Stewardship Volunteer Programs
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
— Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
Buckeye Canyon restoration volunteers (M. Salmon, 2010)The volunteer program is at the core of all of our efforts to restore the biodiversity of this wild and diverse mountain. Community-based stewardship not only engages a wide range of community members in this effort, it also helps to educate citizens about their local ecology and the importance of this significant island of biodiversity. As more members of schools and communities visit and learn about the unique plants and animals found on the mountain they are more likely to advocate for its long-term preservation and restoration.
Through the involvement of volunteers, in all aspects of habitat management and restoration, we will be able to greatly extend the impact of limited funds. Hands-on stewardship also offers the opportunity for community members to directly engage the resource and take ownership in its restoration and maintenance.
Nursery Program
Volunteers are welcome to join us every Wednesday at the Mission Blue Nursery. Activities vary depending on the season, but may include planting seeds collected from the mountain, transplanting seedlings, washing pots, and processing seeds collected from the mountain. Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to drop in during our Wednesday workdays from 10am to 12:30pm.
For directions to the Mission Blue Nursery, click here.
Habitat Restoration Programs
Our restoration efforts focus on removal of invasive, non-native plants from critical habitat. During the winter rainy months there are outings dedicated to planting native species to restore diversity. We now have restoration programs ongoing on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Saturday mornings: Bog Restoration or Weed Rangers - Workdays start at 10:00 AM and go to 12:30 PM with a ten minute break (snacks provided!). Please wear warm, layered clothing, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, and bring a liter of water. Gloves and tools will be provided. Drop-in volunteers are welcome. For large groups, please contact us ahead of time so we can make sure we have enough tools.
Saturday restoration workdays alternate between work on the Bog Trail in the Saddle area of the mountain and Owl or Buckeye Canyon on the north slopes. Please check our calendar to see which location we'll be working at.
Owl and Buckeye Canyon restoration workdays meet at the Mountain Watch office, directions here.
Bog Trail restoration workdays meet at the main visitors parking lot at the San Bruno Mountain State and County Park.
Friday and Saturday mornings - once a month: As of June 2011, our newly-formed South San Francisco (SSF) Weed Warriors will be working on sensitive butterfly habitat on the south slope of the mountain. Work involves removal of invasive, non-native species from grassland areas. The south slope of the mountain still has the largest areas of grasslands that are prime habitat for both the Mission Blue and Callippe Silverspot butterflies.
Workdays start at 9:00 AM and go until 12:00 noon. Please check our calendar to confirm workday dates.
(In November the workday schedule changed to the 4th Friday and following Saturday of each month - check calendar to confirm date and time!)
SSF Weed Warriors meet at the parking lot behind the Mills Montessori School at 1400 Hillside Blvd in South San Francisco.
Crocker Trail Wetlands Project:
The Crocker Trail Wetlands restoration is a joint project between San Bruno Mountain Watch and Earthcare. Volunteers are welcome to join the weekly Tuesday (and occasional Saturday) restoration workdays from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Crocker Trail wetlands in Brisbane near Cypress Lane. For more information and to sign-up for email updates on this project, contact Jim McKissock at earthcarenow@sbcglobal.net.
Click here for directions to the Crocker Trail project site and download a printable site description and map here.