Hike, Bike and Explore your butts off at Camp Mather — just keep in mind a few additional cautions this year due to the beetle problem and the wet winter.

Beetle Bugged Trees
You've likely heard already that many trees around Camp suffered from beetles and had to be removed. SF Rec & Park did careful inspections and removal of trees around Camp to ensure safety.

That said, when you hike outside Camp, be aware of the remaining brown trees, an indication the tree may be compromised and unsafe.

High Waters
Drought-busting rains and snowfall have brought full rivers and streams. Great for hikers, but be aware of the current moving faster than in past years, and that streams you crossed in the morning may to too high to cross on your return in the afternoon. With the heat of the afternoon, comes increased snow melt, and in some locations, higher water levels.

Want more details? Checkout this article from KQED News, Sierra Snowmelt is Raging

No get out there and have fun in and around Camp!

Met our 2017 General Store staff yet? Stop in and say hi. Call them by name — they're friendly! 

From left to right they're Emilio, Claudia, Mike, Catherine, Courtney, Kyle, and Logan.

A big thank you for all your hard work this summer!

The General Store is run by Friends of Camp Mather and the staff has been working hard to stock items campers need, want, crave, and forgot.

Stop in and have a look a the new items on the shelves, this year's t-shirts and hats, and breath in a bit of cool air in the process.

On a bright and sunny Independence Day, a crowd gathered to dedicate a plaque and celebrate Stephen Tyng Mather. Mather, the first director of the National Park Service, and namesake of Camp Mather, was born on July 4, 1867.

A tireless advocate for the National Parks when there was no cohesive plan in place, he served for 12 years as director and laid the foundations of the park system. The San Francisco Recreation and Park's department and Friends of Camp Mather chose to formally honor him on the 150th anniversary of his birth and the 100th anniversary of his appointment as Director by placing a plaque on the grounds of Camp Mather.

The plaque is the same one would find in most National Parks. It was created at the same foundry using the same cast as the ones placed in the 1930's. The ceremony included songs from the Mather staff, remarks by Camp Manager Larry McNesby, Friends of Camp Mather Vice President Gus Guibert, San Francisco Supervisor Mark Farrell, Naturalists Tom Graham and Neil Fahy, and Yosemite National Park Ranger Lisa Murphy. Resolutions from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. California Senate, and California Assembly were presented. 

Stephen T Mather was a San Francisco native, Lowell and Cal graduate, and San Francisco's family camp is fortunate to be named for such an outstanding native son. Words barely do justice to his American legacy, but the words inscribed on his plaque are a start:

"He laid the foundation of the National Park Service, defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved unimpaired for future generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done."

Special thanks to Tom Graham for all of his extensive efforts in leading the charge to place the plaque in Camp Mather and increase awareness of the Mather legacy.