CCSF's Sustainability 91 Applied Research in Sustainability returns to the EcoCenter for the 4th time!

Now in its fourth semester, City College of San Francisco students with coursework completed in environmental science, ecology, native landscaping, alternative energy, environmental monitoring and/or other environmental and sustainability related curriculum enrolled in the work experience course to assist with stewardship of the EcoCenter, its landscape and Heron's Head Park. There are 17 students thus far who will volunteer their time an average of 8 hours per week over the 17 week semester. Over 65 students have participated in the course since its inception in January 2012, many of which have returned in subsequent semesters. Work completed is based on the needs of the EcoCenter combined with the expertise and interests of the students. Below is a photo of those students attending the orientation on Friday.

Heron's Head Park and the EcoCenter in 7X7SF

Heron's Head Park and the EcoCenter are described in the most recent issue of 7X7SF. Read the "Scenes of the City: Heron's Head Park" article by Joseph Schell by following this link - http://www.7x7.com/fitness-outdoors/scenes-city-herons-head-park#/18. Happy New Year from the EcoCenter.

SF STEM Academy students from International Studies Academy visit the EcoCenter

SF STEM Academy instructor Alyssa Rowatt and 10 students enrolled in the program from the International Studies Academy (ISA) High School on Potrero Hill participated in several programs at the EcoCenter in one very event filled Saturday.  The SF STEM Academy is an education and workforce development program geared towards increasing awareness and interest in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Led by former LEJ EcoCenter program manager Tracy Zhu together with EcoCenter staff and CCSF students, ISA youth were introduced to the history of Heron's Head Park and the environmental justice issues plaguing the Bayview Hunters Point community.  Study of wetland ecology was coupled with sampling plankton so the organisms could be further studied under the microscope and compared to those found in the EcoCenter's constructed wetland.  The students had a tour of the EcoCenter with opportunities to explore how the wastewater treatment and energy systems work by engaging in hands on activities that included a settling tank demonstration, using a solar panel to power a water fountain, and observing plankton from the bay and the constructed wetland under microscopes.  After a lunch break, students participated in a ethnobotany exercise to learn about the utility of many of our California native plants.

We look forward to these students returning and exploring in greater depth all that the sustainable systems at the EcoCenter have to offer related to STEM related fields and careers. We loved having them!

The EcoCenter is part of the Cities Alive Conference

The EcoCenter's living roof was part of the Cities Alive Conference today. The conference is put on by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. About 30 participants from all over the world toured some of the City's most beautiful living rooftops and walls and the EcoCenter's roof was one of the first stops. Awie Smit who was one of the principal builders of the living roof at the EcoCenter lead the tour/discussion of the rooftop and Peggy and CCSF student interns gave a tour of the facility.

New Website for the EcoCenter

With the help of CCSF student, Jonelle Gausman, we finally have a website under construction dedicated to the EcoCenter. There is still much more content and media that will be developed for it, but it is a great start. Check it out at www.ecocenterhhp.org.

Port of San Francisco Issues RFP for the EcoCenter

On September 25th, the San Francisco Port Commission issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a new tenant to lease the EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park.  Recall that LEJ is moving on to focus on the stewardship of other lands in our community.  You can learn more about the Candlestick Point EcoStewards Project by following this link http://lejyouth.org/.

We hope that the current relationship and stewardship of the EcoCenter by CCSF students and faculty will be a continued part of the facility's future.  To obtain further information and to download the RFP follow this link http://sfport.com/index.aspx?page=2323.

Silicon Valley Bank Employees Spend the Day Volunteering at the EcoCenter and Heron's Head Park

Today was a busy day at the Ecocenter and Heron's Head Park.  We had more than 140 volunteers from Silicon Valley Bank come to help out with various outdoor projects!  The tasks included mulching, planting, and watering in the EcoCenter landscape.  Volunteers also did a tremendous job pulling invasive species in the wetland area of the park.  The amount of work accomplished was incredible. In addition to all of the physical labor, Silicon Valley Bank generously provided funding for much needed tools and additional plants for the EcoCenter landscape.  According to one volunteer many of the visitors were from the San Francisco office, but some came from South Bay. Most were visiting for the first time!  The volunteers that took a break to come and visit us in the EcoCenter were incredibly impressed with what the facility has to offer.  

District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen also stopped by to check out the happenings.  She was also interested to learn about the work City College faculty, staff and students have been engaged at the EcoCenter.

Overall, we had a fantastic day of work and education, with a dash of politics thrown in for good measure!

View photos of the event below: