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Support our mission To protect the natural and cultural resources of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, and Sonoma Coast State Park through volunteerism, environmental education, and stewardship for generations to come.
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Dear Stewards,
We are staring off the new year, emphasizing the "new!" This past weekend we kicked off a new California Naturalist - Oceans Intensive course at the Bodega Marine Lab. Our treasured instructors, David Berman and Meghan Walla-Murphy, assembled a crew of experts and condensed what has recently been a 10-week course into a 10-day overnight experience focused on our coast and oceans. I've heard from participants: it has been a LOT of fun and learning!
We are also excited that with a new year comes new staff. When I started with Stewards, I spoke with state parks leadership about a desire to grow Stewards' capacity, but expressed the need to do so in tandem with state parks. In partnership, we have tapped into some creative funding sources that helped recently hire two new state park staff positions (meet Birgit and Kenzie below).
To match these efforts and better serve volunteers and visitors, we are restructuring our program department from two to three positions by hiring a program director and program assistant to replace one program manager position. Details about these positions and additional state park positions are available below.
Last but not least - we have been touched by many inspiring year-end donations. Thank you! You are helping enhance our parks and the community that supports them.
 Gratefully yours,
Justin Lindenberg
Executive Director
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Stewards and State Parks are hiring!
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Stewards and State Parks are currently accepting applications for:
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Welcome Birgit and Kenzie
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Previously Stewards' German liaison for Pond Farm Pottery, Birgit Nielsen joins state parks as Interpretive Senior Park Aide focusing on Pond Farm. As our German liaison for Pond Farm, she helped establish a German Artist in Residence as part of the Pond Farm Artist in Residence Program (for one month in October, funded by a German Foundation) and secured that the Pond Farm documentary be shown on German public television. Birgit is working 3/4 time out of the Volunteer Center in Armstrong Redwoods. Please help make her feel welcome by shooting her an email at birgit.nielsen@parks.ca.gov (photo of Birgit above, second from top right under arrow).
We are also excited to welcome Kenzie Lamb as Marine Protected Area Interpreter working out of the Jenner Visitor Center. “My parks journey started 6 years ago at Raccoon State Recreation Area in Indiana. Over the past 3 years, I jumped around mostly between Prairie Creek Redwoods, Sue-meg, Benbow, Richardson Grove, and Standish-Hickey State Parks. In 2022, I earned my Bachelor's degree from Cal Poly Humboldt in marine biology, with minors in oceanography and geology. I'm particularly interested in intertidal ecology, climate change, coastal geology, seaweeds, and water quality. My goal is to help everyone feel connected to the ocean, no matter how far away they are. In my free time I love tidepooling, swimming, running, camping, creating art, and spending time with my partner Casen. I'm very excited to start in this new position and I can't wait to learn more about these parks, what the Stewards have been up to, and how we can better serve our community. Let's do this!” Mackenzi.Lamb@parks.ca.gov is her email (photo below).
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Upcoming Events and Classes at Stewards
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Be part of our 2024 Pond Farm Artist in Residence Cohort. For more information and to apply visit https://pondfarm.org/pond-farm-air/ Questions? Telephone 707-869-9177 ex 2 or email stewards@stewardscr.org
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Are you interested in volunteering for Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods Seal Watch Program, at Sonoma Coast State Park? Volunteers support safe viewing of harbor seals during weekends in the Spring and Summer months. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
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The new documentary, Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm, will be shown on February 8, 2024 at Santa Rosa Jr. College Newman Auditorium from 6:15PM to 7:30PM. Before the event, be sure to attend the Pottery of Marguerite Wildenhain Art Exhibit opening reception, which will take place Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 4PM to 6PM at the Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery, Santa Rosa Jr. College. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
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It’s King Tide… and a super low tide! Walk with us along the beach at North Salmon Creek on Friday, February 9, 2024 from 3:30PM to 5:30PM with Sonoma Photographer, Austin Parnow. For more info and to RSVP click here!
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Join a docent-led tour of Pond Farm Pottery and Immerse yourself in the history and natural beauty of this significant cultural site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a National Historic Landmark. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
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Tidepool education volunteers teach school and adult groups how to safely observe and interact with the fascinating life forms of the intertidal zone. Participants learn about the importance of protecting the fragile plants and animals that inhabit this ecosystem. RSVP here to learn how to join us as a tidepool volunteer!
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Only three spots available - register today! 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. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
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Are you looking for an opportunity to visit the Sonoma Coast and do rewarding work at the same time? Pinniped Monitoring Program volunteers collect data to ensure the protection of harbor seals during Russian River estuary activities as they pertain to mandated work. For more information and to RSVP click here.
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The Seabird Protection Network works to reduce human disturbance to seabirds and other wildlife along the California coast through an organized outreach and education program combined with law enforcement and seabird management actions. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
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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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