May winds are a powerful signal of spring in West Marin. Other signs of spring are evident in the nesting and breeding activity of birds, the colorfully wild blooms, and my favorite, the fawns following their mamas around Bear Valley (Happy Mother's Day!). Here's a sweet video of twin fawns captured by my neighbor Jerry Aman this week.
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Voices at the Seashore: Getting to Know the Snowy Plover
Through our Your Park, Your Place campaign we are excited to share the multitude of voices that make up our collective park community over the coming year. In this issue we put the snowy plover on the map and so do you. Thanks to your gifts we help fund a variety of conservation work in the park, including the snowy plover monitoring effort.
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May Memberships Bring More to the Seashore
We'd like May memberships to grow in as great abundance as the wildflowers we are seeing in the park! Over the course of the pandemic national parks have seen an increase in visitation and it is our hope visitors will support what they love. We have received a generous gift which we are using to match all donations and new memberships up to $20,000 this month. Our goal is to bring in 100 new members or increased donations from current members in May.
Will you help us?
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Your membership gift will support our environmental education, conservation and community building programs. It will also help us share the park and all its stories with a broader community, while also inviting in new voices. Here is what you will receive in return:
- 15% discount on merchandise at our stores (Bear Valley Store opening soon!)
- Member discounts for our Field Institute classes
- Subscription to our e-newsletter
- A warm feeling of belonging to a strong community of public lands advocates
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Bear Valley Trail Now Open!
Bear Valley is PRNSA's home base and it was a real homecoming to walk down Bear Valley Trail this week. The signs of the Woodward Fire are absolutely evident and so is the care the firefighters and NPS staff have taken to make this beloved trail stable and safe for visitors. The spring wildflowers and foliage show the power of nature to regenerate itself. We also regenerate ourselves by enjoying and caring for our beloved park.
Happy spring and see you on the trails soon!
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Heather Clapp
Director of Development and Community Engagement
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Bear Valley Trail Now Open to Kelham Beach!
Bear Valley trail is now open to Kelham Beach!
- Mt Wittenberg, Meadow, Old Pine, and Baldy trails all remain closed at their junction with the Bear Valley trail.
- Sky trail remains closed at its junction with Coast, and Coast trail remains closed north of its junction with the path down to Kelham Beach.
Drakes Beach Closed for Road Construction
Starting Monday, May 3, 2021 through Tuesday, August 31, 2021, Drakes Beach will be closed at its junction with Sir Frances Drake Boulevard. The road closure is part of the park’s 2-year Federal Highways Administration and County of Marin road improvement project. During this time, the wetlands area that was paved over in the 1960s to create the western section of the Drake Beach parking lot will be restored to its natural hydrologic function.
Many areas of Point Reyes National Seashore are open and spring is a remarkable time to see wildflowers, whales and other wildlife. For current road and trail conditions, visit the park’s website and social media. Please recreate responsibly.
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The new NPS App is available for download in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.
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Burns & Bites
A Park in Place Webinar
Thursday, May 13, 6pm
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You've been waiting a long time for an update on the burn area of Point Reyes National Seashore since the Woodward Fire back in August and we are very excited to finally bring that to you. Join us for a special update on this critical change in our park. What's open, what's closed, what's gone, what's safe. Speaking of safety, with summer just around the corner we know more and more of you are itching to get out here, but let’s keep that itching to the nerves alone. Our friends from the Bay Area Lyme Foundation are equally eager to share some tips and tricks to navigate tick season confidently. If you're planning some awesome trips to the park this summer or anytime soon this webinar is for you.
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Sunday, May 9, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday, May 15, 10:00am – 4:00pm
June Classes Coming Soon!
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2021 Marine and Estuarine Grant Opportunities at Point Reyes National Seashore & Tomales Bay |
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We are pleased to offer two grant competitions this year to encourage partnerships with the research community, and support National Park Service and Tomales Bay Watershed Council's work to support the health of marine ecosystems.
The Neubacher Fund for Marine Science at Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) accepts requests of up to $3,000 for marine research conducted in the immediate vicinity of PRNS and Tomales Bay (Between Bolinas and Tomales Point and up to 5 km from shore). Studies that strive to understand long-term changes and patterns in marine and estuarine ecosystems are encouraged.
The Tomales Bay Watershed Council Science Fund will provide up to $3,000 for a proposal that addresses or advances one of the Watershed Council’s top 4 science priorities which are (1) Understanding human use patterns in Tomales Bay, (2) Sea level rise mitigation, planning and management, (3) Understanding coho salmon habitat use in Tomales Bay, and (4) Long-term monitoring of eelgrass habitats.
Applications are due June 1, 2021
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We partner with the National Park Service to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Point Reyes National Seashore for present and future generations. |
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Point Reyes National Seashore | (415) 663-1200 x 310
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