Point Molate Park Summer Youth Program

Protecting wild coastal habitat is one of the best ways to help at-risk communities fight sea-level rise and other impacts of fossil-fuel-fired climate change.

Over 25 years of work by dedicated community members won a climate justice victory in the battle to establish the newest San Francisco East Bay regional park at Point Molate. At over 400 acres, Point Molate is a natural gem. We want to involve high school students in an ongoing program as docents and trail guides.

This summer, we’re launching the Richmond Coastal Leadership Program, a five-week course dedicated to training 25 local youth to become advocates for the new Point Molate Park while also providing them many additional skills and activities they’ll find useful, practical and fun. While partially funded by a prestigious California Coastal Commission Whale Tale Grant, the program remains $18,000 short of its goal. That’s why we’ve launched a local, regional and national ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign to help us help these youth have a great summer experience. Hope you can help them also.

We will engage 14-20-year-old young people in every aspect of Point Molate, including Ohlone history, native plant and watershed restoration, community science, and park planning. There will be two boat trips on the Bay, kayaking, and field trips to China Camp, Fort Baker, and the Bolinas Marine Lab. Public speaking, media training, and green jobs workshops will also be provided. After completion of the program and with the continued support of our team, they will have the opportunity to lead park tours.

Expenses we’re seeking contributions for include facilitators and naturalists to lead science workshops and a kayaking trip, lunches for field trips and a walking tour of Richmond, an eelgrass workshop including hands on training on ROV robot submarines and drones, plus the costs of a graduation ceremony and celebration and of course, given adolescent appetites, additional snacks and water.

Our park victory at Point Molate is a model of long-term community organizing these young people will be able to share among their peers in other threatened communities. The funds being sought will go directly to empowering this new generation of environmental stewards, providing them the tools they need to protect our coasts and communities, both human and wild. So please help us help them have a spectacular summer and learning experience.

Thank you,

David Helvarg & Pam Stello

For Blue Frontier & Point Molate Alliance

Video Credits: Thank you Tony [email redacted]ayo for the drone footage. Thank you Jack Scheinman @ptmolate4all and Jeffrey Peterson @jeffreypetersonphoto the wildlife photos.