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The Golden Gate National ParksOne of the largest and most popular urban national parks in the world, the Golden Gate National Parks were established in 1972, as part of efforts to make national parks more accessible to city dwellers and bring "parks to the people." The parks' 75,500 acres of land and water extend north from Fort Baker at the Golden Gate Bridge to Tomales Bay in Marin County and south to San Mateo County. The parks contain many historical and cultural sites - among them, Alcatraz, Marin Headlands, Fort Mason, Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, and the Presidio of San Francisco. With 19 unique ecosystems in seven distinct watersheds, the parks preserve a wealth of natural treasures. At the center sits Fort Baker, gateway to miles of coastal and inland trails and diverse recreational and cultural opportunities. Visitors to Fort Baker have access to neighboring organizations housed in the parks, including:
National Parks ServiceThe National Park Service cares for national parks, a network of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. Its treasures in this system have been set aside by the American people to preserve, protect, and share, the legacies of this land. They include the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, Gettysburg and hundreds of lesser known destinations. The American system of national parks was the first of its kind in the world, and provides a living model for other nations wishing to establish and manage their own protected areas. Beyond national parks, the National Park Service helps communities across America preserve and enhance important local heritage and close-to-home recreational opportunities. The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. From www.nps.gov Please visit for more information. Golden Gate National Parks ConservancyEstablished in 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit partner that supports and assists the Golden Gate National Parks in research, interpretation, and conservation programs. The Conservancy's work is undertaken with generous contributions from individual, corporate, and foundation donors, as well as income earned from operating park bookstores and cafes, publishing educational materials, producing interpretive merchandise, and providing park tours. Since its inception in 1981, the Parks Conservancy has provided the Golden Gate National Parks with more than $100 million in support and is recognized as one of the largest and most effective park partners in the country. The Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization created to:
Bay Area Discovery MuseumThe Mission of the Bay Area Discovery Museum is to engage, delight and educate children through exploration of and connection with the local environment and the diverse communities that live here. The nationally recognized Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor children's museum that offers a full range of programs for children, parents, school groups and educators. Located on 7-1/2 acres in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Fort Baker in Sausalito, CA, the Museum's unique programs feature hands-on art, science and environmental exhibitions, performances, special events, cultural festivals and ongoing educational curricula... all with a focus on fun! The Bay Area Discovery Museum uses the concept of "home" for exploring the natural and cultural environments of the Bay Area - from distinctive landscape elements and natural habitats to artistic traditions. The curriculum encourages environmental stewardship, which is threaded throughout the Museum through its interactive exhibitions and programs. From www.baykidsmuseum.org Please visit for more information. Headlands Center for the ArtsHeadlands Center for the Arts provides an unparalleled environment for the creative process and the development of new work and ideas. Through artists' residencies and public programs, we offer opportunities for reflection, dialogue and exchange that build understanding and appreciation for the role of art in society. Located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Headlands was incorporated in 1982 by a founding Board of Directors comprised primarily of local artists. In creating Headlands Center for the Arts, the founders sought to re-configure the role of the artist from a marginalized position to that of a central participant in our society. Since 1987, Headlands has developed this idea into an array of dynamic programs for artists and the public, including residencies, lectures and performances, Open Houses, community-based projects, publications and commissions. Over 1,000 artists have worked with Headlands in its various programs. We host artists from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds, and our public programs bring artists together with scholars, activists and other professionals. By facilitating interaction across traditional boundaries, Headlands works to introduce artists and audiences to new creative processes, and to broaden the range of possibilities for art's function in our society. From www.headlands.org Please visit for more information. Headlands InstituteLocated in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Headlands Institute partners with the National Park Service to provide residential environmental science education for students and educators, teen leadership programs, summer day camps for kids, and conference and retreat facilities. Headlands Institute is one of three campuses of Yosemite National Institutes (YNI), which also include Yosemite Institute in Yosemite National Park, California, and Olympic Park Institute in Olympic National Park, Washington. Founded in 1971, YNI is a national organization dedicated to teaching science and environmental education in nature's classroom to inspire a personal connection to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. YNI serves over 40,000 youth and adults annually at its three campuses. Over 500 public and private schools (grades K-12) from over 175 cities and towns attend our core residential field-science programs. In addition to its K-12 field science programs, YNI offers teacher trainings, community outreach programs, summer youth adventures, and adult and family field courses. Excerpted from www.yni.org/hi/ Please visit for more information. The Marine Mammal CenterFounded in 1975, The Marine Mammal Center is a nonprofit organization that rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, sick and orphaned marine mammals (seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, whales and sea otters) along a 600 mile stretch of California coastline, from Mendocino County through San Luis Obispo County. Before The Center was established, stranded marine mammals were either left to die or were destroyed as threats to public health. The Marine Mammal Center scientists conduct research on marine mammal disease immunology and publish research findings in leading scientific journals. Strict protocols ensure that the animals' health is not harmed during the course of our studies. The Center operates from five locations: our hospital site in the Marin Headlands; our field offices in Anchor Bay, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo; and our gift store and interpretive center at San Francisco's PIER 39. The Center is the largest marine mammal facility of its kind in the world to combine animal rehabilitation with an on-site research lab, and the only one to treat between 500 and 1200 animals a year. Excerpted from www.marinemammalcenter.org Please visit for more information. Golden Gate Raptor ObservatoryThe mission of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory is to study migrating birds of prey along the Pacific coast and to promote public awareness of the state of raptor populations. The GGRO is dedicated to the conservation of raptors and to community involvement in wildlife research. Our studies of the movements of hawks through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area demonstrate that biological boundaries extend far beyond political boundaries. The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory is a project of the non-profit Golden Gate National Parks Association with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (National Park Service). The GGRO consists of three staff, three interns, and 250+ volunteers dedicated to the study of the raptor migration in the Marin Headlands. The place we conduct most of our studies is the Marin Headlands. Hawk Hill in the Headlands is the best place to observe the fall migration. From www.ggro.org Please visit for more information. Point Bonita YMCAJust ten minutes north-west of the Golden Gate Bridge, the YMCA Point Bonita Outdoor and Conference Center is surrounded by ocean beaches, rolling hills, and incomparable views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and that famous rugged northern coastline. Nearby there's endless hiking in 10,000 acres of national parkland. A Branch of the YMCA of San Francisco, they provide life-changing environmental education experiences to school groups, developing community responsibility and respect for the environment. We host community groups, businesses, non-profits, and families for retreats and conferences. Excerpted from www.pointbonitaymca.org Please visit for more information. Hostelling International Marin HeadlandsFounded in 1958, the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA is a nonprofit network of 10 affordable accommodations providing top-quality service, cleanliness, and security to guests in San Francisco, Sacramento, and other scenic Northern California locations. Hostelling International operates more than 4,000 hostels worldwide, including 70 in the United States, bringing travelers together to learn about other people, places, and cultures. Nestled in a wooded setting less than 10 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands Hostel provides more than unique, affordable accommodations in two historic 1907 buildings. These turn-of-the-century buildings at Fort Barry provide convenient access to nearby beaches, forests, and rolling hills. Marin Headlands Hostel offers a chance to get away, wind down, and enjoy the simple treasures of a coastal National Park. Excerpted from www.norcalhostels.org/marin Please visit for more information.
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