Sequoias and Snow Plants
onIf you have read my recent blog posts, you can see a plant identification-theme forming. I promise it won’t be forever but today I have one more to throw at you. This time I will take you to the giant …
What’s That Flower?
onAfter taking a plant identification class a few weeks ago, I’ve become obsessed with identifying everything I see while hiking in the redwood forest. And although I have walked through many forests, I still see plants that are new to …
Plants and Their Families
onWhen you’re out with your family, have you ever heard, “You look exactly like your father,” or “You have your mother’s nose!”? Just as human family members share physical characteristics in common, plants do as well. Plant family similarities might not …
Smallest Kids, Tallest Trees
onA highlight of my job is visiting the many education programs that we support through our redwood education grants. This year we supported 24 parks, schools and non-profits so they could bring over 6,000 students to our beautiful redwood forests. …
Colorful Eggs Found in the Wild
onAs we go into the Easter weekend, kids are hand painting and dying eggs all colors of the rainbow in preparation for the hunt on Sunday. This tradition is not only a fun art project but can become an educational …
Every Kid in a Park
on“It is not half so important to know as to feel when introducing a young child to the natural world.” -Rachel Carson In 2005, Richard Louv released his influential book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. …
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss
on“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” ~ the Lorax This famous quote by the title character of The Lorax is well-known in the world of conservation, and has likely …
Studying Cycles in Nature — And How You Can Help!
onThe Bay Area is a pretty amazing place to live, but one complaint I often hear is about the lack of seasons. We never really get cold, snowy winters, or cool, crisp falls with vibrant leaf colors to take our …
Establishing Muir Woods National Monument
on“Whatever occupation man may follow, there is planted within him a need of nature, calling gently at him at times to come and enjoy, imperiously commanding at other times to seek recuperation and strength.” — William Kent Have you ever …
Is John Muir’s Legacy Still Relevant?
onIn a recent blog, I paid tribute to the wonderful work of John Muir. We learned a little bit about what he accomplished in his lifetime and how his legacy is alive throughout the peaks, valleys and forests of California. …
John Muir, the Legend
onIf you have spent any time in the amazing natural areas of California, you won’t go very far without experiencing the presence of John Muir — a man who did more for the conservation of our beautiful wild places during …
Turkeys in the Redwoods
onAs we sit back and relax on the day after Thanksgiving, our bellies still full from our decadent meals the day before, I’m thinking about turkeys, redwoods, and what the Native Americans might have eaten years before us at this …
Enjoying the Redwoods at Every Age
onThrough this blog I often write about my experiences with youths in the redwoods. I love seeing the expressions on kids’ faces when they see a banana slug, find a tiny redwood cone, or see a tall redwood tree for …
The Origins of Halloween
onHappy Halloween everyone! Finally, the day has arrived when you get to dress up however you want. Maybe months of planning even went into your costume, your creativity shining through. But did you ever wonder why we celebrate Halloween? Where …
Fall Has Arrived
onAlthough our fall-changing trees are not as numerous as in the east, we can still see some evidence of fall here on the West Coast. In our redwood forests, look for big leaf maples and vine maples for their changing color.
We’re BioBlitzing Again!
onHere at the League, we love getting people out into the redwoods to explore, learn and have fun. And we especially love bringing out everyone’s inner scientist to discover the creatures big and small that call the redwood forest their …
The Wilderness Act Turns 50 Today
onThis day marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. For 50 years, hundreds of thousands of people have been enjoying the most beautiful and remote areas of our nation while protecting some of the most ecologically important habitats we …
Happy Anniversary to Our State Tree
onToday marks the anniversary of the adoption of the coast redwood as California’s state tree. In my opinion, no tree could better represent the golden state. For a little history on state symbols you have to go back to the …
What’s So Cool About Cones?
onDuring a recent hike in the Berkeley hills with a friend, the topic of cones came up. There is an activity I like to do with students to teach them about cones: I bring in a small redwood cone and …
Flora in the Forest: How to Remember Who’s Who Among the Redwoods
onIf you are an amateur naturalist like me, you take pleasure in being able to identify plants and animals as you hike through the forest. I’m still trying to learn the names of common redwood forest plants, and I always …
