Escape to Angel Island, enjoy the beautiful surroundings and meet visitors from all over the world.

Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. People drawn to the island share a love of the outdoors and an interest in our historic and cultural heritage. Volunteers also enjoy the privilege of traveling from the mainland to the island for free via public ferry and receive a discount on purchases at the Cove Cafe’.

Volunteers are needed at the Angel Island Conservancy’s Information Station Monday thru Friday during the hours of 10am to 3:30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4:30 pm. At the information station you will meet guests from all over the world and help them enjoy a great day on the island.

There’s no need to have prior knowledge of Angel Island and its history… those interested will attend a Volunteer Orientation to gain an overview of Angel Island State Park and the Park system. We’ll also provide you with reading material and “on the job” training.

For information and/or to register for the next orientation call: (415) 435-3972

Each year Angel Island State Park offers an overnight Living History Program (LHP) for fourth and fifth grade classes.

When the class arrives at the island, all participants become soldiers in the U.S. Army in the year 1864. They march to Camp Reynolds carrying their personal gear on their backs. Bunks are then assigned in the Quartermaster building for the night. During the day these new recruits receive training in militia drill, compass orienteering, mess cooking, bread baking, and flag signaling. In the evening a reconnaissance hike is made to Mount Livermore. Later that night, each squad is assigned a security watch period and must maintain a journal of their experiences. The next morning, park staff returns and utilizes a group of “soldiers” to help fire a twelve-pound, mountain howitzer cannon.

Each class is limited to 44 people of which no more than 11 can be adults (including the teacher). The program is offered twice each week and is supervised on site by a state park employee.

Those interested in this program for your class, complete the printable application, then mail, or fax it back to us. Program dates will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis. Teachers who return their applications first will be given priority for their date selection. Once accepted into the LHP, the teacher must attend a weekend workshop held on the island in September. Food and teaching materials are supplied for the workshop at a cost of $25 per person. Teachers participate in the program, as your students will – carrying all of your own equipment for 1 1/2 miles.

The LHP program offers 2 classes per week: 80 classes per year. The program fee is $15 per person with a maximum of 44 people. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required by September to hold the field trip date and will be subtracted from the remaining balance, which is to be paid two months before the program date. Trip cancellations under 30 days will not receive a full refund of program fees. The class must supply their own food (about $300 to $350) and pay transportation costs to and from the island. Once the program deposit is received, the park will notify the ferry company of the school ferry discount. This will reduce your ferry fee by $3 per adult and $2 per child. The school will still need to make reservations for the ferry.

The LHP program offers a personal experience of living in the past and has a profound effect on the student’s interest in history. Classes leave Angel Island with a greater understanding and connection to history.

For further information contact: Teri Pope, Interpreter I / Angel Island State Park LHP Coordinator: (415) 435-1915 or email aielp@parks.ca.gov

As you walk up the dirt road from Camp Reynolds past the old chapel you’ll notice a thick stand of trees with peeling bark and deep piles of green pointy leaves beneath the trees. This is one of the remaining examples of “Eucalyptus globulus” an invasive tree species that was introduced to Angel Island in the mid 1800’s. All of the Eucalyptus groves on the island were planted during the 83-year period of military occupation. These groves were established as a means of controlling erosion, forming windbreaks, and improving the appearance of the island.

The military’s use of Eucalyptus was in part a response to a nationwide concern for a reduction in hardwood timber supplies. The extraordinary increase of immigrants into California beginning in 1849 stimulated rapid development, resulting in the harvest of the state’s vast virgin timber stands. Used not only in construction but also as fuel, the need for wood products resulted in the increasing harvest of forest resources. According to a 1909 estimate, up to three million acres were being logged each year. By the turn of the century, concern for a wood shortage grew in California and throughout the country. In response to this, tree planting increased to a near patriotic duty. Large plantations of Eucalyptus, at one time covering up to 65,000 acres, were established to provide timber for dimension lumber, railroad ties, pilings and fuel.

Although initially accepted with great enthusiasm, the expected potential of Eucalyptus began to unravel when attempts were made to use the wood from these trees. The boom fizzled. It was found that eucalyptus wood could not be seasoned properly to do the things that had been anticipated. Tests of seasoning were performed and processes were structured for proper curing, but there was a great dissatisfaction with these. Eucalyptus wood warped, cracked, twisted, and became too tough once cured. The yields that were projected it was found would take too many years to be realized. The hardwood shortage that spurred the boom was resolved by the use of steel, cement, and other substitutes. Wagons and carriages were being replaced by metal automobiles thus ending that hardwood market. Using eucalyptus for fuel was diminished by the discovery and rising use of oil, gas, and electricity.

The boom ended. Lumber mills using exclusively eucalyptus timber closed. Furniture manufacturers moved back East. Plantation trees were sold for firewood. Pharmacologists dropped their support which meant that eucalyptus would not be used in most medicines. Prime agriculture land was returned to traditional crops. Nurseries unloaded their eucalyptus stock. Through the rest of the twentieth century eucalyptus would be used mostly for fuel, windbreaks, and in certain medicines.

The State Park system began a controversial project of removing most of the Eucalyptus groves from Angel Island in the early 90’s. Finally by 1996 all but 6 acres of trees had been removed by various methods including helicopters and conventional logging. Many of the amazing views from Angel Island are possible because of the tree removal project.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

1 pound fresh shelling beans (cranberry, butter beans one or assorted) shelled

1/4 pound rough chopped Chanterelle Mushrooms

1 small red onion chopped

3 cloves garlic chopped

6 whole roasted baby carrots

1 bunch dino kale chopped

two sprigs fresh thyme picked and chopped fine

1 sprig fresh sage chopped

salt

pepper

chili flakes

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup white wine

Shell beans and blanch in UNSALTED boiling water until soft but not mushy, drain and cool

Toss the carrots and onion in salt, pepper, olive oil and roast in oven at 400 degrees until soft, cool

In a large sautee pan add chanterelle mushrooms and toss until they release water and start to brown. Then add olive oil and garlic and toss until garlic starts to brown. Add all other ingredients except kale and sautee for 3 to four minutes add kale, butter, white wine and cook until soft. Salt and pepper and chili flakes to taste.

Victorian Christmas

November 12 & 13, 2011, Camp Reynolds

Join us for arts & crafts and make your own holiday ornament to take hom

Enjoy the smell and taste of hot apple cider and freshly baked cookies made in the historic brick oven of the cozy 1860s era Bake House. Tours of the historic Victorian officer’s quarters on site will be offered, as well as a traditional Camp Reynolds cannon firing to salute the season at noon and 1:30 pm each day.

For more information, call (415) 435-316.

Click here to download the flyer (PDF).

50 students from Martin Luther King Technology Academy in Sacramento took the first step toward becoming “Fit Kids” today in west marin. Mrs. Ruth Gilley’s eighth grade class participated in a field trip to Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales California. Stemple Creek is a family ranch that grows grassfed beef and sheep in an idyllic setting on a bluff overlooking Stemple Creek. The kids learned about raising grassfed beef and why it’s better for you and then got to enjoy a tasty barbeque prepared by visiting Chef Ed Vigil of Vin Antico Restaurant in San Rafael. The MLK students are learning that being a Fit Kid involves lots of things such as: exercising, making healthy eating decisions, doing well in school, being a team player and learning about the diverse history of California. The Fit Kid program, created and sponsored by the California Parks Company is nationally recognized. More information can be found at www.fitkid.com

Folks are always asking us how do we (the staff) get to the island—probably because we obviously get there before the first ferry. Boat captain Jedediah Keltner is our trusty pilot bringing staff and just about everything else we need on the island on over on “Duckey” our 24 foot Duckworth. Jed is ever smiling and can be found, when not on the boat, in the Cove Cantina on the weekends. If you ever—just happen to MISS THE LAST FERRY!–come find us and we’ll be happy to give you a ride!

There’s no better place to watch the Blue Angels air show than Battery Ledyard on Angel Island. Take the ferry from Tiburon on the hour from 10am and then stop by the cafe for a picnic lunch to go and a shuttle ticket. The Blue Angels shuttle will depart on the hour and 1/2 hour starting at 11:00 am. Mention this blog and get a free cup of coffee all day Saturday and Sunday!

Indian Summer has arrived on Angel Island and in celebration of unending sunny weekends we have extended the live music series until the end of the month. We brought back some of our favorites including a special Sunday performance on October 9th in honor of the Blue Angels flying. Bring your friends…eat oysters…drink Lagunitas beer and let’s celebrate Indian Summer.

The United States Immigration Station Museum is now open from 10-3 on weekends—no reservations and no tour tickets needed! There are docents and volunteers posted throughout the museum to answer any questions about the historical implications of the site. The entrance price is $5 for adults and $3 for children. A shuttle provides transportation from the Cove Cafe. The departure times are 10:40, 12:10 and 1:40. The last pick up is at the museum at 2:50.