Join us and Branching Out Adventures at Russian Ridge Open Space, a Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve, to help restore wildlife habitat to this essential grassland ecosystem and remove invasive plants! Volunteers can expect to use small hand held tools, buckets, and gloves to weed invasive plants. Volunteers can also expect a walk to learn about California ecology with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay. Our facilitators are members of the queer community and have years of experience building welcoming spaces for queer community outdoors.
Visit Grassroots Ecology's Midpen Preserves page to learn more about the ecosystem and accessibility considerations.
Waivers/Registration: All volunteers attending the workday must be registered individually and have approved the online waiver through this Eventbrite page. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Volunteers age 12 and under require an accompanying adult.
Parking: Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot on Skyline Blvd. We will meet at the parking lot on the corner of Skyline Blvd and Alpine Road. Please carpool if possible. The road up to the site is very steep and curvy. Download driving instructions ahead of time, as there is no cell reception up on Skyline Blvd.
Alternate Transportation: Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve is mainly accessible by car. Strong bikers can lock their bikes to a rack on-site.
Meeting Space: We will meet in the main parking lot on the corner of Skyline Blvd and Alpine Rd. Russian Ridge has no available drinking water. Volunteers will have access to a pit toilet.
Prepare for Working Outdoors:
Face mask for COVID-19 safety (optional)
Reusable water bottle (filled with water)
Snacks, if desired
Long pants, long sleeves recommended
Sturdy closed-toed shoes that can get dirty
Hat/sunscreen or rain gear/boots
Epi-Pen or allergy medicine, if applicable
Plan for potential exposure to sun, poison oak, ticks, prickly plants
Prepare for limited to no cell reception, access to a pit toilet, and no available drinking water
We will provide light snacks, gloves, and tools.
Event Cancellations:
We are committed to the safety of our staff and volunteers. In the event that we must cancel a workday due to extreme weather conditions or poor air quality, a Grassroots Ecology staff person will reach out via email no later than 5:00 PM the day prior to this event.
Join Us!
Grassroots Ecology encourages people from all identities and backgrounds to participate in our programs. Many of our programs are outdoors and involve moving and working in a variety of landscapes. If you have accessibility concerns (e.g. allergies, limited mobility, learning differences), our projects are flexible and we are happy to work with you. Please reach out to the workday facilitator so we can prepare for your participation.
Accessibility concerns? Questions? Cancellations? Email tyler@grassrootsecology.org