Spring has, as they say, sprung, and there's no better way to spend the day than lounging outside—unless you're working for the greater good, al fresco. Join in for one (or all five) of these outdoor opportunities, and help keep the great outdoors in tip-top shape.
Keep this iconic forest healthy by clearing out invasive plants and sowing seeds or transplanting native species plants. You'll also have the chance to help maintain the trails, making sure that this beautiful hiking trail stays available for years to come. Flexible dates, Mt. Sutro Open Space Reserve
Mt. Tam Earth Day: Service, Wildflowers & Stargazing
Celebreate Earth Day by joining local nature lovers for trail improvement, plant pulling, and maintenance of the beloved Mount Tam outdoor theater. As a little extra motivation, volunteers will chow down on Chiptole burritos after a job well done. Saturday, April 25: 9am - 12:30pm
Clean Up Ocean Beach and Baker Beach with Surfrider
Grab your gloves and get ready to use a mechanical claw for good at Surfrider's Ocean Beach and Baker Beach cleanups. With twice-monthly gatherings at Ocean beach and monthly get-togethers at Baker Beach, you'll have ample opportunities to keep our beaches clean. Ocean Beach cleanup: 10am, first and third Saturday of every month at stairwell 17; Baker Beach cleanup: 10am, last Saturday of every month at the picnic table near the beach entrance
Sunday Streets are a favorite community activity across the Bay Area, thanks to their focus on local recreation and brining communities together. Get outside and help out at these weekly events—all you have to do is attend a volunteer orientation in SoMa. Flexible scheduling. 433 Natoma, 3rd Floor Conference Room, San Francisco
Real Options for City Kids (ROCK)
Reach out to kids who live in or attend school in SF's Visitacion Valley and connect with them through after-school enrichment, sports, fitness, and outdoor opportunities. ROCK aims to promote the positive development of underserved children and connect them to the outdoors in ways that would not otherwise be available to them. Flexible scheduling. Register at rocksf.org
Bonus: Give to Goodwill via Shyp
Instead of tossing out old clothing or appliances, donate them to Goodwill—without even leaving the house. Local startup Shyp, which provides a much-needed solution to the woes of shipping packages, will come to your doorstep within 20 minutes of placing your request, and they'll deliver your gently used goods to Goodwill, completely free of charge. To start a shipment, log on to the Shyp app, enter Goodwill's address (1500 Mission, SF, 94103) and the code GOODWILL in the promos section of the app, and snap a picture of your shipment. Reducing waste has never been easier.
