The beauty and diversity of the San Francisco Bay area is at your fingertips. Grab your binoculars and sketchbook and take a hike. Bring a friend to share the experience. Go deeper by participating in the many lectures and events throughout the region. Connect with a community of people who share your interest in nature, sketching, and stewardship by joining nature related groups in your area. There are outstanding classes and teachers who will inspire and encourage you. Contact me to be added to this list. Leave a comment to share or endorse your favorites.
Where To Go Outside
- Bay Area Hiker
- San Francisco Bay Area Wheelchair Accessible Trails
- Birding Locations
- Where to see the Spring Bird Migration Podcasts
- East Bay Regional Park District
- Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
- Marin County Open Space
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Natural History Lectures and Naturalist Groups
- Bay Nature’s Events Calendar
- Bay Area Science Events
- Mycological Society of San Francisco
- Wild Oakland
- Also check your local chapter of the California Native Plant Society and the Audubon Society. Regional chapters hold regular meetings around the bay. In San Francisco, you have CNPS, Audubon.
Bay Area Naturalist Leaders
- Joe Morlan also teaches a great birding class through CCSF
- Alvaro Jaramillo
- David Wimpfheimer
- David Lukas
- Michael Ellis
- Bob Stewart
- Josiah Clark
Nature Festivals
- Nature Ali’s compilation of California Nature Festivals
- Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival
- San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival
- Sandhill Crane Festival Lodi
- Central Valley Birding Symposium
- Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua not local but so amazing you need to go
Nature Stewardship
- Sutro Stewards
- San Francisco Natural Areas Program
- Nature in the City
- San Bruno Mountain Watch
- Nature News from Jake Sigg
Hello! I’m wondering if you have the name of the photographer who offers his photos for reference for nature drawing – I think he specifically has images of birds. I thought I might find this information here, alas, I didn’t. Thank you for all the work you do, Jack!
Try these two: http://www.birdpixel.com/ and http://www.seeingbirds.com/
Wonderful!! Thank you so much!!
Can you recommend Nature Art & Sketching Teachers in the east coast, New England states. Thanks.
Yes. Look for Clare Walker Leslie. She got me started nature journaling. Also the author of amazing books on the subject.
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods is also an amazing non profit that offers educational seminars, hikes, and workshops on many interesting natural topics and stewardship opportunities in Sonoma County. Perhaps they should be a part of this great network of organizations and stewards.