Bridging the Gap through the Shelter-in-Place Fund

Greetings! It’s been a complicated few weeks adjusting to new routines and absorbing the rapidly changing and heartbreaking news of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. First and foremost, I hope you are faring well. I miss seeing our volunteers, staff, instructors, National Park Service partners, and the many visitors with whom I enjoy talking with as I go about my work at Bear Valley on a normal day. Shelter-in-Place is the order of these days, however, and through our #ParkInPlace messages we’ve been sharing ways that you can explore nature close to home , and even maintain a connection to Point Reyes National Seashore from afar.  I’ve heard from so many over the last three weeks that Point Reyes National Seashore IS the place where they find shelter from stress and worries . We cannot wait to get the all-clear signal and open up the Seashore for all us us who love and need it. The pandemic has shown me how very vital our Park is to well being.

Bridge the Gap External disruptions of PRNSA's work and funding have become more common in the last several years. You may recall that last year we asked for support from our friends to help us “Bridge the Gap” as we faced programmatic and funding losses during the government shutdown. Thanks to the community that loves the Park, we made it through the adverse impacts of a government shutdown, wildfires, and blackouts. The shelter-in-place order is having an even deeper impact as we have shuttered our retail operations in visitor centers and canceled 40 day and overnight field programs for adults, families and youth impacting 2,500 people.  Nearly 50% of our revenue comes from our stores, classes, and education programs. We estimate a loss of $271,000 in revenue through June. The sudden and unpredictable length of this disruption has deeply negative impacts on the people we serve, our staff, and our ability to deliver our programs in the future. Once again we are seeking the support of our community to help us bridge the gap in funding so we can continue our work.   We absolutely realize that many in our community are adversely impacted by the pandemic. We invite you – if you can – to make a gift of any size to support the place you love.

Getting to the Other Side Your support will ensure we can continue our conservation work while planning for our i n-p erson educational programs to resume as soon as restrictions are lifted. It will also allow our dedicated staff to develop new online programs like the wonderfully popular otter recovery webcast we shared on Thursday. ( If you missed it you can view it here .)   The image from our “Bridge the Gap” logo is of one of my favorite destinations when I need a break...the start of the Meadow Trail just off Bear Valley Trail. It’s just the right distance from my office to clear my mind and I love watching the water rush under the bridge. None of us is quite sure what is on the other side of this pandemic, but with your help PRNSA will surely arrive there safely and prepared what comes next. Thank you for considering helping out. Please take good care and stay in touch. Warmly, Donna Faure Executive Director PS: To inspire you as you shelter in place our education staff compiled a "Naturalist In Pla ce" guide of favorite ways to reflect on and capture the beauty and inspiration of the natural world you find close to home.

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