The Rob Hill Campground in San Francisco's Presidio will welcome back campers this summer as it gradually becomes safe to stay in larger groups.
A lottery will be held monthly to accept reservations and started this week for June dates. Lisa Petrie, media relations specialist for the Presidio Trust, noted that the lottery in May will be for July dates, June for August, July for September, and August for October.
The price is a bit higher because they're specifically group sites; $100 per site, per night during peak times; and $75 per site, per night during off-peak nights. The regulations will change over the months as the San Francisco health regulations change.
Rob Hill is one of just two campgrounds in San Francisco, containing four group campsites. It offers natural park camping experiences within the city, with the smell of the ocean and the sound of the owls in the surrounding Cypress trees.
The lottery system may make adjustments depending on current safety protocols. For more information, click here.
In other Presidio news, various businesses are reopening, such as the Walt Disney Family Museum (reserved tickets are required), the Lodge at the Presidio and the Inn at the Presidio are open to leisure travelers, and Presidio Bowl opened April 1. The Presidio Golf Course is also open.
With Earth Day coming up April 22, people can download the Birds of Mountain Lake Guide and become acquainted with some of the more than 300 species of birds that frequent the Presidio.
Not everything is open, however. The Presidio Trust announced that some trails are temporarily closed to dog walkers from now until early September for coyote pupping season. This includes the Park Ridge Trail from Mountain Lake to the Presidio Promenade as well as the Bay Ridge Trail from the Rob Hill Campground to the Presidio Golf Course. These precautions protect dogs, their owners, and the coyotes, the release stated.
For more information about activities at the Presidio, go to https://www.presidio.gov/
SF observes Climate Action Month
The San Francisco Department of the Environment will observe Climate Action Month in April with more than 50 COVID-safe events. They include outdoor activities, virtual events, and workshops. All are free.
Some of the upcoming events include a health home workshop Saturday, April 10, presented in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library. It will include tips on a healthy home, safer cleaning alternatives, and safe disposal of household toxics. To register, click here.
On Saturday, April 17, the library will present "Climate Change: The Top 10 Things You Should Know in San Francisco." The presentation will feature Cyndy Comerford, climate program manager at the San Francisco Department of the Environment explaining how climate change will affect local communities, especially the most vulnerable, and the solutions available to address these near and long-term impacts. For registration, click here.
A panel that takes place Saturday, April 24, will look at edible food recovery during COVID-19. Speakers from community organizations will talk about how they are recovering edible food for people in the community who need it most. To register, click here.
The aforementioned events take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
For more activities, go to www.sfenvironment.org/climateactionmonth
'Normal Heart' reading
The Invisible Histories Project, in partnership with ONE Archives Foundation, will present a virtual reading of the late Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart" Saturday, May 8, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
Directed by Emmy Award-winning director Paris Barclay, this new presentation will be the first time the Tony Award-winning play features a cast that is predominantly BIPOC and LGBTQ, according to a news release.
The virtual reading features an all-star cast, including Sterling K. Brown, Laverne Cox, Jeremy Pope, Guillermo Diaz, Daniel Newsman, Jay Hayden, and Danielle Savre. It will feature a special introduction by Martin Sheen.
The event is a fundraiser for the Invisible Histories Project and the ONE Archive and will highlight both the historical realities of the early AIDS crisis and the continuing effects of the epidemic, particularly in the South.
ONE Archives Foundation is the independent community partner that supports the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the University of Southern California Libraries, the largest repository of LGBTQ materials in the world.
The Invisible Histories Project started a few years ago to preserve queer Southern history, particularly in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.
Tickets range from $10 to $100 and are available beginning April 8.
Park service seeks youth applicants
San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park is seeking applicants for the 2021 Youth Conservation Corps summer program to work and learn alongside National Park Service staff. YCC is a paid outdoor work program that provides a safe, educational, and meaningful experience for young adults of all backgrounds and interests, a news release stated.
The purpose of the program is to provide local youth (ages 15-18) an opportunity to gain work experience and skills, learn about their local environment, and explore careers in environmental science, conservation, and parks and recreation. YCC members will assist with a variety of work projects to help restore and protect the natural and cultural heritage of SF Maritime, the release stated. The program also includes several educational field trips and on the water experience.
The work program runs for eight weeks, June 14-August 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. YCC members are paid the state minimum wage of $14 per hour. Applicants must be able to commit to the full eight weeks.
To learn more, contact Michael Gorman at (415) 244-4877 or [email protected] Application materials are due Saturday, April 20.
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