MLK Jr Day and NPS Fee-Free Weekend

Date: January 11, 2012
Contact: Alexandra Picavet, [phone]

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Calif. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service offers an opportunity to join millions of others as they contribute to volunteer programs in their local neighborhoods and national parks. The National Park Service recognizes this important holiday with a fee-free weekend (January 14-16) at national parks across the country. In the Bay Area, Muir Woods National Monument will do the same. Many national parks never charge an entrance fee, including dozens of national park sites in the Bay Area that remain free year-round. For more information on Fee-Free Days and other 2012 dates when entrance fees will be waived, visit https://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

"Dr. King led the fight to realize his dream of a nation free of discrimination, where every citizen was able to enjoy the inalienable rights promised to all Americans," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis."Dr. King's story and those of so many others whose efforts changed our country are preserved in the national parks, places where history happened.I hope every American can take advantage of the upcoming fee free weekend and visit their parks to experience their history firsthand."

Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the park on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Please note that some projects are full or filling up fast, and may require an RSVP. For more information and to register for these projects, age requirements, directions, and to obtain necessary waiver forms, please visit http://www.parksconservancy.org/calendar/volunteer-events/special-events/mlk-day-of-service-help-grow.html

Ocean Beach Cleanup - Enjoy a day at the beach and help improve wildlife habitat. Time: 10 am-Noon. Meeting Location: Stairwell 17, Ocean Beach, San Francisco.

Alcatraz Gardens Restoration - Help re-establish the historic Alcatraz gardens by weeding and pruning. Time: 8:30 am-Noon. Meeting Location: Pier 33Alcatraz Cruises dock.

Crissy Field Landscape & Maintenance - Help improve Crissy Field by assisting with landscaping and maintenance. Time: 9 am-Noon. Meeting Location: Stilwell Hall, Crissy Field.

Muir Beach Stewardship - Learn about the GGNRA 2012 Species of the Year, the Coho salmon, and help improve its habitat! Time: 10 am-1 pm. Meeting Location: Muir Beach parking lot.

Muir Woods - Enjoy the majestic redwoods while helping to restore and preserve this spectacular national park. Time: 9:30 am-12:30 pm. Meeting Location: Muir Woods Visitor Center.

Presidio Stewardship - Help enhance rare native plant habitat in the Presidio. Time: 9 am-12:30 pm. Meeting Location: Rob Hill Campground, Presidio of San Francisco.

Teens on Trails - Help with trail work near the Mile Rock staircase and enhance native plant habitat and historic landscapes at Lands End. Time: 9:30 am-12:30 pm. Meeting Location: USS San Francisco Memorial Site, Lands End. Age requirement: This project is just for Teens!

If you want to simply enjoy the great outdoors and not volunteer, see a searchable calendar of events and activities throughout National Park sites in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties: www.parksconservancy.org/calendar. Events over the holiday weekend include a candlelight tour of Fort Point, an aviation history walk at Crissy Field, a 2-mile hike "Of Bombs & Butterflies" at Milagra Ridge, beginning birding at Rodeo Lagoon, and much more.

For information on other activities and maps of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, visit the park's website: www.nps.gov/goga. Keep in mind that automobile traffic will be heavier during the holiday weekend. Refer to www.511.org or http://transitandtrails.org for information and schedules on how to take public transit to the National Park of your choice.

Park Stewardship Activities are a fun way to enjoy the holiday by lending a hand to restore and maintain priority parklands. Besides Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, choose from an abundance of ongoing drop-in volunteer opportunities all year long. Call 415-561-3044, email [e-mail] or visit

https://www.nps.gov/goga/supportyourpark/volunteer

http://www.parksconservancy.org/help/volunteer

The Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program is a cooperative parkwide effort of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and the Presidio Trust that relies on volunteers to perform many duties, including trail work, habitat restoration, staffing information desks, assisting in native plant nurseries, counting frogs, pulling weeds,and many other exciting indoor and outdoor activities.

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