Every community would benefit immensely from having organizations like Golden Hour Restoration Institute playing roles in tying people and their places together. The East Bay is certainly better off because of the work that Golden Hour engages in. Restoration work gets done, and people have fun and learn a lot while doing it ("education through action"). In that way, the effects of Golden Hour's projects are lasting: sites are restored, native species are bolstered, and people end up caring even more about their places and spread the word. Keep up the good work!

As an environmental scientist working on vegetation management and habitat restoration in the East Bay, I have had the opportunity to work with Golden Hour RI through workshops and as a partner on restoration projects. I am impressed with Lech's knowledge of local flora, management techniques, and scientific integrity. His keen awareness of the vast ecological impacts that influence current habitat status and may affect future habitat is beneficial to many native species through responsible vegetation management. What really makes Golden Hour RI a cut-above the rest is the ability to combine this environmental expertise with an informative, passionate, and fun experience for any group, which makes biological conservation a pleasure. I have found that most conservation volunteers are hungry for knowledge about the ecological complexities of habitat restoration, Golden Hour fills this niche perfectly.

There are lots of conservation-minded nonprofits to be found, but Golden Hour stands out in its mission to educate volunteers and the public about environmental issues. There are many opportunities to get involved in feel-good projects like planting native species or removing invasives, but Golden Hour's projects help people understand the richer context of science and politics in which conservation takes place. This deeper understanding of restoration issues among the public is critical for long-term support and success of nearly any conservation issue.

Golden Hour provides the kind of direct training on the ground that is necessary for the current and next generations of conservation and restoration ecologists - getting people in touch with nature at this level builds long-term commitment and spreads the word. Practical and scientific approaches get the jobs done and educate effectively.

They are great at leveraging small grants into big results, and have been a great non-profit partner for several restoration projects.