Dear
,
Point Reyes is a treasure in any season. That was the overriding message we received from our
member survey
. Rain or shine, you and the many visitors who cherish this park have stories of this magical place. We invite you to share your connection to Point Reyes by submitting a memory that is dear to you. We will begin featuring these special connections on our website.
One memory I'm glad to be looking at in the rear view mirror is the government shutdown. I'm so grateful for the words of support, offers of help, and to everyone who made a gift to our "Bridge the Gap" shutdown challenge campaign. I'm proud to say that we raised $67,000 from our community of supporters and earned the matching gift of $50,000.
We are still gratefully accepting gifts to support our work as we plan for the summer and fall programs for youth. Below you'll find updates on some of the special programs we offer to include and welcome more children and families to the Seashore. Please consider making a
gift to support our work with underserved youth and families
.
Do you love this park and want to learn more about its wonders? Our
Field Institute classes
offer guided exploration through natural history, the arts, and treks on the trails and beaches. Our
Learning on the Land
weekend is the gateway course for educational groups to plan an outing at our education center.
Enjoy your next visit and let us know why you love the Seashore!
Warmly,
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Donna Faure
Executive Director
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We want your stories! Every day, visitors to Point Reyes enjoy special moments when they discover new and remarkable things or make personal connections. Around the park, those moments are often punctuated by “aha!” or “look, Mom – whales!” or “What an amazing hike. Why yes, I AM open to a second date.”
We are launching a new section on our website to showcase these personal connections. Our first theme is “Love Your Park” – which will feature stories of what you love ABOUT the park, or perhaps love that you found IN the park. We want to hear from you if you met your significant others here, fell in love or got engaged here, or experienced something that changed your life.
We will select 1 to 3 stories each week to feature on our website.
Guidelines:
1. Stories must be true experiences. They don’t have to be recent, necessarily. Be clear about when and where the events happened and how they made you feel.
2. Write from the first person, for example “I attended a watercolor class with the Field Institute several years ago and discovered a passion for painting at Limantour Beach…”
3. Stories should be 100-200 words in length. If published, we reserve the right to edit for brevity or clarity.
5. The subject line of your email should be “Story Submission”.
6. By default, we will attribute the story to you on the website using your first name and last name. If you just want us to use your first name or initials, that’s fine – just let us know.
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- McClures Beach Road and Mount Vision Road are currently closed due to a road failure.
- Shuttle service to lighthouse and Chimney Rock is cancelled in March and Drakes Beach is closed Monday through Friday.
- Drakes Beach is Open Saturdays & Sundays 9am - 5pm
- Bookstores are open Saturdays & Sundays 10am – 4:30pm
- Shop for snacks, apparel, and books at one of our Bookstore locations while on your way to see whales or elephant seals!
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Environmental Education
Program Updates
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We love our park. And we love sharing the wild landscapes, ecosystems and diverse species that are found within the park with everyone. We are proud of the conservation and education work that we do, day in and day out. This month, we hosted the following groups at our Clem Miller Environmental Education Center and Science at the Seashore Programs:
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California School for the Deaf
We have been hosting the
CA School for the Deaf
at the Giacomini Wetlands since 2012. These students rarely have the opportunity to learn in natural environments. The quote below was captured during a recent field trip where students were navigating through the brackish wetland while discovering the diversity of aquatic and bird life in this environment.
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"I never knew walking through mud would be
so much fun!"
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Project Avary
is a nonprofit offering a year-round program dedicated to improving life outcomes among children with incarcerated parents. Each year, students and mentors stay at our Clem Miller Environmental Education Center where we offer them a safe haven in nature for self-discovery, reflection, and connecting with the curative powers of the outdoors.
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Vamos Afuera
Vamos Afuera ('Let's Go Outside') is a PRNSA and
LandPaths
joint-venture that brings Latino families from Sonoma County out to the Seashore. We offer programs in Spanish to build community and share in the natural wonders of our National Park. Now in its second year, we welcomed nine families to stay overnight at our Clem Miller Environmental Education Center. Seven of the nine families were new to the program, and many of them hadn't spent time in Point Reyes National Seashore. The families were excited to learn about the park, its resources, and all of the programs we offer.
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We invite your children to spend the summer making friends and exploring a National Park. Registration is open for both
Backpacking Adventure Camp
and
Nature Science Camp
. Space is available, but sessions are quickly filling.
Dates and camp fees are posted
HERE
.
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Learning on the Land: Teacher Training
March 9-10, 2019 (Saturday - Sunday)
March 11, 2019 (Monday) Ecology Intensive (Optional)
Clem Miller Environmental Education Center
Learning on the Land is a prerequisite course designed for teachers, naturalists, environmental educators and program leaders interested in using the
Clem Miller Environmental Education Center
. This two-day course weaves together concepts of natural history, environmental and experiential education and program planning specific to this site. Educators will leave with all the tools they need to plan and deliver a rich environmental experience at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center.
Learning on the Land Logistics
Come prepared to get to know the kitchen and be part of our collective meal preparation, cooking and cleaning.
March 9-10 (Saturday and Sunday)
- 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Meals are provided Saturday morning through Sunday lunch
Ecology Intensive Logistics (Optional)
Participants are invited to stay another day for a day-long intensive ecology exploration. While the main event combines training in practical planning and teaching methods, the optional day is packed with information on topics such as bird language, tracking, botany, general ecology, and climate change.
March 11 (Monday)
- 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Breakfast and lunch are provided
Optional Overnight
For those traveling from outside the area and anyone interested in spending a little extra time on-site, add optional overnight accommodations before or after the workshop for just $30/night more. (You're on your own for those nights as town is a short drive away. We will provide coffee/tea and goodies from Bovine Bakery in the morning. Checkout by 10 am on Monday, March 11th.)
For more info and pricing, click
HERE
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March Field Institute Classes
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USING POLES FOR HIKING AND OUTDOOR EXERCISE
Saturday, March 9
10:00am - 4:00pm
Learning how to use poles enables you to engage your whole body while hiking and significantly improves performance and confidence on varied terrain. Uphill pole techniques empower you to...
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Birding 202
Saturday, March 16
9:00am - 4:00pm
Spend a day learning all about birds. This course expands on concepts and skills from Birding 101, but anyone interested in birding is welcome. We will learn about bird behaviors and habitats, ecological associations, various calls, and much more.
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A Chimney Rock - Headlands Photo Retreat
Friday, March 22 - 6pm to Sunday, March 24 - 2pm
This weekend photo retreat will combine field and classroom presentations in one of the most stunning locations on the California coast.
Accommodations at the Chief's House at Chimney Rock
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Botany for the Colored
Pencil Artist
Saturday, March 23
10:00am - 3:30pm
Spend a day dissecting and studying spring flowers. Learn basic flower botany and create a beautiful study sheet documenting your explorations. We will work in graphite and colored ...
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GEOGRAPHY OF HOPE Sacred in the Land: Pilgrimage Redefined
March 16-17
A day-long gathering on the meaning of pilgrimage within the environmental, political & cultural contexts of our times.
Tickets: $150; some partial scholarships available for people ages 18-30.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click
HERE
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