The plant community monitoring team, led by PRNSA Botanist Kelsey Songer, out in the field.

October 15, 2025

Dear Friend, 

We’re now about two weeks into the government shutdown. As the lead for conservation at Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA), the days since October 1 have been hectic and full of uncertainty for me and PRNSA’s conservation staff. While some impacts of the shutdown are highly visible—closed visitor centers and reduced staff presence—it’s the things most visitors don’t see that have captured my attention.

When the park is operating to its full capacity, conservation work at the Seashore—from grassland monitoring to invasive species management to western snowy plover surveys and more—is undertaken by collaborative teams made up of both NPS and PRNSA staff. Our wildlife and biological science technicians work side-by-side with NPS biologists, ecologists, and administrators, ensuring the Seashore’s mission carries forward. But right now, our NPS colleagues are furloughed, so that work is disrupted.

PRNSA Wildlife Biological Technician Aiko Goldson monitoring Northern spotted owls.

Impacts on Conservation

While PRNSA conservation staff have been working hard to ensure the most critical work continues, their days look entirely different. Imagine lacing up your boots only to find your working group isn’t there, your mentor is unavailable to offer guidance, and your planned field work must change because there simply aren’t enough staff to complete the assignment. In some cases, entire teams have been dismantled. This work is physical and challenging, and now, more than ever, the work is emotional. I believe many of the most significant impacts of this shutdown are intangible.

PRNSA Biological Science Technician Miriam Golding removes invasive jubata grass from the Woodward Fire burn area.

A government shutdown takes a real toll on the people and work that keep the Seashore thriving. When federal biologists, ecologists, and land managers are furloughed, important data is missed, and months of planning and progress can be delayed. In some cases, active projects like managing invasive species or protecting vulnerable wildlife may have to pause. Hiring slows, promising candidates move on, and with fewer rangers in the field, visitors miss out on the guidance, education, and support that make the Seashore special.

Strength in Community

One bright spot in this challenging time is an increased sense of camaraderie. The PRNSA office is full and lively, as it has become a hub for conservation staff who are unable to access their own desks in the locked NPS Natural Resources offices. Colleagues who usually work on different projects are gamely pairing off to do field work together—supporting each other and ensuring safety in the field.

We’re feeling the support of our members, partners, and community of friends who love the park. Thanks to years of strategic planning and your generosity, our conservation program is resilient. With an increased number of year-round staff dedicated to vegetation and wildlife, our team has adapted to continue as much work as possible throughout a shutdown. Our current circumstances are challenging, the work is less efficient, and our collective teams are not whole—but our dedication to the park remains steady. We wish our NPS colleagues a swift return. 

In community,

Sam Chiriboga

Associate Director

P.S. If you're looking for tax-savvy ways to give, learn how to make a gift from your stocks, IRA, or Donor Advised Fund here.

Drakes Beach Store Open!

While PRNSA stores in the Bear Valley Visitor Center and at the Lighthouse Visitor Center are currently closed, our Drakes Beach Store will continue to be open on weekends from 11 am – 4 pm. The store will also be open this Friday, October 17. Our retail sales are being greatly impacted by the shutdown, so all visits and purchases are very appreciated and support the park!

Visit this weekend to check out a featured collection of titles written by or featuring Native voices, in celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Stewarding the Seashore Together

If you're looking for a way to care for our beloved park during the shutdown, please join us for a few hours of habitat restoration work at Abbotts Lagoon. We have confirmed we can go ahead with Thursday Weeders this month, with two chances to join PRNSA staff and fellow park lovers to restore and enhance coastal ecosystems: October 16th and 30th.

Please email cristobalcs@ptreyes.org with any questions.

Upcoming Events

Thursday Weeders at

Abbotts Lagoon

Oct 16 & 30, 10am-2pm

Join PRNSA staff and volunteers every other Thursday from 10am-2pm at Abbotts Lagoon to help restore critical coastal dune habitat.

Mountain to Sea

Guided Hike

Sat. Oct.18, 8:30am-3:30pm

Venture from Douglas fir forests to coastal chaparral. This rigorous route clocks in at 10.1 miles and just under 1,700' elevation gain.

November Full Moon Member Hike

Sun. Nov. 2, 3:30pm-6:30pm

6-year Anniversary Event! Join us at Bear Valley to celebrate community and the lunar cycle, enjoy warming teas, and walk under the full moon.

Drawing the Colors

of Autumn

Sat. Nov. 8, 10am-2pm

Explore autumn color through the beauty of changing leaves. Mix, layer, and learn colored pencil techniques to create rich fall colors.

BIPOC Educators

Fall Retreat

Sat. Nov. 15 - Sun. Nov. 16

The PRNSA education team welcomes BIPOC Educators and their loved ones to this weekend retreat in beautiful Point Reyes.

Mushroom Identification

Sat. Nov. 23, 10am-4:30pm

Learn the basics of the mushroom identification process and then set out into the nearby woods in search of seasonal fungi.

Photographer Spotlight: Kumiko Iwashita

From photographing frogs at PRNSA’s volunteer events to river otters basking on the banks of Abbotts Lagoon, the practice of photography has taught Kumiko Iwashita to look closer, slow down, and appreciate the quiet lives unfolding all around us. Through her images, she hopes to spark a sense of connection and responsibility to protect these animals: "My photos of animals raising their young, hunting for their meals, or spending time with their family will hopefully make viewers realize that we share the same earth, breathe the same air, and rely on the same ecosystems to survive."