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Schoolhouse Creek Common, the beautiful community-build park at Curtis and Virginia, urgently needs help weeding and spreading new gravel on the paths! Join them 9 AM – noon, Saturday, May 12.
Work for all, all ages welcome! Snacks and drinks provided. Bring your own work gloves if you have them.
For information contact Jamie Day, day7715@gmail.com.
Friends of Five Creeks’ restoration projects took giant steps forward this summer thanks to many teen volunteers. They ranged from individuals to international exchange students — like the 50 high-school student from Mexico who cleared the mountain of invasives shown in the photo. The students, many from areas plagued by drugs and violence, stayed at UC Berkeley as part of a program aimed at developing leaders from non-elite groups. The Jovenes in Accion (Youth in Action) program is run by AYUSA Global Youth Exchange. Other volunteers came from the Civic Leadership Institute, a Northwestern University-based program for outstanding high-school students nationwide, and from local teen programs including Camp Kee Tov.
Two grants from the 2010 round of University of California Berkeley’s Chancellor’s Community Partnership Grants will further BPFP Partner Groups’ projects. These annual grants support projects in which Berkeley nonprofit groups partner with UC students, faculty, or staff. For 2010, grants focused on safety.
The LeRoy Steps Safety Project received $7,160 to improve pedestrian lighting on historic LeRoy Steps, a heavily used shortcut north of the UC Berkeley campus. With an additional recent $1500 grant from PG&E for the project, the neighborhood group will be able to make this busy shortcut north of the UC Berkeley campus more attractive and safer.
The Greening Berkeley Coalition received $5000 to continue their partnership with UC Berkeley’s CalCorps. The partnership brings student volunteers into the community to work hands-on on outdoor “greening” projects, while helping to pay for materials. The Coalition in 2010 includes Aquatic Park EGRET, Berkeley Path Wanderers, CHIA, East Bay GPA, Friends of Five Creeks, Friends of Grotto Rock Park, Presentation Park Partners, and Schoolhouse Creek Common.
Join Friends of Five Creeks volunteers at a “walking work party” 10 AM – 12:30 PM Sat., July 10. Learn about history and restoration plans while you help make Berkeley’s waterfront into the park it should be!
Meet at the beach at the mouth of Strawberry Creek, behind Sea Breeze Deli 598 University. This is just west of I-880/580. AC Transit 51B stops across the street, or walk or bike on the Bay Trail or via the pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the freeway.
All welcome! Water, tools, gloves, and snacks provided. Dress for sun, wind, or fog. More information at www.fivecreeks.org or f5creeks@aol.com.