August 13, 2020
Dear Friends,
We are in the dog days of summer...heat, thunder and power outages in West Marin! Still, by the cars at the parking lots, it’s clear that Point Reyes National Seashore is both a Bay Area favorite and a refuge from the heat and stress. We hope you are getting some time in the Park.
As summer winds down, we were thinking about how different the season has been for our organization and community. At this point we are usually saying goodbye to our last group of summer campers, taking a quick breath before welcoming school groups back, and winding up summer conservation work and looking to the winter work. We are also always in full swing planning for our largest fundraiser of the year, Dinner on the Pacific Plate.
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Celebrating Like It’s 2020
Our Dinner on the Pacific Plate fundraiser is one of those fun annual gatherings that brings as much joy and excitement, as it does kindness and generosity. There is no better venue than Bear Valley to gather as a community in support of Point Reyes National Seashore. Although we want nothing more than to break bread with friends once again, and gather in support of public lands, this year we are making the main event virtual to preserve the health and safety of our community.
Please consider the various sponsor categories From Pacific Gray Whale to American Badger. Each level of sponsorship receives special benefits, including some fabulous Covid-compliant hikes in the Park. Make your sponsorship online by clicking here. Donations of all levels will receive access to our special virtual program, that will include music and stories from the trails and field.
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Visioning in the Time of Covid-19
PRNSA’s Board of Directors passed its new strategic plan in February and it states that our vision is to turn park visitors into park stewards. A simpler summer has allowed us to think especially deeply about this vision and how we will accomplish it through our work in the areas of education, conservation, and community building. Our work isn’t bound by the 111 square miles that is Point Reyes National Seashore. The connections and memories created in Point Reyes transcend boundaries and generations. We are committed to ensuring all feel welcome and safe at the Seashore.
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A virtual event may be different, but its purpose remains the same. Together we can support habitat and trail restoration, wildlife and endangered species protection, volunteer programs, environmental education programs for people of all ages, and scholarships that allow over 2,500 children to connect to and understand the natural world. The pandemic has amplified the need for equitable access to public lands. While school halls remain empty, as most schools are convening virtually this fall, our team is working on new and creative ways to bring young people and families to the Park that facilitates both education and exploration and promotes health and wellness. With your support, we hope to bring this plan to fruition. |
Thanks to the support of community members who have already sponsored the event we are more than halfway to our event’s goals of $220,000. Help us deliver on our mission by joining us under the virtual big tent for a 2020 version of Dinner on the Pacific Plate. Together, we will celebrate the successes from the past year, share important updates and initiatives, inspire action, and bridge the opportunity gap. We can’t promise you a fancy dinner, but we can promise to show you a good time. We look forward to seeing you on October 10th!
Sincerely,
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Donna Faure
Executive Director
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Sam Chiriboga
Assistant Director
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"A stunningly beautiful film narrated by Frances McDormand, REBELS WITH A CAUSE spotlights a battle over land that changed the American landscape forever." |
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Tuesday, August 18, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
See the award-winning documentary Rebels with a Cause by Nancy Kelly and Kenji Yamamoto, and then join us at this virtual event to meet the filmmakers in conversation with Dr. Sarah Allen and moderated by PRNSA Board Member Seth Rosen. Register HERE Check with the Marin County Free Library to borrow a copy of the DVD. Donations for this event are appreciated and will support PRNSA's conservation work.
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Book Read & Conversation
with Author Dr. Carolyn Finney!
Thursday, August 27, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Please join us for our first Virtual Community Book Club and Conversation. Dr. Carolyn Finney will join us and the discussion will be moderated by PRNSA's own Isaac Taylor and National Park Service Ranger John Eleby. Register HERE
In partnership with the Marin County Free Library, we are reading the book Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Dr. Carolyn Finney. Copies of the book are available at both Inverness and Point Reyes Libraries. Note: these copies will be reserved at the desks. Please call and reserve a copy or stop by during curbside hours and request the book. FYI, if someone calls and needs the book sent to Bolinas or Stinson Beach, the librarians can have the book sent to the library and placed on the hold shelf. Also - Black Faces, White Spaces is available on Hoopla through the library with no wait. Instructions for downloading to Hoopla on the library's website: https://marinlibrary.org/ebooks/
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Podcast Recommendation
In Episode 22 of the podcast Breaking Green Ceilings, host Sapna Mulki interviews African American wildlife ecologist Dr. Jonathan Hall. In this wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Hall discusses his current work around California condor restoration, his experiences as a scientist, environmentalist, and hunter, and how race is embedded in many issues of ecology and conservation. This interview may be especially interesting to those participating in PRNSA's Community Read!
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Friday, August 21, 7:00 PM - Sunday, August 23, 6:00 PM
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Join renowned nature photographer Gary Crabbe for this exciting workshop. Learn the intricacies of soft-light photography and receive personalized coaching to improve your technique and expand your repertoire.
Online Friday night and Sunday, and taking place in-person on Saturday with a small COVID-safe group, you will experience the best of both worlds enjoying a day in the park capturing photos and receiving a personalized critique online the following day. Register HERE
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Point Reyes National Seashore | (415) 663-1200 x 303 | development@ptreyes.org | www.ptreyes.org |
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