Annual Report 2007 - Northern California Hostels

HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL USA 

GOLDEN GATE COUNCIL 

Annual Report 2007

welcome 

Dear Friends, 

We are delighted to share with you our mission achievements and financial 

results in this 2007 Annual Report. In addition, this year’s report highlights 

the environmental aspects of our hostels and programs, which move us 

toward our vision of inspiring hostellers to be “stewards of the earth.” 

Over the past year, our 10 Golden Gate Council hostels have made many 

improvements which add comfort and value for our guests. The hostel 

staffs have embraced the Quality Standards set by Hostelling International 

USA, working hard not only to meet them, but to exceed them. All have 

achieved high scores on their annual evaluations—in fact, nine out of ten 

received scores of more than 100% by earning bonus points for their environmental 

conservation measures. 

We celebrated two important anniversaries this year. More than 1,000 people 

turned out to mark the 25th anniversary of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse 

Hostel with a festival of music and dance, tours and exhibits, crafts and 

activities. The Redwood Hostel had a more intimate party to celebrate its 

20th anniversary, which brought together hostellers, National Park Service 

staff from 1987 and today, and members of the DeMartin family, whose 

ancestors built the original homestead and lived there until the 1950s. 

We are very excited to introduce new cultural programs in addition to 

our long-standing outdoor environmental programming. For example, the 

Marin Headlands Hostel hosted a Cultural Kitchen weekend for 58 Girl 

Scouts who shared the food and culture of Jamaica, China, Italy, the Philippines, 

and India. At the Sacramento Hostel, a local Girl Scout troop created 

a mural through the Community Walls program, to share their perspectives 

on their hometown with hostellers from around the world. Several World 

Travel 101 workshops enlightened young people about how to travel affordably, 

safely, and respectfully. In all, more than 1,500 young people participated 

in an array of mission-based programs! We have launched a new 

website focused on our program offerings at HostelAdventures.org. 

Financially, with more people traveling, we have increased overnights and 

are continuing to improve our bottom line, enabling us to invest in all of 

our hostels, and to gain equity in the Council-owned San Francisco City 

Center Hostel. 

We are doing well while doing good. We wish to thank the many people 

who contribute to our success: our talented staff, dedicated board, motivated 

volunteers, and generous supporters. 

Sincerely, 

Walter Knoepfel Barbara Wein 

President Executive Director 

CONTENTS 

Being Green 1 

The ongoing greening of our hostels and 

programs 

Getting Green-Certified 2 

Marin Headlands and Point Reyes Hostels 

become certified green businesses 

Going Green in the City 4 

by the Bay 

Cafe Franco’s Healthy Traveler Initiative 

& Green Facilities Practices at HI-San 

Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf 

Green Educational 6 

Programs 

Outdoor Hostel Adventures introduce 

urban youth to the natural world 

Serving Green 8 

Organizations 

Tahoe-Baikal Institute & Pigeon Point 

Environmental Education Program 

Voices 10 

Who We Are: Donors, volunteers, and 

staff speak out 

Celebrating 25 Years 14 

HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse 

Celebrating 20 Years 15 

HI-Redwood National Park 

Financial Reports 16 

Thank You 18 

Donor Acknowledgements 

In Memorium 20

Kermit sings, “It’s not that easy being green.” Yet with 

all the recent attention on global warming, it seems 

like almost everyone is jumping on the green bandwagon, 

from oil companies to hotel chains. 

For Hostelling International, our green wagon is already 

a long way down the track. The commitment to preserving 

the environment and operating hostels in a sustainable 

manner is neither trendy nor new. 

Since its earliest beginnings in Germany, the hostelling 

movement has focused on taking 

youth out of the city to experience 

and appreciate the natural world. In 

the old days, hostellers were expected 

to get to hostels by traveling under 

their own steam (e.g. hiking or biking, 

or using public transportation). And 

hostels have been masters at operating 

their facilities in a sustainable manner and leaving a 

small footprint. 

These traditions are the result of both our organizational 

ethic and economic necessity. In order to keep the costs 

low for hostellers, we have always solicited their help in 

conserving resources. The very model of a hostel, where 

people share space and live cooperatively, is more environmentally 

friendly than each person occupying their own 

room, as in a hotel. 

being green 

The ongoing greening of our hosTels and programs 

by Barbara Wein, executive director of hi-usa golden gate Council 

“The commitment to 

preserving the environment 

and operating hostels in 

a sustainable manner is 

neither trendy nor new.” 

The Golden Gate Council’s hostels in Northern California 

have been leaders in adopting sustainable practices, and 

increasing public access to the outdoors with their wonderful 

National and State Park locations. The Sustainable 

Living Center Action Guide created by Hostelling International 

USA, and the Environmental Charter from the 

International Youth Hostel Federation, have informed and 

inspired our hostels to become greener. 

Programmatically, our staff and volunteers have provided 

environmental education and outdoor adventures to San 

Francisco Bay Area youth for nearly 

40 years. Through these programs, 

some 1,400 young people per year 

are turned on to the natural world 

and learn about stewardship for our 

National and State Parks. 

At the same time, our hostels and 

programs do not rest on their laurels. We continue to work 

on improving the sustainability of our operations and programming, 

and to influence others to do the same. Leading 

by example, our environmental practices demonstrate a 

conservation ethic to more than 200,000 overnight guests 

annually. 

Our guests return to their communities with newfound 

knowledge and appreciation for simple ways individuals 

can make a difference. In this way, our hostels succeed in 

spreading environmental stewardship around the world. 

Top left to right: hi-san francisco City Center; hi-san francisco downtown; hi-san francisco fisherman’s Wharf; hi-marin headlands; hi-point montara lighthouse. Bottom 

left to right: hi-pigeon point lighthouse; hi-redwood national park; hi-point reyes; hi-sacramento; hi-hidden Villa. 

norCalhostels.org 1

What does it mean to be green? 

Hostels pioneered the modern meaning of the word 

“green” before we ever heard that term referencing 

environmental sustainability. People sleeping in bunk beds 

in the same room—instead of a conventional hotel room 

(one person, one room, one king-sized bed, one bathroom, 

one television, and one lock)—is about as “green” as you 

can get in the hospitality industry. 

I recently stayed in a hotel (because there was no hostel 

nearby) where they gave me the option of having my 

sheets laundered every day or not until I checked out. This 

is a great new step that the hotel industry is taking to conserve 

resources; it’s also something that hostels have always 

done, along with much more. 

Hiking, bicycling, or taking the train from hostel to hostel, 

sharing moments with other people, living on pennies and 

having the time of your life—these are the images I get of 

the first hostellers in this country. I believe that this is still 

the essence of hostelling. It would be a natural progression 

for Hostelling International USA to lead the way in 

sustainable lodging. With the recent Green Initiative as a 

main topic at the 2007 National Operators Meeting, it’s 

clear that we want to. 

What does it mean to be “green?” To me it means more 

than recycling and buying one-ply toilet paper. It starts 

with communities. “Think globally, act locally,” is a phrase 

that has been around for almost 40 years. Acting on these 

words is what will really make a difference, with all of the 

compounded social and environmental problems we face 

today. We all need to take care of our neighbors, support 

local family farms, and buy goods and services from people 

within our communities rather than “big box” stores. 

Communities are an endangered species, and the concept 

of sharing and being communal with other people really 

getting green-certified 

marin headlands and poinT reyes hosTels 

BeCome CerTified green Businesses 

by hanna morris, general manager of hi-point reyes 

hanna morris began working as a hostel assistant at hi-marin headlands in 2002, and was promoted to deputy general manager in 

2005. in march of 2007, she became general manager of hi-point reyes. 

Through her leadership, both HI-Marin Headlands and HI-Point Reyes have become certified green businesses. 

2 annual report 2008 

is a “green” idea. The act of taking care of each other is 

absolutely necessary for any kind of sustainable society. 

Indeed the mission of Hostelling International is fostering 

cooperation and a sense of community in the hostel environment, 

in a world that is increasingly isolating. 

As consumers, we often fall into the “what is the cheapest 

possible option” rut. This line of thinking can keep initial 

financial costs down, but we all pay the higher price of a 

compromised environment. 

It is continually proven, in the hotel industry and many 

other fields of businesses, that customers appreciate conservation 

measures, and that they are in fact looking for 

them. The greening of businesses also boosts employee 

moral, not just because staff know they’re not poisoning 

themselves with the products they have to work with, but 

“What information and experiences 

our visitors take home 

reverberate throughout their 

lives and the lives of others.” 

also because they know that they’re working for an organization 

that’s doing the right thing. 

It’s just plain good for business. Even if you were only 

concerned with numbers, it’s a competitive marketing tool. 

I believe this is the edge that will differentiate us from other 

hostels and types of accommodation. 

The “living simply” model of hostels, HI’s commitment 

to conserving resources, reduced consumption, recycling, 

protection of natural environments, environmental education, 

as well as fostering interpersonal connection with 

people from different backgrounds—these things already 

set us apart from other hostel/hotel businesses. We have 

the unique opportunity to reach out to thousands of

people every day. We should take full advantage, and be a model for others to emulate. 

What information and experiences our visitors take home reverberate throughout 

their lives and the lives of others. “Live simply, so that others may simply live.” 

What does it mean to be green-certified? 

The Bay Area Green Business Program was developed to recognize businesses 

in the San Francisco Bay Area that comply with environmental regulations and 

take steps to conserve energy and water, reduce waste, prevent pollution, and operate 

more sustainably. By providing independent evaluation and certification, the program 

allows consumers to identify and support businesses that are more environmentally 

responsible, and in doing so, contribute to making their communities greener. 

Conserving Energy and Water 

The process of certification starts with energy and water audits by local utilities. These 

audits suggest ways to conserve natural resources, such as replacing inefficient appliances, 

using compact fluorescent light bulbs, improving insulation, and installing lowflow 

toilets and showerheads. 

The biggest project HI-Marin Headlands undertook to achieve certification was replacement 

of toilets to meet the low-flow requirement. Luckily, the hostel was able 

to take advantage of a program of the Marin Municipal Water District, which paid 

for all of the parts and labor, as well as disposal of inefficient toilets. HI-Point Reyes 

was already equipped with low-flow toilets, showerheads, and washing machine. Both 

hostels switched to using only compact fluorescent light bulbs. 

Recycling and Reducing Waste 

The second part of the certification process looks at what businesses do to reduce 

solid waste and recycle. Many of the requirements focus on limiting consumption of 

paper and paper products, by buying products with the least amount of packaging 

and largely recycled content, reusing office paper and envelopes, and recycling paper 

waste. 

Both staff and guests at HI-Marin Headlands and HI-Point Reyes recycle paper, glass, 

aluminum, tin, and plastic, and HI-Point Reyes also composts food waste. Both hostels 

use recycled paper products—from office paper to toilet paper—and staff employ 

conservation methods like printing paper on both sides. 

Preventing Pollution 

Pollution prevention is the final aspect of the certification process. The evaluation 

looks at what cleaning products you use, types of paint, maintenance materials, pesticides, 

herbicides, and fertilizers. 

As part of the certification, both HI-Marin Headlands and HI-Point Reyes switched 

to 100% post-consumer recycled, non-chlorine bleached office paper, which not only 

saves trees, but also helps keep chlorine out of our water tables. 

Green-certification also evaluates transportation for your employees, whether they 

drive, take public transportation, or get there under their own steam. Both hostels 

have on-site housing for all employees, so we aced that test! 

In truth, the certification process was fairly easy for both hostels. We had already adopted 

many of the required practices, most of which are covered under the Golden 

Gate Council’s Green Hostel Initiative, begun more than a decade ago. 

Thanks to Dana Armanino, coordinator of the Green Business Program for Marin County, who is creative 

and easy to work with, and thanks to Hostelling International for their commitment to conservation and 

environmental stewardship! 

HI-Marin Headlands 

fort Barry Building 941 

sausalito, Ca 94965 

(415) 331-2777 

marinhostel.org 

HI-Point Reyes 

1390 limantour spit road 

point reyes, Ca 94956 

(415) 663-8811 

pointreyeshostel.org 

norCalhostels.org 3

going green 

in the city by the bay 

CafÉ franCo’s healThy TraVeler iniTiaTiVe 

by danny Chase, food services manager for the three hi-san francisco hostels 

Café franco at the san francisco fisherman’s Wharf hostel serves espresso drinks and three meals a day to travelers and locals, in 

addition to providing box lunches and catering for groups. 

Café Franco has always been dedicated to offering the best quality foods at the 

lowest possible prices to our many guests. 

Starting in winter 2006, Café Franco began adding more organic ingredients and 

products, implementing composting and recycling systems, acquiring the latest in biodegradable 

utensils, napkins, and to-go packaging, and upgrading the hostel’s vending 

machines to include 50% organic and healthy snacks. We are dedicated to providing 

our guests with the healthiest food options, as well as the opportunity to participate in 

San Francisco’s groundbreaking recycling and composting programs. 

Café Franco serves fair-trade organic coffee, organic teas, rBST-free milk and creamer, 

organic soy milk, and organic raw and cane sugar. Organic vegetables are used in 

prepared menu items such as salads, and sandwiches are prepared with hormone-free 

deli meats. The café also offers organic vegetarian soups, energy bars, and fruits for 

sale. In addition, Café Franco provides healthier snack options in the hostel’s vending 

machines, including baked and kettle-cooked chips, multi-grain snacks, trail mix, nuts 

and seeds, organic Clif bars, and non-soda beverage options like 100% juices. 

Café Franco uses biodegradable/recycled napkins, utensils, to-go packaging, and trash 

bags, and has shifted many of its disposable items from plastic or foil to paper and 

wood, in order minimize waste and introduce more compostable items (such as wood 

coffee stirrers, wax-paper butter pats, and paper bags). We have also provided guests 

with vivid, colorful displays and signage to encourage participation in our recycling 

program. 

Café Franco is continually seeking more ways to keep our guests healthy and happy 

and is committed to providing the best products available to compliment our Healthy 

Traveler Initiative. 

HI-San Francisco Fisherman’s 

Wharf 

fort mason Building 240 

san francisco, Ca 94123 

(415) 771-7277 

sfhostels.com 

left to right: entrance to fort mason; view of alcatraz from hi-san francisco fisherman’s Wharf; rear view of hi-san francisco fisherman’s Wharf; dorm room; fort mason 

and golden gate Bridge from hi-san francisco fisherman’s Wharf. 

4 annual report 2008

green faCiliTies praCTiCes aT 

hi-san franCisCo fisherman’s Wharf 

by Jon dockery, facilities manager 

HAZARDOUS 

MATERIALS 

● 

our facility has dramatically reduced its 

use of toxic cleaning products, and substitutes 

nontoxic alternatives (borax, vinegar, etc.) wherever 

possible. 

● 

We donate old paint for reuse, and avoid using high- 

VoC products (oil-based paints, sealers, and solvents) 

whenever we can. 

● 

We also abide by national park service integrated 

pest management guidelines to reduce 

or eliminate our use of hazardous 

pesticides and herbicides. 

ENERGY AND WATER 

CONSUMPTION 

● 

All toilets, faucets, and showerheads are low-flow 

rated, and are checked regularly for drips and leaks. 

Our laundry facilities use water-saving, high-efficiency, 

front-loading washers. 

● 

Wherever possible, we use only fluorescent lighting. 

exterior lighting is regulated by photo sensors 

and/or motion detectors. interior lighting is reduced 

or turned off in daylight hours. all exit signage has 

been converted to energy-saving led bulbs. 

● 

We purchase only energy-star rated appliances and 

office equipment. 

● 

all cooking appliances in the hostel use energy-efficient 

natural gas. 

● 

Our new high-efficiency steam boiler has reduced 

both energy consumption and emissions by 75% 

compared to our previous unit. 

RECYCLING AND RE-USE 

● 

We run an aggressive recycling program which includes bottles, cans, cardboard, and paper recycling, as well as 

composting. all of our food waste and yard waste is composted, and more than 90% of our paper towels are 

recaptured for composting. We have recycling bins located in every guest room, as well as in both kitchens and 

the cafe. 

● 

our hostel uses only 100% recycled (40% post-consumer waste) chlorine-free paper products (paper towels 

and toilet paper). our restroom and kitchen soap dispensers are made from recycled materials and are 100% 

recyclable when empty. We use recycled-content office paper and double-sided copying whenever possible. 

● 

all spent light bulbs and ballasts are shipped out for full mercury recycling at a licensed reclamation facility. all 

empty toner and printer cartridges are returned to the factory to be refurbished and refilled. All spent batteries 

(dry-cell, wet-cell, rechargeable, and lithium) are sorted and returned to the appropriate recycling facilities. 

● 

We make every effort to repair broken or malfunctioning computers, appliances, tools, or equipment before 

replacing them. Equipment that cannot be repaired is disposed of in strict accordance with state and local laws, 

and is recycled if possible. We also donate old office equipment, furniture, fixtures, and linens for reuse whenever 

possible. 

norCalhostels.org 5

green educational programs 

ouTdoor hosTel adVenTures 

inTroduCe urBan youTh To The naTural World 

by michael yoshioka, educational programs Coordinator for hi-usa golden gate Council 

The outdoor hostel adventure program has been introducing urban youth to the natural world for more than 20 years. This experiential, 

environmental education program is targeted towards youth in grades K-12, and is available at hi-marin headlands, hi-point 

montara lighthouse, and hi-point reyes. 

“Though I do not believe that a plant will 

spring up where no seed has been, I have 

great faith in a seed. Convince me that you 

have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect 

wonders.” —Henry David Thoreau 

Like seeds before the healthy strivings of tomorrow’s 

tallest trees, most Outdoor Hostel Adventures begin in 

a simple and similar way: A bus pulls into the hostel parking 

lot at 10 a.m., rattling with the excitement of Northern 

California’s urban youth inside. Overnight bags are quickly 

unloaded and day packs stocked with water, lunches, jackets, 

and journals. In a matter of minutes, a group is circled 

in front of the hostel, beginning introductions under the 

slow spiraling gaze of a turkey vulture. 

The first questions posed to the participants are straighforward: 

“Where are we?” and “Who does this place belong 

to?” 

The first question results in one of three answers: the Marin 

Headlands, Point Reyes, or Point Montara. Put simply, the 

group has arrived at one of California’s most ecologically 

valuable National or State Parks. 

The second question, “Who does this place belong to?” 

results in a range of answers, but through further investigative 

and collaborative dialogue participants come to a 

realization: This park belongs to us. 

With these two simple introductory questions, our participating 

youth begin to establish their sense of place within, 

and ownership of, our region’s most beautiful and ecologically 

significant areas—their values for the environment 

begin to take root. 

As owners of these public lands, Outdoor Hostel Adventure 

participants are charged with the responsibilities of 

exploring the natural world, discovering environmental 

concepts and values, and actively expressing their vision 

for the future of our environment. This type of healthy 

youth development, like a seed’s sun-striving sprout, is a 

natural human right, and it is with great pleasure that the 

Golden Gate Council enjoys the privilege of creating the 

fertile opportunities for such growth. 

Top left to right: latchkey program at marin headlands; frick middle school at point montara; latchkey program at marin headlands; girl scouts at marin headlands; frick 

middle school at point montara. Bottom left to right: yick Wo elementary school at marin headlands; John morse Waldorf school at point reyes; girl scouts at marin headlands; 

yick Wo at marin headlands; sierra gardens elementary school at marin headlands. 


OUTDOOR HOSTEL ADVENTURE 

PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, 2006–2007 

allendale elementary school 

(oakland, Ca) 

Buena Vista elementary school 

(san francisco, Ca) 

Claire lilienthal school 


Clarendon elementary school 


Cornerstone family school 

(Concord, Ca) 

edison Charter academy 


fairmont elementary school 

(el Cerrito, Ca) 

frick middle school 

(oakland, Ca) 

Japanese Bilingual Bicultural program – West 


Jefferson elementary school 

(Berkeley, Ca) 

lafayette elementary 

(lafayette, Ca) 

lincoln elementary school 


live oak Charter school 

(petaluma, Ca) 

longfellow middle school 

(Berkeley, Ca) 

manzanita Charter school 


mcKinley elementary 


Pacific Rim International School 

(emeryville, Ca) 

r. l. stevenson elementary school 


rooftop elementary school 


ruus elementary school 

(hayward, Ca) 

sanchez elementary school 


sarah Winnemucca elementary school 

(reno, nV) 

sierra gardens elementary school 

(roseville, Ca) 

st. John’s school 


Valencia elementary school 


Waldorf school 


yick Wo elementary school 


girl scouts of northern California 

latchkey program, san francisco recreation 

and park department 

over the past year, more than 1,400 youth have gone on outdoor hostel adventures, 

many subsidized by scholarships provided through the generosity of our donors. in 

addition to the school groups and girl scout troops we serve, the outdoor hostel 

Adventure program has established ongoing relationships with three fellow nonprofits 

in providing environmental education and leadership development training for youth. 

A Home Away From Homelessness 

For many urban youth it can be difficult to envision a future beyond the 

bustle and burden of their inner-city neighborhoods. In 2007, the Golden 

Gate Council again partnered with A Home Away From Homelessness to 

provide park access and outdoor, environmental experiences to some of San 

Francisco’s most deserving youth. 

A Home Away is a respite program for shelter-based children with the goal 

of providing safe and fun places where children can be temporarily relieved 

of the stresses of being homeless—a place where they can “just be kids.” 

The Outdoor Hostel Adventure program works to help these children find 

their footing and reach for new heights, as they explore windswept coastal 

scrub by day and starry skies by night. 

Skylab Youth Leadership Program 

The environmental education provided by Outdoor Hostel Adventures 

continues to inspire youth to community engagement. In 2007, the 

Golden Gate Council again partnered with Cottage Housing Incorporated, a 

Sacramento-based organization that provides services to families transitioning 

out of homelessness. Their Skylab Youth Leadership Program identifies 

and cultivates youth artists and community leaders. 

Each semester 6–8 youth are selected by their peers to participate in Skylab’s 

intensive semester-long training program, during which they become active 

participants in their community. Last year, their leadership training began 

with a weekend retreat at the Marin Headlands Hostel, where youth made 

discoveries about the natural world. Based on these discoveries, they generated 

a list of guiding environmental principles and values, before deciding on 

an environmental community project to pursue for the semester. 

Coro Exploring Leadership Fellows 

It is not enough that we bring urban youth to these parks and provide them 

with environmental education—we must also give them the tools to envision 

themselves as the creative and empowered environmental leaders of 

tomorrow. In 2007, the Golden Gate Council again partnered with the Coro 

Center for Civic Leadership, to provide environmentally-based leadership 

training for their 2007 Exploring Leadership Fellows. 

Exploring Leadership is a summer and after-school program that engages 

high school students to become active citizens who have the tools to participate 

in and improve their communities. During the second week of the 

program, 36 Youth Fellows from San Francisco and the East Bay venture out 

of their urban neighborhoods and head to the Marin Headlands and Point 

Reyes hostels, for overnight retreats that focus on environmental education, 

leadership development, and team-building. Through these Outdoor Hostel 

Adventures, Youth Fellows learn that caring about the health of their community 

means caring about the health of the environment, and that true 

community leadership requires sincere environmental stewardship. 

norCalhostels.org 7

serving green organizations 

Golden Gate Council hostels are important resources for many nonprofit organizations engaged in environmental work, from political 

advocacy to education to scientific research. Here are just two examples of these successful partnerships. 

Tahoe-BaiKal insTiTuTe 

hi-saCramenTo, hi-marin headlands & hi-san franCisCo 

fisherman’s Wharf 

by Jennifer C. smith, programs director for the Tahoe-Baikal institute 

T he 

Tahoe-Baikal Institute (TBI) was established in 1990 

to help preserve Lake Tahoe in California and Lake 

Baikal in Siberia, as well as other significant and threatened 

lake ecosystems around the world. 

TBI’s flagship program is the annual Summer 

Environmental Exchange (SEE), 

a 10-week program for up to 20 North 

American, Russian, Mongolian, and other 

international participants, including students 

and young professionals. From June 

to August, participants spend five weeks at 

Lake Baikal and five weeks at Lake Tahoe, 

learning about the natural and cultural history 

of the Tahoe and Baikal watersheds, 

as well as current initiatives in environmental 

science and policy. 

For many years, TBI has chosen to stay 

at Hostelling International hostels 

while we are in the San Francisco Bay Area 

and in Sacramento. 

We typically spend a few nights at the Sacramento 

Hostel while we are in the Capitol 

to learn about the California state legislative 

system and to meet with representatives 

of the California Resources Agency, 

the California Energy Commission, the 

state Attorney General’s office, and the 

State Water Resources Control Board. We specifically like 

the Sacramento Hostel because of its convenient location 

near the Capitol and the offices of the other environmental 

agencies that we meet with. 

We always include at least one, if not two, weekends in the 

Bay Area, and have historically spent a few nights at both 

HI-Marin Headlands and HI-San Francisco Fisherman’s 


HI-Sacramento 

925 h street 

sacramento, Ca 95814 

(916) 443-1691 

sacramentohostel.org 

Wharf. We like the Marin Headlands Hostel because of its 

more remote and natural setting; we typically stay there for 

a night or two at the beginning of the program when we 

are trying to introduce the participants 

to each other and do a number of teambuilding 

activities. The San Francisco 

Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel is a perfect 

place for the group to stay the last few 

days they are in the U.S. before they leave 

for Russia, when they can take advantage 

of all of San Francisco’s sightseeing, 

shopping, and cultural opportunities. 

In general, we like to arrange accommodations 

in hostels for several reasons: the 

affordable cost, the community living atmosphere 

(which is an important theme 

throughout our exchange), and the opportunity 

for our participants to interact 

with other hostel guests. 

As Programs Director for the Institute, 

I personally appreciate the fact 

that the hostels all offer interpretive information 

about their buildings, neighborhoods, 

cities, etc. I am also happy to 

know that I can find accommodations 

for my group with another organization 

that includes environmental stewardship 

as part of its mission. This helps me model for my program 

participants that making environmentally conscious 

choices can (and should) be a part of all program planning 

and business models. 

For more information, please visit tahoebaikal.org.

pigeon poinT enVironmenTal eduCaTion program 

hi-pigeon poinT lighThouse 

by heidi plowe, ppeep program director & Tracey Weiss, ppeep executive director 

Established in 1985, the Pigeon Point Environmental 

Education Program (PPEEP) is one of the three 

programs of Exploring New Horizons, a nonprofit organization 

dedicated to enriching the lives of young people 

through awareness and understanding of the beauty and 

diversity of nature and each other. 

Exploring New Horizons strives to 

nurture intelligent, active citizens who 

will work together to create a healthy 

and sustainable environment and society. 

This coordinates with the mission 

of Hostelling International, which is “dedicated to 

promoting intercultural understanding, environmental 

stewardship, and world peace through travel.” Hostelling 

International and PPEEP are an example of a positive 

partnership between nonprofit organizations who help 

one another to accomplish their goals and 

more completely fulfill their missions. 

Elementary and secondary school students 

from throughout California 

and Nevada attend the Pigeon Point Environmental 

Education Program, which 

offers a range of day and overnight trips. 

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse provides an 

exceptional location for environmental 

education due its rich cultural and natural 

history. 

Nearby tidepools provide an outdoor laboratory 

for students to have a hands-on 

experience with a wide array of colorful 

inter-tidal invertebrates. Pigeon Point also 

offers ample marine mammal watching 

opportunities, from the California grey 

whale migrations to the resident harbor 

seals. In addition, Pigeon Point is located 

in close proximity to other dynamic outdoor 

classrooms, including the northern 

elephant seal rookery of Año Nuevo State 

Reserve and the old-growth redwood forest 

of Memorial County Park. 

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel’s 

facilities are a key component to the success of PPEEP. 

The hostel dorms which house participants, and the guest 

kitchens where they cook their meals, provide a comfort- 

“The pigeon point lighthouse 

hostel’s facilities are 

a key component to the 

success of ppeep.” 

able, homey atmosphere, and act as a base for PPEEP activities. 

Many teachers and parent chaperones, who are an integral 

part of the program, comment that it feels like they are 

“on vacation” while staying in the hostel houses. While 

dishwashing after a meal is considered 

a cumbersome chore by many people, 

the ocean-view windows of the hostel 

kitchens make it an enjoyable experience. 

The hostel tradition of asking 

visitors to clean up after themselves is 

carried into the PPEEP experience, as students learn selfresponsibility 

and teamwork through the completion of 

chores to keep the hostel space tidy throughout their stay. 

The Fog Signal Building, which is managed by the Pigeon 

Point Lighthouse Hostel, serves another important function 

for PPEEP. Not only does the building 

itself provide a wealth of historical information 

and interpretive displays, meals 

are served and enjoyed family-style there. 

Additionally, evening campfire programs 

with songs and the famously entertaining 

elephant-seal puppet show are held 

in the Fog Signal Building. This building 

provides a perfect gathering space for the 

group, and the picturesque wood-burning 

stove creates a warm atmosphere that 

makes the community camaraderie of 

PPEEP programs flourish. 


210 pigeon point road 

pescadero, Ca 94060 

(650) 879-0633 

pigeonpointhostel.org 

The partnership between PPEEP and 

the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel 

is one that is mutually supportive in goal 

and function. The facilities of the hostel 

provide what we need to successfully run 

a comfortable and safe environmental 

education program in an excellent location. 

Likewise, the focus and mission of 

PPEEP is one that highly coordinates 

with the mission of Hostelling International—we 

both strive to engage today’s 

youth, promote a greater understanding 

and appreciation of our natural world, and cultivate a sense 

of connection with the greater global community. 

For more information, please visit exploringnewhorizons.org. 

norCalhostels.org 9

Who We are 

donors, VolunTeers, and sTaff speaK ouT 

voices 

hi-usa golden gate Council’s hostels and programs exist because of the hard work and dedication of our 140 staff members, hundreds 

of donors, and dozens of committed volunteers. 

here we introduce a few team members, who share their personal experiences with hostelling international, and talk about why they’re 

devoted to its mission. 

gary emich has been a leadership Circle donor to hi-usa 

golden gate Council’s hostel adventure program since 2004. 

As a young child, my aunt unknowingly and unwittingly 

ignited my love and passion of the outdoors and 

travel, and spawned my wild imagination of all the adventures 

that are out there to be had during one’s life. Several 

years ago she decided that she was tired of writing Christmas 

and birthday checks, calculated how much longer she 

was going to live, did the math, and gave me all the future 

money in a lump sum. 

At about the same time, I attended a fundraising concert 

given by George Winston and discovered Hostelling International. 

What particularly seized my emotions was the 

Hostel Adventure Program that affords inner-city kids the 

opportunity to spend a few days in the Marin Headlands, 

connecting with nature. 

I decided then and there that I would use the annual interest 

from my aunt’s money to sponsor a Hostel Adventure 

Program, hoping that perhaps each year, at least one kid 

would be influenced the way that I was by my aunt. 

In reading the descriptions of what these youngsters experience 

during and after a Hostel Adventure Program, I am 

always astounded that many live within 10 or 20 miles of 

the ocean but have never seen it before and have similarly 

never been in a wide-open natural space. They are full of 


awe and surprise 

at 

what many 

of us take 

for granted: 

flowers, 

wildlife, seashells, 

hills, trails, the smell 

of the outdoors and the 

sea. 

And when I consider the 

relatively inexpensive cost 

to provide this opportunity—about 

what you might 

expect to spend on a good 

“i am so very thankful 

that hostelling 

international can 

make such a 

potential impact 

on otherwise 

disadvantaged youths.” 

dinner and night out at the theater—I am so very thankful 

that Hostelling International can make such a potential 

impact on otherwise disadvantaged youths. I don’t have the 

time to volunteer to help improve these kids’ lives, but I 

thank HI for having a program in place that I can help to 

fund instead. 

Thanks to my aunt, I continue to travel and have adventure 

after adventure. In the same way, hopefully HI and I similarly 

can change the future for these young kids.

erin harvey is an intern working as the educational programs 

assistant for hi-usa golden gate Council, while pursuing a master’s 

degree in Nonprofit Management. 

After graduating from college in 2006, I took a chance 

and traveled to the most remote place I could imagine. 

I landed in a small rural village in Malawi, Africa. As 

I lived and taught in the village school my experience encouraged 

me to understand the importance of education 

through travel. 

It was truly an uncomfortable experience to be surrounded 

by a culture so different from my own. I was the only young 

white woman for miles and it was challenging learning how 

to relate with others. By attending local events, teaching 

classes, and living among the villagers I began to notice a 

change in the way I felt. As time went on, it was the reassurance 

and acceptance of the community that made me 

feel at ease. 

It was in that village, enveloped in the ancient traditions 

of the community, that I finally understood the course my 

own life would be taking. I wanted to take my experiences 

of another culture and community and educate others on 

the importance of diverse encounters. 

After my move back to the United States, I enrolled in a 

nonprofit management program at the University of San 

Francisco and began looking for local organizations to work 

for. I chose to volunteer for HI because it unites three es- 

sentialcomp o n e n t s : 

travel, education, 

and 

community. 

I believe 

these elements combine 

to create a wonderful atmosphere 

for all people 

to learn about the world 

around them, and I wanted 

to be a part of an organization 

that upheld similar 

beliefs. 

Jeff parry is the general manager of hi-pigeon point lighthouse, and 

has worked for the golden gate Council since 1997. 

Back in 1986, when I was a junior at Palo Alto High 

School, a friend who was going to Europe for a 

month to visit relatives convinced me to join him. My parents 

were thrilled to help me expand my cultural horizons 

abroad, and I remember driving up to the Golden Gate 

Council’s travel store in San Francisco to get my Hostelling 

International membership card and Eurail pass. 

The whirlwind trip took me to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, 

Italy, France, and Denmark. My eyes were really 

opened by meeting so many interesting people along the 

way, and I really enjoyed all the different hostels I stayed 

in. 

In the summer of 1990, I bicycled a 2,000-mile loop around 

the Pacific Northwest with a group of people, camping 

and staying at hostels. As a student at the University of 

California, Santa Cruz, my friends and I would bicycle 

up the coast to Pigeon Point to go surfing and stay at the 

“i chose to volunteer 

for hi because 

it unites three 

essential components: 

travel, education, 

and community.” 

In October 2007, I began working as a volunteer with the 

Golden Gate Council as the Educational Programs Assistant. 

Currently, we are piloting two exciting programs for 

the San Francisco area: Cultural Kitchen and Community 

Walls. These programs continue to expand our horizons by 

bringing youth together to experience new cultures through 

food and art. I look forward to assisting with new developments 

in all of our Hostel Adventures programming. 

hostel where we 

could melt into 

the cliffside hot 

tub. Since then, 

I have hostelled 

in Costa Rica, 

Guatemala, and 

Ecuador. 

In 1996 I volunteered with 

California State Parks doing 

native plant restoration 

in the sand dunes of Pescadero 

and at Año Nuevo 

State Reserve, where I led 

public tours to see the elephant 

seals. Año Nuevo 

docents get to stay for free 

“To me, hostels are 

intercultural-exchange 

zones, where people 

open up to each other 

and learn to break 

down the barriers of 

ego and division.” 

norCalhostels.org 11

at HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse, and I found out that they 

were looking for a naturalist to work with the Pigeon Point 

Environmental Education Program, as well as a part-time 

live-in hostel assistant. For the next six years I worked as 

a hostel assistant, taught children environmental outdoor 

education, and guided the public around the parks in the 

area. It was a dream come true! 

In May 2002 I was hired as General Manager of the Pigeon 

Point Lighthouse Hostel. During my employment here, I 

have stayed at all of the Northern California hostels as well 

as Chicago, New York, Portland, and San Diego. During 

each of these visits, I learn new ways to improve HI-Pigeon 

Point Lighthouse. 

In 2006 the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel received the 

highest satisfaction rating on guest comment cards of any 

nannette mickle is the group sales manager for the three 

hi-san francisco hostels, and has worked for the golden gate Council 

since 2002. 

“T 

ry it! You just might like it.” I live by that motto and 

because of it, I find myself experiencing things I 

wouldn’t have dreamt of as a young girl. Keeping myself 

open to new ideas allows me to make the kinds of choices 

that take me down diverse and exciting paths. 

I came to San Francisco after receiving my degree in broadcast 

journalism from Arizona State University. I arrived in 

a new city, ready to pursue my career in television. I did 

this for a number of years, but then other doors opened 

up and I found myself entering into the world of theater. 

Stage fright no more! I traveled around the country with a 

wacky theater troop and I realized how much of an impact 

traveling had on my life. 

Coming back to San Francisco, I decided to work in the 

nonprofit sector at a number of homeless shelters and 

youth group homes. Offering service to disadvantaged 

communities in my home city was both rewarding and 

humbling. And of course I had to become a waitress at a 

24-hour diner. (Everybody should work in retail or food 

service at least once in their lives! Right?) 

So, what was next? I saw a job listing on craigslist.org and 

I realized I didn’t know the first thing about hostels. It was 

time to learn something new. I started at HI-San Francisco 

Fisherman’s Wharf as a night hostel assistant in December 

of 2002. (The graveyard! How exciting!) 

The variety of guests that stay at hostels and the stories they 

carry with them made me realize that I had a lot to learn about 

the world of hostelling. I was hooked from the beginning. 


medium-sized HI hostel in the country. In January 2007, 

I celebrated 10 years of working for Hostelling International. 

But the real reward was designing the vision for the 

Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel’s 25th anniversary celebration 

last September. 

Pigeon Point is one of those magical places where people 

come to visit the lighthouse and discover so much more 

then they ever expected because of the hostel. I see people 

transformed in just a couple of hours, simply by exploring 

the site, meeting people, and discovering all that this area 

has to offer with new friends. To me, hostels are intercultural-exchange 

zones, where people open up to each other 

and learn to break down the barriers of ego and division. 

The experiences that people have here are brought back 

with them to their communities, where they continue to 

influence the people and environment around them. 

I became 

the Front 

Desk Manager 

of the 

Fisherman’s 

Wharf hostel 

in July 2003, and then 

in March 2005 I became 

the Group Sales Manager 

for all three San Francisco 

hostels. 

“it’s important for me 

to believe in 

what i do. 

hi makes that easy.” 

This organization is full 

of challenges and opportunities. 

I am thrilled to be 

part of something where I do meaningful work and have a 

lot of fun at the same time. It’s important for me to believe 

in what I do. HI makes that easy. 

Every day I interact with groups such as a ballet company 

from Israel, gymnasts from Denmark, an Australian women’s 

softball team, or Chilean national park rangers. I find 

myself in conversations where the subject of hostelling 

comes up and immediately we’re sharing memories of exotic 

locations and fascinating travel partners. 

For those who haven’t heard of hostelling, I am overjoyed 

to give them a taste of something new. I want them to experience 

something that can change the way they travel and 

how they interact with other people. I simply tell them to 

“Try it! You just might like it.”

emily pimentel is a Board member of hi-usa golden gate 

Council, and an environmental scientist for the u.s. environmental 

protection agency. 

In 2006, through a chance encounter with Barbara Wein 

(Executive Director of HI-USA Golden Gate Council) 

I learned about the impressive programs being carried out 

by Hostelling International’s Northern California region. 

I was already familiar with some of the tremendous services 

being offered by the Council to our local community 

and travelers from around the world. However, I realized 

that by joining the Council’s Board, I would be able to apply 

and experiment with the many exciting environmental 

practices that are necessary to sustain our environment. 

For the past 25 years, I have worked as an environmental 

professional in industry, consulting, and government, and 

have been engaged in a variety of volunteer efforts, most 

recently as a Board member of the Pan American Society. 

Being a Golden Gate Council Board member gives me the 

opportunity to “act locally.” Besides the great hostels provided 

for both local and international travelers, the Council 

offers valuable environmental and educational services to 

our guests and communities. 

Many of our hostels are on public lands, and by operating 

these hostels, the Council facilitates access to some 

of the most beautiful coastal areas in the world. In many 

cases, our hostels are in historically important buildings, 

such as lighthouses or former military quarters. Maintaining 

these facilities is challenging, but because of the vision 

of many before me, these hostels have instituted practices 

that “green” the operations and buildings. 

For the future, I am particularly excited about the possibilities 

of expanding our existing Point Reyes Hostel and others 

based on “green building design” standards which address 

materials, energy, and other building efficiencies. The 

greening of our operations and buildings not only serves 

to reduce our environmental footprint, but also offers important 

firsthand educational experiences to our guests. 

One of the Council’s most important projects is the Out- 

door Hostel 

Adventure 

p r o g r a m , 

which providesenvironmental 

education as part of a hostel 

experience. Each year, 

hundreds of kids spend 

one to three days learning 

about the environment 

in places like the Marin 

Headlands, Point Reyes 

National Seashore, and 

Point Montara. For many 

“i [am] able to apply 

and experiment with 

the many exciting 

environmental 

practices that are 

necessary to sustain 

our environment.” 

kids, it’s their first visit to these beautiful coastal areas. 

Through special fundraising efforts, the Council has provided 

scholarships for many kids who could not otherwise 

afford to attend. 

Ultimately, the importance of these hostels lies in the access 

they provide at a reasonable cost to so many travelers, 

and the invaluable connections people make with each 

other when they stay in hostels. As a parent and a resident 

of this area, I feel fortunate to have access to these hostels, 

in most cases within an hour or two. In fact, my daughter 

and I stayed at HI-Marin Headlands twice as part of her 

elementary school’s participation in the Outdoor Hostel 

Adventure program, and more recently, she visited again as 

part of her high school’s sophomore retreat. 

These programs are supported by a group of capable and 

dedicated individuals, but they require constant support 

from volunteers and donors to ensure that they will remain 

sustainable. As a Board member, I believe that one of my 

most important roles is community outreach—spreading 

the word about these great services and finding the support 

necessary to keep them going. 


celebrating 25 years 

hi-pigeon poinT lighThouse 


210 pigeon point road 

pescadero, Ca 94060 

(650) 879-0633 


The Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel opened in February 1981, a year after the 

Golden Gate Council opened the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel. Both hostels 

were part of a bold and exciting Coast Hostel Facilities Plan, developed under 

Governor Jerry Brown and Huey Johnson, head of the California Resources 

Agency. 

The Coast Hostel Facilities Plan was the result of state legislation enacted in 1974, 

which encouraged the development of recreational trails and hostels utilizing regional 

and local park sites. Unfortunately, there were no accompanying appropriations 

passed to realize the vision—ultimately, HI-Point Montara Lighthouse and 

HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse were the first and only hostels to be established from 

the plan. 

The development of HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse, as well as HI-Point Montara 

Lighthouse, was helped along by Bob Coppock, a member of the Council’s Board 

of Directors in the 1970s and ’80s. As a volunteer, he helped to procure the sites, 

and worked with other Council volunteers to turn these abandoned, vandalized light 

stations into warm, welcoming hostels. Twenty-five years later, we remember Bob 

with fondness, and the others who have developed and improved the Pigeon Point 

Lighthouse Hostel for the enjoyment of nearly 12,000 overnight guests each year. 

On September 8, 2007, a sunny Saturday afternoon, 1,400 visitors gathered for the 

Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel’s 25th Anniversary Festival. Festivities included a 

concert by the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, the Banana Slug String Band, and 

Sazda marimba band, as well as interpretive exhibits and guided tours provided 

by California State Parks. Scottish country dancers, puppet shows, arts and crafts 

booths, and a barbeque rounded out the event. Previous HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse 

staff member Mark Nolan was honored for his 25 years of promoting and 

protecting the environment, both at Pigeon Point and around the region. 

Top left to right: hi-pigeon point lighthouse staff member annie siemer; Banana slug string Band; face painting by pescadero high school students; san francisco scottish 

fiddlers; puppet show by pigeon point environmental education program. Bottom left to right: scottish country dancers; mark nolan with Barbara Wein; sadza marimba band; 

silent auction benefitting Golden Gate Council; Banana Slug String Band. 


celebrating 20 years 

hi-redWood naTional parK 

The Redwood National Park Hostel opened in July 1987, following a two-year 

construction project which stabilized, rebuilt, and added on to the historic 

DeMartin homestead outside of Klamath. The project was a public-private partnership 

involving Hostelling International, Redwood National Park, the California 

State Coastal Conservancy, and the California Conservation Corps. The resulting 

31-bed hostel has welcomed more than 100,000 overnight guests since its opening. 

The Redwood Hostel’s 20th Anniversary Open House was a cozy, intimate affair 

with approximately 75 people attending, all of whom had a professional or personal 

connection with the hostel and its history. Redwood National Park staff (current 

and retired), community members, DeMartin family members, HI staff, and hostellers 

all shared their stories, enjoyed a sumptuous dinner, and later that evening 

gathered for a bonfire and performance by a local band that rocked the redwoods. 

We were particularly excited to host Douglas Warnock, retired Superintendent of 

Redwood National Park, as well as retired Chief of Maintenance Joe Lusa. When 

the Redwood Hostel was founded, Doug and Joe were both key partners at Redwood 

National Park, and their encouragement and support was crucial to the development 

of the hostel. 

Also in attendance was Joe Mateer, the Redwood Hostel’s first manager, who shared 

a tale about the time the National Park staff wanted him to remove the fuschsia 

plants—a non-native, invasive species—from the hostel grounds, and a hosteller 

mounted a protest to “Save the Hummingbirds!” In the end, both the fuchsias and 

the hummingbirds remained. 


14480 highway 101 

Klamath, Ca 95548 

(707) 482-8265 

redwoodhostel.org 

Top left to right: redwood hostel staff member ryan forsythe with louis demartin; retired park superintendent douglas Warnock with retired Chief of maintenance Joe 

lusa; dave demartin, Jr, sherrie morris (descendent of the rudisill family who purchased the home from the demartins), and louis demartin; ryan forsythe and redwood 

hostel manager Kaci elder; local band The Joint Chiefs. Bottom left to right: renovation of the hostel and grand opening ceremony in 1987. 


16 Annual Report 2008 

financial statements 

golden gate Council of american youth hostels, inc. 

statement of activities for the years ending march 31, 2007 and 2006 

2007 2006 

operating revenue: 

hostels and education $ 5,522,878 $ 4,998,801 

membership 28,028 73,734 

Contributions 60,685 47,558 

interest and dividend income 27,048 32,736 

sales and miscellaneous 316,575 247,894 

Total operating revenues 5,955,214 5,400,723 

operating expenses: 

hostels and education $ 5,308,085 $ 4,963,622 

general and administrative 597,166 587,017 

Total operating expenses 5,905,251 5,550,639 

Change in net assets before nonoperating activities $ 49,963 $ 

nonoperating activities 

Change in net assets 2,496 

net assets, beginning of year $ 3,437,324 $ 3,612,306 

net assets, end of year $ 3,439,820 $ 3,437,324

asseTs 

2007 2006 

Current assets: 

Cash and cash equivalents $ 827,137 $ 826,662 

accounts receivable 28,161 50,191 

reimbursable hostel relocation costs 3,858 3,858 

Minority interest equity share receivable - 72,462 

note receivable - current portion - 40,000 

inventory 33,178 32,824 

prepaid expenses 168,294 130,785 

deposits 37,405 92,012 

Total Current assets 1,098,033 1,248,794 

long-Term assets: 

restricted cash 154,265 149,767 

notes receivable - long-term portion - 40,000 

loan costs, net of accumulated amortization 113,376 140,871 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 

and amortization 

9,425,685 9,537,140 

Total long-Term assets 9,693,326 9,867,778 

Total assets $ 10,791,359 $ 11,116,572 

liaBiliTies and neT asseTs 

Current liabilities: 

mortgage loan payable, current portion $ 271,289 $ 254,033 

accounts payable and accrued expenses 434,876 494,365 

advance deposits 340,712 396,606 

Minority interest equity share payable 2,934 - 

Total Current liabilities 1,049,811 1,145,004 

mortgage loan payable, net of current portion 5,923,318 6,194,607 

Total liabilities 6,973,129 7,339,611 

minority interest 378,410 339,637 

Commitments 

golden gate Council of american youth hostels, inc. 

statement of financial position as of march 31, 2007 and 2006 

net assets: 

permanently restricted 300 300 

Temporarily restricted 9,721 7,016 

unrestricted 3,429,799 3,430,008 

Total net assets 3,439,820 3,437,324 

Total liabilities and net assets $ 10,791,359 $ 11,116,572 


hi-usa golden gate Council donors, april 11, 2006 – september 30, 2007. 

We apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions. 

18 Annual Report 2008 

$1,000 and up 

shirley Baker 

hostelling international usa 

Vatche Kalfayan 

James Kaumeyer 

Walt Knoepfel 

margaret de sylvester Charitable 

foundation 

marshal merriam 

$500–$999 

helen dannelly 

gap foundation 

ursula gummett 

ed & mary hackie 

dennis isaac 

Kathleen mcadam 

gloria newhouse 

richard spear 

lynn Thompson 

Judy Tierney 

leadership CirCle 

thank you 

$250–$499 

anonymous 

linda & dave allen 

Kathleen Bernard 

harris Bostic ii 

monica Conrady 

gary emich 

Christa foerchtgott 

eleanor mary guilford 

Thierry hugand 

don & ellen irie 

Chris & sabrina Johnson 

Beryl Kay 

Barry & Carol livingston 

deena maise 

andrew mowat 

Tobey h. roland 

Miriam Schafler 

alex & nadine Terman 

alek Vernitsky 

Barbara Wein

$100–$249 

anonymous 

nicholas andrade 

marilyn Bancel 

Karen & Bud Banker 

Victor Bekhet 

John & susan Bollinger 

paul Brody 

Clorox Company 

robert Cole 

anne Cottrell 

roberta deering 

fredrick demarse 

gerald dickinson 

lucy dilworth 

mike eaton 

dan eisenstein 

roger & muriel fry 

fred fukasawa 

mary gordon 

nina Janopaul & Bart 

naylor 

Joyce Johnston 

CJ Jordan 

John Kaeuper 

neal Kramer 

nancy lawrence 

John & Bonita luts 

mary macgabhann 

david madson 

richard & linda martyr 

stanley mcConner 

marshall mcdonald 

dana merryday 

Bruce & gala mowat 

dale olsen 

emily pimentel 

Jean reyes 

Jeffrey rigo 

Jean rusmore 

J. Thomas schroeder 

aimee scott 

Joseph Vondracek 

lynne Weil 

dick Wilhelm 

W.r. Wisecarver 

$25–$99 

Colin armitage 

isabel auerbach 

Carol Bailey 

linda & dave Batcheller 

olive Bavins 

sandra Berrigan 

Brian & Beryl Bourke 

ori Brafman 

nancy Brown 

robert Brown 

Joan Buckingham 

ali & Jessica Cannon 

phyllis Carrozza 

Bjorn Conrad 

Joan Crotty 

William dallas 

richard & alice davis 

Wayne dawson 

Bruce edwards 

Ben & mary ann fleming 

myra forsythe 

Charles glass 

anne goldberg 

edward & Catherine goldberg 

lucio gonzalez 

susan gordon 

hilda & orville gotcher 

Jonathan & roxanne gray 

russel hamilton 

marilyn harrison 

elizabeth & robert hawthorne 

roy hendrickson 

William & lois hoskins 

luis huaman 

ruth e. hurtado-Waidelich 

patricia Kaspar 

robin Kehoe & Brandel 

eiger 

Charlotte Knoepfel 

Vicki Knoepfel & John 

Cane Jr. 

m. Knoop 

diane Kotta 

nicholas lahey 

alice macondray 

sheila & Chris maher 

mary marsden 

irma & rudi marx 

sara mathews 

elinor mattern 

Cindy mcgerty 

marie mcloughlin 

mary ann mcnicholas 

Christopher mei 

Joyce mihanovich 

gloria miyashiro 

Valerie & ron montes 

Virginia & James moose 

Kat morgan 

Judith nelson 

Theron nelson 

William & ruth nelson 

Brad newsham 

K.C. oppenheim 

Beatrice phillips 

eugene plant 

lois revak 

shea rosen & susan silber 

Wolfgang rosenberg 

Joanne B. rovno 

hans & Beryl schmid 

lois schwarze 

Janet & James scott 

arleen shippey 

Jeff & gretchen shopoff 

Charles stadelman & sarah 

Woo 

susan stordahl 

fred Tealdi 

hedda Thieme 

rosemary Trowsdale 

herbert & francesca Tyrnauer 

James Walsh 

ann Watters 

dennis Wells 

Judy Whitney 

Kimberly Wicoff 

Janice Williams 

elizabeth Worden 

In-Kind 

Victor Bekhet 

Javier Bujanda 

Cater marin 

Costanoa lodge & Camp 

days of Wonder inc. 

fantasy flight games 

Firefly Restaurant 

gaiam 

gazo’s grill 

hidden Villa hostel 

hostelling international, 

san diego Council 

michael W. Jacob 

Christina Kan-duley 

KBm Workspace 

lonely planet 

lorrie’s shuttle service 

morrell’s Bread 

andrew & Kristin Torres 

mowat 

osmosis day spa 

paradise Valley produce of 

Bolinas 

point reyes farmstead 

Blue Cheese 

salina rain 

san francisco giants 

sue schaffner 

stagg’s leap Winery 

steyer lowenthal 

Boodrookas alvarez & 

smith llp attorneys 

sKyy spirits 

Jordan swank 

Barbara Wein 

Wildblue farms of Tomales

The golden gate Council sadly notes the passing of these friends over the past year: 

in memoriam 

shirley Baker, active volunteer with the Council from the early 1960s through the 1990s. A registered nurse by 

profession, Shirley enjoyed a life filled with music from grand opera to folk music, and entertained with guitar and song 

on Council-sponsored camping trips. Cooking was another of her talents, exhibited over the campstove and at our annual 

Thanksgiving dinners. In more recent years Shirley volunteered her time staffing the information desk and advising 

travelers at HI-San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf. 

philip lawrence, long-time donor and early San Francisco Hostel Committee member. Phil, husband of former 

Board member Nancy Lawrence, practiced law in San Francisco up until the time of his death. He was a frequent smiling 

face at Golden Gate Council alumni events and annual member meetings. 

ray monteleone, Hostel Assistant staff person at HI-Marin Headlands and HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Ray 

was a Renaissance man who brought beauty to everything he touched. From music to figure skating, fine art to bread 

making, he was a perfectionist through and through. His humor, wisdom, and kindness were evident in his every action. 

William J. Whalen iii, member of the Golden Gate Council’s Board of Directors from 1982–1986. Bill was 

Director of the National Park Service from 1977–1980, and was credited with doubling the size of the National Park 

system during his tenure. He continued to be an invaluable advisor to the Golden Gate Council on National Park issues 

even after his Board tenure ended.

GOLDEN GATE COUNCIL MANAGEMENT STAFF AND BOARD 

HI-MARIN HEADLANDS 

Mary Gabriel-MacGabhann, general manager 

HI-PIGEON POINT LIGHTHOUSE 

Jeffrey Parry, general manager 

HI-POINT MONTARA LIGHTHOUSE 

Christopher Bauman, general manager 

HI-POINT REYES 

Hanna Morris, general manager 

HI-REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK 

Kaci Elder, general manager 

HI-SACRAMENTO 

Steve Haynes, general manager 

HI-SAN FRANCISCO CITY CENTER 

Jose Lima, general manager 

Sam Hussein, assistant general manager 

Yvonne Garcia, facilities manager 

Michael Foyder, front desk manager 

HI-SAN FRANCISCO DOWNTOWN 

John Burnett, general manager 

Chaka Miller, assistant general manager 

Molly Salyer, front desk manager 

HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL USA 

GOLDEN GATE COUNCIL 

425 Divisadero Street Suite 307 

San Francisco, CA 94117 

phone: (415) 863-1444 fax: (415) 863-3865 

info@NorCalHostels.org 

NorCalHostels.org SFHostels.com 

HI-SAN FRANCISCO FISHERMAN’S WHARF 

Jeanne Comaskey, general manager 

Michael Byrnes, assistant general manager 

Jon Dockery, facilities manager 

Jennifer Tsang, front desk manager 

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICES 

Jeanne Comaskey, director of operations 

Danny Case, food services manager 

Nannette Mickle, group sales manager 

Nicki Rapp, activities coordinator 

CENTRAL SERVICES 

Barbara Wein, executive director 

Javier Bujanda, finance manager 

Molly Mitoma, marketing & communications manager 

Michael Yoshioka, educational programs coordinator 

Stuart Bousel, office manager 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Walt Knoepfel, president 

Vatche Kalfayan, vice president 

Andrew Mowat, treasurer 

Aimee Scott, secretary 

Victor Bekhet 

Thierry Hugand 

Divya Kapasi 

Emily Pimentel 

OUR MISSION 

To help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding 

of the world and its people through hostelling. 

OUR VISION 

Hostel guests become caring global citizens who are catalysts for 

intercultural exchange and understanding, and stewards of the earth. 

Founded in 1958, HI-USA Golden Gate Council is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

HI-San Francisco City Center 

685 Ellis Street 


(415) 474-5721 

sfhostels.com 

HI-Marin Headlands 

Fort Barry Building 941 

Sausalito, CA 94965 

(415) 331-2777 

marinhostel.org 

HI-Point Reyes 

1390 Limantour Spit Road 

Point Reyes, CA 94956 

(415) 663-8811 

pointreyeshostel.org 

HI-Hidden Villa 

26870 Moody Road 

Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 

(650) 949-8650 hiddenvilla.org 

Operated by the Trust for Hidden Villa 

HI-San Francisco Downtown 

312 Mason Street 


(415) 788-5604 

sfhostels.com 


210 Pigeon Point Road 

Pescadero, CA 94060 

(650) 879-0633 



14480 Highway 101 

Klamath, CA 95548 

(707) 482-8265 

redwoodhostel.org 

HI-San Francisco Fish. Wharf 

Fort Mason Building 240 


(415) 771-7277 

sfhostels.com 

HI-Point Montara Lighthouse 

16th Street & Highway 1 

Montara, CA 94037 

(650) 728-7177 

montarahostel.org 

HI-Sacramento 

925 H Street 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

(916) 443-1691 

sacramentohostel.org 

Printed in the USA with vegetable-based inks on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, processed chlorine-free. 

Cover photo: Redwood National and State Parks 

ALL PHOTOS BY CHERI M. LARSH, EXCEPT: 

HI-Hidden Villa photo (page 1 and back cover) courtesy of the Trust for Hidden Villa 

Outdoor Hostel Adventure photos (page 6) by Stephanie Don, Barbara Wein, et al 

HI-Pigeon Point Lighthouse 25th Anniversary Festival photos (page 14) by Jeffrey Parry and Barbara Wein 

HI-Redwood National Park 20th Anniversary Open House photos (page 15) by Barbara Wein and Ryan Forsythe

Annual Report 2007 - Northern California Hostels

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