Camping and Backpacking | Climbing | Gardening | Kids and Nature | Paddling | Point Reyes Walkabout | Trails

Helping Kids Discover the Wonder of Nature

March 8, 2010 •  by

You might think that 5-year-old Rosa might be hesitant to return to her teacher after sneaking off to smear gray mud all over her face and arms. Instead, she runs right up to teacher Chris Giorni with a smile on her round, blackened face….

At Home Under the Log

January 1, 2010 •  by

A world awaits discovery under almost any humble log in winter, whether it’s in your backyard or deep in the woods. Lift that log and make some new discoveries. Just be sure to put that log back carefully…

Climbing the Waves at Castle Rock State Park

January 1, 2010 •  by

The high ridges and sandstone outcrops at Castle Rock have fascinated adventurers from explorer George Vancouver to the pioneers of modern rock climbing. Prolific wildflowers, great views, and an 80-foot waterfall add to the allure.

Kids Learn the Landscape in San Rafael

November 20, 2009 •  by

On Veteran’s Day, a day off when lots of kids might be home watching TV or playing video games, fourth and fifth graders from Bahia Vista Elementary School in San Rafael’s Canal district guided parents and friends through the four distinct bird habitats of Pickleweed Park and explained what they had learned about each habitat and its particular bird life.

Top Billing for Shorebirds

October 1, 2009 •  by

As summer turns to fall, thousands of shorebirds return to the shoreline and mudflats of San Francisco Bay, either for a pit stop on their way south or to stay for the winter. Sometimes many different kinds gather in one place. How can you tell them apart?

Closing the Loop at Carquinez

October 1, 2009 •  by

From the top of Dillon Point in Benicia State Recreation Area, you can trace the route of the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail, a 50-mile route that will, when finished, ring the strait.

The BAWT Mobiles Come to Town

July 29, 2009 •  by

The BAWT mobiles are in town, and they mean serious wilderness business. With the help of City Car Share and the local nonprofit Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT), Bay Area youth organizations can now reserve vans to transport children for field trips and campouts.

Around the Bend

July 1, 2009 •  by

Put your boat or raft in the river above Healdsburg and follow a wild, green thread flowing through an altered landscape.

Dinosaur Plants

April 1, 2009 •  by

While living dinosaurs are nowhere to be found in California these days, you can see recognizable descendants of plants that lived with them–right here in the modern Bay Area.