Volunteer Outdoors in Palo Alto at Foothills Nature Preserve

Join us in restoring the grasslands at Foothills Nature Preserve! This 3-hour community workday will be focused on removing yellow star thistle to improve habitat at the preserve.

Volunteers should expect to:

• Work outside in variable, hot weather
• Hike on hilly, uneven terrain in grassland
• Spend time kneeling and bending
• Use hand tools to remove spiky yellow starthistle
• Learn about ecological restoration techniques and riparian ecology

We will spend our time walking, kneeling, and using tools. Please prepare for heat/sun exposure.

Visit Grassroots Ecology's Foothills Nature Preserve 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: Meet at the Interpretive Center within Foothills Nature Preserve, 3300 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto 94304. Please carpool if possible. The road up to the site is very steep and curvy. Download driving instructions ahead of time, as there is limited cell reception up on Page Mill Rd. There will be a ranger at the park entrance, and volunteers will receive entry details in a reminder email.

Alternate Transportation: Foothills Nature Preserve is mainly accessible by car. Strong bikers can lock their bikes to a rack on-site.

Meeting Space: We will be meeting at the Interpretive Center. While there is limited cell service, there is public WiFi from the City of Palo Alto. There are water fountains and both gendered & all-gender bathrooms within a 10 minute walk from the meeting location.

Prepare for Working Outdoors:

• Reusable water bottle filled with water
• Long pants, long sleeves recommended
• Sturdy closed-toed shoes that can get dirty
• Hat/sunscreen and rain gear/boots
• Plan for potential exposure to sun, poison oak, ticks, prickly plants
• Prepare for limited to no cell reception

We will provide gloves, tools, and light snacks.

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 [email protected]