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Every donation matters. Support our volunteer and education programs, preservation of ancient forests, and restoration of the natural and cultural resources that help make park visits cherished memories.
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California Naturalist - Oceans Intensive!
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Dear Stewards of the Coast AND Redwoods,
We're not just about the redwoods... We're ramping up our work in our marine ecosystems! As a transplant to salty California (originally from freshwater Wisconsin) I've been learning so much about our marine and intertidal ecosystems from volunteers and staff. Many of you might not know - Stewards is the host of the Sonoma Marine Protected Area Collaborative. We are one piece of the puzzle, coordinating outreach and education efforts to increase stakeholder involvement and build awareness for our protected marine ecosystems along the Sonoma Coast. Join us tomorrow, Thursday, for a community forum on climate change at 3PM to take part in the discussion.
I'm very excited to announce that in addition to our Spring California Naturalist Course (online classes with in-person field trips), we are now offering a California Naturalist - Oceans Intensive at the Bodega Marine Lab in January! This is an in-person multi-day residential intensive program where students will stay at Bodega Marine Lab and spend their time exploring California natural history through a marine lens. Food and lodging is provided. We encourage you to bring a friend as standard lodging is dorm style. Our lovable instructors, David Berman and Meghan Walla-Murphy will be joined by a host of marine experts to deliver this intensive.
A couple other exciting notes: our partnership with the Napa County Office of Education resulted in nearly 200 participants over the summer, with 79% of students visiting a coastal destination for the first time. Part of this effort was building a new tidepool touch table trailer to haul around marine critters from Bodega Marine Lab, which we will formally unveil next year as an opportunity for schools and community events. We are also working with State Parks to hire a new position - a Sonoma Coast Marine Protected Area interpreter that will work out of the Jenner Visitor Center. We're delighted to grow our capacity at the coast!
Cheers to the coast!
 Gratefully yours,
Justin Lindenberg
Executive Director
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Save the date! Volunteer Celebration
Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 2-5PM
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Join us at Stewards Annual Volunteer Celebration and Holiday Auction
Saturday, December 2 from 2PM to 5PM.
We invite you to join us at our annual Volunteer Celebration!
Our volunteer's commitment to Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and State Parks is cherished, and we would like to show you our gratitude. Please bring a guest, and join us as we celebrate our wonderful volunteers! Visit with friends, enjoy great food, local wines, and sparkling conversation, and bid in our Holiday Auction. RSVP online. We hope to see you at the celebration! This event is centered around Stewards and State Park Volunteers, but open to the public with RSVP.
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Photo above: Rich Lawton, Volunteer Trail Crew Coordinator gets to work. Photograph by Mark Anderson and Rich Lawton.
Armstrong Trail Crew Report October 25, 2023: It's another fine mess you got us into Ollie... Eleven Volunteers joined up with Scotty, Rachel and folks from Bouchard Cooperages (Napa, CA 1% for the Planet Company) for a day of fence repairs and invasive species removal in the front lot of Armstrong Redwoods SNR. Grander plans for installing new fencing were ground to a halt when beetles we discovered in the new fencing material. With a limited supply of old fence post and very few rails - we were only able to build about half of what we intended to. Old broken fence post on the trail leading to the restroom were replaced and a new fence was constructed between the ramp and restroom next to the Visitor Center. Hopefully the latter will slow down visitors from climbing up and down the hill from the parking lot. All the Black Berry and Poison Oak were removed from the front corner of the parking lot. Thank you to the folks from Bouchard Cooperages for joining us! - Rich Lawton, CSP/SCR Volunteer Trail Crew Coordinator
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Above: Volunteers hauling fence in the front parking lot at Armstrong Redwoods.
Below: Old redwood rail being repurposed; removing old fencing; new fencing for the beginning of the East Ridge Trail; topping some new posts,; starting a new fence; morning briefing and safety talk.
All photos from Mark Anderson and Rich Lawton:
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Upcoming Events and Classes at Stewards
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Meet us on Zoom from 1PM to 3PM! Have you always wanted to volunteer but not sure how to go about signing up? Join Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods for New Volunteer Orientation to learn about volunteer opportunities at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Willow Creek, and Sonoma Coast State Parks. RSVP here.
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Join Pond Farm Artist in Residence David Bohl on Saturday, November 4, 2023 for this free wood sculpture demo and art show from 12PM – 4PM. This event will take place at Pond Farm, located above Armstrong Redwoods in Guerneville. Attendees are limited to 25. RSVP is required. RSVP here.
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You say you can’t draw? You don’t have to know how! This isn’t about art or a pretty picture. This is about engaging your sense of observations in nature. Nature Journaling is about recording your observations of nature in words, numbers and pictures. RSVP here.
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The Whale Watch Public Education Program was started in 1986 by our Whale Mother, Bea Brunn, as a response to the public’s growing concern and awareness of the fragile relationship with the dwindling population of remaining whales. RSVP here.
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Stewards is pleased to announce a new UC California Naturalist Certification Program. A Cal-Nat Oceans Intensive at Bodega Marine Lab! This is an in-person multi-day residential intensive program where students will stay at Bodega Marine Lab and spend their time exploring California natural history through a marine lens. We will dive deeply into the wonders of ocean, inter-tidal, and coastal habitats. RSVP here.
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Stewards is pleased to host the UC California Naturalist Certification Program. This 9 week, 50+ hour class will introduce you to the wonders the Sonoma Coast and share how you can help steward California’s natural communities. Through the University of California Naturalist Program, participants become active members in a growing movement of conservation, community science, and volunteer activism. RSVP here.
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Recording your hours and Bear in Mind Training while being an employee or volunteer
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Recording volunteer hours and completing Bear in Mind training: Volunteers can reach out to Amelia Schall (amelia.schall@parks.ca.gov) directly to report their volunteer time, and for help in accessing the Bear in Mind training.
Bear in Mind Training: As a California State Park volunteer, you represent the park whenever you are serving. Because of this, it is important that you are aware of the standards to which you should expect to be treated as well as the expectations of how you are to treat others while you are serving. To aid in this, all long-term California State Park volunteers over 18 are now required to take the department’s Bear in Mind, Equal Opportunity Employment (EEO) training every two years.
There are three ways to complete this training. This five minute video shows how to do it on the Better Impact database: Accessing Bear in Mind Training for Volunteers in Better Impact - YouTube. Other options are reading through a pdf or printed copy of the workbook and submitting the completed quiz to me.
There is also this video created by HQ that shows how to log hours: How to Log Hours - YouTube
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