By Marty Wiggins
Did you know it’s National Environmental Education Week? Since 2004, the National Environmental Education Foundation has coordinated the week before Earth Day as a time to foster greater awareness of environmental education and to encourage children and adults to enjoy the outdoors.
What is so great about environmental education? The obvious benefit is that it gets kids and adults outside. But research also shows that environmental education and outdoor and community-based learning improves student achievement across the curriculum and can have a positive effect on classroom and social behavior. …

“if I have to work for a living, this is not a bad way to do it,”– Rodney
Here is part two of the delightful interview with Rodney, co-owner of Strawberry Creek Inn, located in southern California, posted earlier this week. This interview wraps up a run of posts that contemplate the intersection of personal passion and the outdoors. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this interview about the journey of owning a B&B as much as I did:
Ian and Rodney riding a "Hybrid"
What would you describe as a memorable moment …

Here is a little treat for all of our bird loving Outdoor Afros! Check out this live cam of a wild, female barn owl:
Live TV : Ustream

Outdoor Afro Bike Ride a Wild Success!
While I am still recovering from the planning and fun of the bike ride on Sunday, I could not let another day go by without sharing and thanking everyone involved with the event to make it a success in every possible way!

The Scoop:
A total of twenty-three bikers of a wide range of ages and abilities wheeled though the underrepresented parts of Richmond, California. East Bay Regional Parks Naturalist Bethany Facendini was an amazing resource, providing loaner bikes for those who did not have one, …

PRESS RELEASE
For those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, join us for an innagural Outdoor Afro Bike Ride, designed for people who have not been on a bike in years!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Richmond BART (with plenty of FREE parking)
10:00 AM for bike inspection
11:00 AM depart
Registration Required: 1-888-EB-PARKS (1-888-327-2757, option 2,3)
This easy flat ride is FREE and co-sponsored by the East Bay Regional Parks and led by the Richmond Spokes crew. We will begin at the Richmond BART and pedal through communities of color along the watershed to …

I only live a couple of flat miles away from my job at the local Audubon, so with the warm arrival of spring in the Bay Area, I have no good reason not to take the stroll to and from work. Besides, I can definitely use the exercise after enjoying a winter filled with delicious food!
Photo by architect.bekir-mima
Since walking, the experience has been both delightful and engaging as walking has a way of making contact with outdoor spaces both easy and intimate. I notice and interact with moments and matter I would …

My six-year-old son Billy and I recently had the privilege to lend a hand to “raise” a garden at Kennedy High School in Richmond, California. We arrived mid-morning at a southern exposed site nestled near the school’s track. The work area swarmed with students, school staff, parents, and Urban Tilth, the organizing non-profit who produced the day as part of its project, 2 Farms in 2 Days.
Not too little to help
The intention behind this weekend event aims to produce real, productive farms that, according the organization’s website, “grow food that directly changes the food …

Welcome to the Inaugural Edition of the Outdoor Afro Blog Carnival!
Wooo hooo….confetti falls…
So what is a Blog Carnival anyway? Well, I learned it is a terrific way to spread your blog wings into new topics, while connecting with more people. And that’s all I needed to know before signing up!  But I also recognized the term ‘carnival’ has a cultural meaning for some that is different than the experience of a spin on the ol’ ferris wheel. So I decided to honor the festive connotation of another kind of Carnival …

Audrey Peterman
Here is Part Two of my interview with Audrey Peterman, author, Breaking the Color Barrier Conference Founder and inspirational speaker.
Rue: For some, physical mobility might decline after mid-life. What might you suggest to someone who feels they are not physically able to enjoy a National Park?
Audrey: Mobility declines after mid-life? It’s not a necessity. I was on blog radio this week with a 78 year-old black man who recently competed in two categories in the Senior Olympics. It really vexes me how our …

The Great Backyard Birdcount February 12-15, 2010

Believe it or not, before I started working at Golden Gate Audubon months back, I had never heard of the concept of everyday people counting birds in their own backyard as an important way to contribute to real scientific research.

So imagine my delight to hear about Cornell University and National Audubon’s annual outfit:  The Great Backyard Birdcount, where novices like me can learn about local birds, make a meaningful contribution to avian research, and learn cool bird facts to impress friends at cocktail parties!
They have …