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- The EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park
The EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park
The EcoCenter located in Heron’s Head Park serves as a classroom for many local schools, community-based organizations, and government agencies. The EcoCenter’s motto of discovering Nature through Hands-on learning is exhibited in their programming and seasonal workshops. Beyond the classroom, the EcoCenter includes an outdoor Nature Exploration Area, winner of UNICEF’s 2021 Cities Inspires Award, for the safe, clean, sustainable, and child-friendly environments category. Youth and families can play in the Create with Nature Zones, challenge their balance on the suspended rope bridge, hide in the tree cave or simply relax taking in the views and reflecting on the juxtaposition of the park and its Industrial surrounding.
The EcoCenter also offer days camps during the Summer and special events throughout the year! Visit our website often and sign-up to RPD’s newsletter to stay informed.
Open Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: (closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.)
EcoCenter Restrooms open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nature Exploration Area open from sunrise to sunset.
Parking- First come first serve in Heron’s Head Park Parking
EcoCenter Available for community rentals. See the rental page to learn details.
Report a Maintenance Issue
To report a maintenance or vandalism issue at this site, call 311, or click here.
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Free Community Programs
Self-guided Heron's Head Park Adventure Booklet
Explore and Learn --- School-year program; Last Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon
Join us and our partners, Edgewood Resource Center and Tandem partners in early learning, during our monthly bilingual interactive workshop for PreK youth on the last Tuesday of every month (minus December). Explore the park on a guided sensory hike and settle into our cushy mats for story time. Event is free and Bayview Pre-K youth and daycares. Masks highly encouraged for all participant of all attending adults. Must register to attend. For more information and to register, contact EcoCenter staff at ecocenterhhp@sfgov.org or (415) 676-1394.
Trail Talks --- Every Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m.
Join the EcoCenter staff for a casual nature walk along the trail of Heron’s Head Park. Participate to learn about the shoreline ecology, the history of the EcoCenter, and our ongoing programming. Prepare for the weather and we will see you at the EcoCenter!
Storytime Legends --- Dates vary from 10 a.m. to noon. See flier here.
Storytime legends engages children 3 to 7 years old and their families. Come in and enjoy a book reading with a corresponding hands-on activity. For more information and to RSVP, contact EcoCenter staff at ecocenterhhp@sfgov.org or (415) 676-1394.
Fieldtrips and Tours
Youth Stewardship Program (YSP)—This program serves K-12 youth and runs from September through May, or until full.
Book a guided field trip for your class. YSP exposes urban students to an outdoor learning environment that proves to be engaging and challenging. Students are taught science, environmental education, local natural and cultural history, social responsibility, a personal connection to their communities, and fundamental life skills. If you’re interested in incorporating a youth stewardship component to your curriculum, please complete a Youth Stewardship Program application. Someone from our Youth Services Volunteer Team will contact you within two weeks of receiving your application.
EcoCenter Tour/Fieldtrips--- This program is open for ALL ages year round.
Are you interested in scheduling a guided EcoCenter tour or fieldtrip to learn about the building’s green features and program offerings? Please complete our Request Form. To distinguish your request from a volunteer request, please type “EcoCenter Tour or Fieldtrip” in the notes/description box when prompted.
Recreation Programs
EcoCenter hosts a variety of recreation programs such as fishing and our annual Summer Camp. To learn more about these seasonal programs and register please visit www.sfrecpark.org/register or call (628) 652-2900.
For scholarship information: https://bit.ly/sfrpdscholarship or (415) 831-2717
For registration questions: sfreconline@sfgov.org or (415) 831-6800
Volunteer Experiences
Wetland Restoration Volunteer Work Party --- First Wednesday of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon.
Join us as and Golden Gate Audubon Society in removing invasive nonnative species from the wetlands including marine debris. Tools and guidance provided. To sign up, visit our volunteer calendar.
Nature Exploration Area Volunteer Work Party --- Third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon (Starting in May).
Come lend a hand and help weed, water, prune, remove trash and take care of the EcoCenter’s Nature Exploration Area and adjacent landscape. Tools and guidance provided. To sign up, visit our volunteer calendar.
Custom Volunteer Experience for your group or organization
Are interested getting your organization out of the office to connect with nature and give back while bonding as a team? Do you have a group 10+ friends and family that want to volunteer but nothing on our Volunteer Calendar works with your schedule? Look no further and start the process in coordinating your private volunteer experience with us at the EcoCenter at Heron’s Head Park. We’ll work with you to customize your experience while meeting the park’s needs. To get started, complete our Group Volunteer Request Form today!
EcoCenter Rental and Permits
Due to the EcoCenter's unique purpose and location, rentals are limited to community meetings, educational community events, programs, and public workshop. If your event falls within these categories, we’d love to share this space with you. To submit a rental request, please complete the Indoor Facility Application Form 2021 (formsite.com) To learn more about rental guidelines and costs, please visit our page in Permits and Reservation under indoor facility.
To learn more about any of these programs, please contact our EcoCenter staff at ecocenterhhp@sfgov.org or (415) 676-1394.
The EcoCenter Advisory Committee (EAC) was created to provide advice and support to EcoCenter staff to enhance EcoCenter programs, community engagement, and be ambassadors for the EcoCenter and its programs throughout the Southeast Community.
The EAC consists of a minimum of 10 members/organizations. These members represent the diversity of organizations within Southeast San Francisco as well as the diverse community in this region. Individual representatives and/or organizations may represent the education, community, government, environmental, faith based and/or corporate sectors.
Jarae Clark, MSW Executive Director-City of Dreams
Jacqueline Flin-Executive Director
Kurt Grimes- Program Manager
Lyslynn Lacoste-Director
Karen Pierce-Environmental Justice Program/Population Health Division
Jessica Campos- Head Start Program Manager
Annemarie Dompe- Community Advocate
Susie Wasserstrom-Friends of the Urban Forest
Angelique Thompkins- Bay.org Ecotarium Board Member and longstanding Bayview Hunter’s Point Community Advocate
Energy Systems-The EcoCenter produces and stores its own electrical energy via 24 solar photovoltaic panels (4.6 kilowatts) and a battery storage bank.
Wastewater Treatment-All water used at the EcoCenter is treated onsite. The processes involve irradiation of effluent and incorporation of a constructed wetland for further purification.
Rainwater Harvesting-The EcoCenter captures rainwater that falls on the roof in three 4,800 gallon tanks. These tanks supply water to the living roof and surrounding landscaping.
Native Plants Landscape-Only native plants are used for the living roof at the EcoCenter. Because native plants evolved over thousands to millions of years, they are adapted to our climate and soils.
Permeable Pavement-All pathways are made of permeable materials that permit the movement of stormwater through its surfaces into the ground below. This is important since there is no tie-in to the sewer system of the City.
Living Roof-Covered with native plants, the living (or green) roof absorbs rainwater, thus reducing stormwater runoff from the building that could cause erosion.
Sustainable Building Materials-The EcoCenter was created using an extensive array of sustainably harvested, sourced, reused, and recycled materials, as well as energy and resource efficient design features and fixtures.