students
YEL-ing Across the Generations

For the first time, the Center is organizing a campout that connects current I-YEL interns with alumni of I-YEL, a groundbreaking youth leadership program in its 13th year. By inviting the extended I-YEL family (and the families of I-YELers), this event builds community across generations.