The fall has always been my favorite season. Maybe because it means winter is coming — I love the snow — or because the memories are still fresh from a great summer, or because of the reminder of the cycle that will start up …
The redwood trees have put on another ring since I joined the staff of Save the Redwoods League as president and CEO! It’s been one year since I started my new job and journey with the League, and I have …
With recreational marijuana legal in Colorado and Washington and medicinal marijuana available in 23 states and the District of Columbia, marijuana is here to stay. And, more of the marijuana on the U.S. market comes from California than any other …
Something huge happened today. The California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), an independent State board charged with funding “the purchase of land and waters suitable for recreation purposes and the preservation, protection and restoration of wildlife habitat” in California, voted to …
California State Parks is one small yet important step closer to a more sustainable future, and it’s becoming clear what else must be done to get there. At the Parks Forward Commission meeting in San Diego yesterday, we reviewed the …
Life is already too short to waste on speed. I have a friend who’s always in a hurry; he never gets anywhere. Walking makes the world much bigger and thus more interesting. You have time to observe the details. – …
Have you ever thought about what it takes to take care of protected land at the landscape scale? Most of us don’t manage areas of land much greater than our own backyards — it’s difficult to think on the scale …
“There is nothing so American as our parks. The scenery and wildlife are native. The fundamental idea behind the parks is native. It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people…Parks stand as the outward symbol of this …
The AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is dedicated to the millions of Americans whose lives have been touched by HIV.
Many of us who love nature have clear memories of meaningful outdoor experiences as children. At the Save the Redwoods League office, if you ask the staff why they chose careers in conservation, you’ll hear story after story about summers …
I’ve been a father for sixteen years. While I will always feel like I’m still learning the ropes, I have loved every minute of it. In the early years every day felt like Father’s Day, with the grand welcome when …
I talk a lot about the importance of parks and wild places, the beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife they contain, but this week I’m putting the spotlight on one of my favorite features of our open spaces: trails. My appreciation …
I was at Calaveras Big Trees State Park over the weekend for an event celebrating the grand opening of the new visitor center and commemorating the 150th anniversary of California State Parks. I was there to speak at the event, …
Of all the stories in the history of redwoods conservation, one of the most inspiring is how they came to serve as a living memorial to our veterans. In 1945, with victory in Europe and Japan within sight, individuals and …
It’s almost Memorial Day weekend, and if you’re like me, you’re looking forward to spending the long weekend outside. Like ninety-five percent of Californians, I live in an urban area, and a quiet escape to the redwoods — even for just …
“I spent ten days hiking and camping in several coast redwood forests…I was overwhelmed by the foresight and generosity of Rockefeller, Kent, and the League’s founders. Inspiring.” – Donald Cooley “I’m 100 years old. I’ve never seen the redwoods. When …
Today, I’m pleased to announce another redwoods conservation success in the Santa Cruz Mountains! Save the Redwoods League and our Living Landscape Initiative (LLI) partner, Sempervirens Fund, have protected an old-growth gem with tremendous potential for public access. The Van …
A report that will chart the course for the future of California State Parks (CSP) is closer to its final form. The Parks Forward Commission met in San Francisco last Wednesday to discuss the most recent draft of the Parks Forward …
It’s National Environmental Education Week! This week is a celebration of environmental education and a special time to inspire learning and stewardship among students. I can’t say enough about how important outdoor education is to complete the circle of land …
Last week, I wrote about the value of bringing kids to the redwoods. A family trip to the redwoods can be such an incredible gift to children, creating lifelong memories and a connection with nature that can improve life in …
