Point Bonita Transition

The Point Bonita Y has operated as a branch of the YMCA of San Francisco (YSF) since 1977. Among the branch’s many successes are that it instilled Nature Engagement & Climate Justice as critical components of our youth development work and created a deep and lasting partnership with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and other local and national partners like NatureBridge.

We are pleased to highlight this partnership with NatureBridge. For the last year, they have been the sole provider of residential Environmental Education at the Point Bonita site as we piloted a new structure. Moving forward, they will continue this programming and YSF will transition out of the management of the Point Bonita property. YSF’s lease with the GGNRA for the Point Bonita site expires at the end of August, and after thoughtful review and evaluation, we have made the decision not to renew the lease.

We will focus instead on growing our Nature Engagement & Climate Justice programming through our org-wide youth development model, serving a much broader audience in our existing programs throughout the three counties (we will move the majority of the Point Bonita program portfolio to the Presidio branch as a new “home base”). In addition, our growing partnership with NatureBridge will now provide us with increased accessibility at both their locations in the Marin Headlands. Our history of caring for the Point Bonita campus and our relationship with NatureBridge and GGNRA will ensure this incredible space remains a place for outdoor education for generations of youth, families, and seniors to come.

Nature engagement is critical to our 2030 mission, vision, and values (it is represented in one of five strategic pillars in the 2030 vision, to “advance a safe, collaborative, and sustainable future”). We are so grateful to the Point Bonita branch staff and volunteers for their years of service, their leadership in this space, and their dedication to ensuring access to nature for all.