Columbia Community Outreach Volunteer Day
Baker Beach Saturday, March 29
9:00am - 12:00 pm

Join Northern California area alumni for a morning of volunteerism! Columbia Community Outreach (CCO) is a community service initiative that brings together the Columbia University community and raise awareness for volunteerism.

This year we will be volunteering for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy on Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

We will be doing landscape and vegetation maintenance at Baker Beach in the Presidio. The Presidio is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The foredunes of Baker Beach support a diversity of hardy plants such as sand verbena, dune strawberry, and beach sagewort. Revegetation helps to rapidly recreate a healthy ecosystem where native species flourish, the threat of weed colonization is reduced, and habitat value is improved for local wildlife. Weeds tend to take over an area, reducing the overall diversity of plant life and threatening rare native species.

Please wear comfortable work clothes, long pants, and sturdy shoes or boots. Do not wear shorts or sandals. Dress in layers for changing weather, bring a hat, and wear sunscreen. Snacks, water, and all necessary tools, supplies, and training will be provided.

Last year, hundreds of Columbia alumni worldwide joined a global group of students, faculty, staff, and affiliates to strengthen their connection to Columbia and to make a difference in their local communities. Eight alumni clubs participated in 2007’s Columbia Community Outreach – from Beijing to Atlanta – and dozens of alumni in New York rolled up their sleeves as well.

Alumni from around the country will be volunteering on the same day, in conjunction with the main Outreach event at Columbia where over 1,000 students will volunteer. To find out more about the campus event, visit http://www.columbia.edu/cu/outreach/

FULL! Thanks for your interest! We have a full group of volunteers!

Info: Jennifer Wang at .

We will meet at the North/Upper Parking Lot, Baker Beach, near the picnic area and bathrooms.

Directions:

From San Francisco: Go north on 25th Ave. towards Camino Del Mar. Turn right onto Camino Del Mar, which turns into Lincoln Blvd. Take a left onto Bowley. On Bowley, take the first right onto Gibson, which leads straight toward Baker Beach. Just before the lower parking lot, turn right towards the north or upper parking lot. We will meet near the bathrooms.

From Marin: Take Golden Gate Bridge, take the 25th Ave. exit which is the first exit immediately coming out of the toll booths. You will wind up a hill to an intersection with Lincoln Blvd. Go right onto Lincoln Blvd. Follow Lincoln past the WWII Monument until you get to Bowley. Take a right onto Bowley. On Bowley, take the first right onto Gibson, which leads straight toward Baker Beach. Just before the lower parking lot, turn right towards the north or upper parking lot. We will meet near the bathrooms.

From the East Bay: Take Highway 80 west and go across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco. As you near the San Francisco shoreline, stay in the far left lane. Take the first possible exit off the Bay Bridge to the left as you come into San Francisco. This is the Embarcadero/Main St. exit. The off ramp loops under the bridge and comes out on Harrison Street heading toward the Embarcadero. Take a right on Harrison, and follow Harrison 3 or 4 blocks towards the Bay, then turn left onto the Embarcadero. Follow the Embarcadero all the way to Bay Street. Take a left onto Bay St. Follow Bay to Laguna (four blocks west of Van Ness) and take a right. Take a left onto Marina Blvd -- the route forces you left. (Safeway will be on your left.) Follow Marina Blvd. along the SF bay front until you are near the Exploratorium. Get on the entrance for the Golden Gate Bridge and take the last possible exit before going across the Bridge. The exit is called "The Last San Francisco Exit -- GGNRA." This exit will put you into a parking lot. Out of the parking lot take a right onto Lincoln Blvd. Follow Lincoln Blvd. through the Presidio. You will pass the WWII Monument. After the WWII Monument take a right onto Bowley. On Bowley, take the first right onto Gibson, which leads straight toward Baker Beach. Just before the lower parking lot, turn right towards the north or upper parking lot. We will meet near the bathrooms.

By MUNI: MUNI bus #29 stops on Lincoln Blvd. and Pershing. Please be alert because the #29 does not stop at every bus stop in the Presidio. For a schedule, please call MUNI at 673-MUNI. From the bus stop, walk to Bowley St. which turns off of Lincoln across from Pershing, towards the beach. Take the first right onto Gibson, which leads straight toward Baker Beach. Just before the lower parking lot, turn right towards the north or upper parking lot. We will meet near the bathrooms.