Considered one of the largest national parks in an urban setting, the Golden Gate National Parks stretch 70 miles north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge, creating an 80,400 acre greenbelt along the Pacific. These national parklands are home to ancient redwoods, historic landmarks, miles of trails, dramatic shorelines, rare and endangered species, and jaw dropping vistas. As volunteers and community support are at the heart of preserving our national treasures, we invite hotel guests to spend a half day lending a hand to keep them healthy, vibrant and enduring.

Preserving the Gardens of Alcatraz Island
March 15 and 27; April 10 and 17; May 3 and 22, 2013

Join us for a unique opportunity to help preserve the historic gardens of Alcatraz Island, a San Francisco treasured landmark. Guests will travel to the island by motor coach and early-morning boat (arriving on Alcatraz during the most tranquil time of day before other visitors), and will collaborate on projects to restore the more-than-a-century-old gardens. Activities will include clearing invasive weeds to reveal the historic remnant plants, pruning, and planting. Volunteers will be introduced to the stories of the gardens and will have the opportunity to visit some areas not accessible to the public. The hotel provides each volunteer a complimentary box lunch to go to enjoy after the service project. As an added bonus, garden volunteers have the option of staying on the island after the service project to explore and enjoy the audio tour (at no fee).

Schedule:
Depart the hotel: 7:45 a.m.
Volunteer Activity: 8 a.m. to noon
Box lunch provided to-go from hotel

Volunteers ages 18 and up are welcome. Reservations are required with 48 hours advance notice. Program runs rain or shine. Complimentary transportation includes ground transportation to Pier 33, ferry to Alcatraz Island and return ferry to Pier 33.

To learn more about the historic gardens, visit www.alcatrazgardens.org.

Alcatraz Gardens is a partnership project of the Garden Conservancy, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and National Park Service.

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Restoration at the Presidio Nursery
March 13 and 23; April 24 and 27; May 8 and 18, 2013

A hidden gem of San Francisco, the Presidio Nursery is located in the center of the Golden Gate National Parks, where picturesque views of the Bay, the California Coast, and the Golden Gate Bridge provide inspiration to help preserve our natural world. The Presidio Nursery is currently growing over 65,000 native plants for restoration projects in areas including Inspiration Point, Crissy Field, Dragonfly Creek, and Baker Beach. Volunteer activities may include seed collection and cleaning, transplanting, pruning, weeding, compost sifting, nursery maintenance, and general care of the Habitat Demonstration Garden.

Schedule:
Depart the hotel: 12:20 p.m.
Volunteer Activity: 1 to 4 p.m.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Reservations are required with 48 hours advance notice. Program runs rain or shine. Roundtrip complimentary transportation included. Guests are encouraged to have lunch prior to departing for service project.

To learn more about the Park Nurseries, visit www.parksconservancy.org/programs/nurseries.

The Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program is a cooperative park-wide effort of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, National Park Service and The Presidio Trust.

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