Warning: This listing is no longer actively maintained. The information below is likely to be out of date.

We recruit volunteers for habitat restoration work in the Presidio. Volunteers may join Presidio Park Stewards on Wed. and Sat. mornings. There are 15 restoration sites in the Presidio with 12 different habitat types. Habitat restoration focuses on native plant revegetation and invasive weed removal. Stewards work rain or shine on sites ranging from steep, rugged bluffs to flat, sandy beaches.

Contact people:

Denise Shea, (email) Aleutia Scott, Presidio Park Stewards Coordinator, (phone), (email) Presidio Park Stewards Intern, (phone), (email)

Address:

Crissy Field Center, 603 Mason St. San Francisco, CA 94129 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.parksconservancy.org

Directions:

The Presidio of San Francisco is located in the NW corner of San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge. Presidio Park Stewards drop-in programs meet at the Crissy Field Center (603 Old Mason St). Our offices are in the Fort. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: #29 Mason or Halleck stops; #28 Golden Gate Bridge stop, 5-15 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	No others
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	10 and above
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	No
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes

Overall Experience   
They were friendly, well prepared, and knowledgeable.

I volunteered with the San Francisco Nation Park Service at Fort Funston. We planted about 1,200 native plants in the soil, despite the awful rain! It was coming down hard, but fortunately, they had plenty of rain gear (including waterproof gardening gloves!) for all of us. I learned from Asha, our guide, that previously, the Army (who inhabited Fort Funston during WWII) had planted the invasive ice plants and lupine plants to act as camouflage and to prevent erosion, both of which they did successfully. They spent most of the year removing the non-native plants and are now begining to plant the natives. Asha also told me that because of all the hard work they've been doing to restore the natural coastal habitat, she has seen some rabbits returning to the area, whereas before they had disappeared for lack of shelter. We also met other people from the community who were regular volunteers and more than willing to help us out. They taught us the names of the plants (both common and scientific!), informed us of proper ways to plant, and told us stories from the 20-30 years that they have been volunteering at Fort Funston. It was great! I had a really great time and plan to return in Spring to see how much the plants have grown. Even my friends, who are not huge gardening fanatics like me, had a great time and learned a lot. One friend humorously stated that, "It was great because you get nothing out of it!" What he really meant was that the experience was rewarding for him because he wasn't obligated, and wasn't being paid. The greated benefit for him was knowing that he was helping. Thank you to Asha and all the other volunteers who made our experiences so fun and rewarding. It was great! posted by YCSDanielle on January 11, 2005