National Public Lands Day & National Park Service Volunteer Day 2009

Make America's Best Idea Even Better

Point Reyes National Seashore hosted a variety of a volunteer projects in recognition of National Public Lands Day & National Park Service Volunteer Day on September 26, 2009. Projects were held both Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 including Adopt-a-Trail, Giacomini Wetland Restoration Workday, Habitat Restoration Workday and a Beach Cleanup. Additionally, we offered the opportunity to experience Tule Elk during the rut (mating reason) with our volunteer Tule Elk Docents on both Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 2009.

National Public Lands Day on the fourth Saturday of September is an annual event designed to encourage people to get outside and visit places such as Point Reyes National Seashore. National Public Lands Day is also a national volunteer effort to encourage folks to give back to the very lands we use to hike, bike, swim, explore, picnic, or just relax. It is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands!

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Last year 120,000 volunteers worked in over 1,800 locations and in every state. Now, eight federal agencies and many state and local lands participate in this annual day of caring for shared lands.

The National Park Service Volunteer Day of 2009 was also a day of service to highlight the PBS premier of The National Parks: America's Best Idea, running September 27 through October 2, 2009. Please help us make America's Best Idea even better. Join us for a national day of service and celebration in your 391 national parks.

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Below is a listing of events that were held at Point Reyes National Seashore during or in conjunction with the 2009 National Public Lands Day & National Park Service Volunteer Day. All events are co-hosted by Point Reyes National Seashore Association.

Saturday, September 26, 2009 - Adopt-a-Trail

Saturday, September 26, 2009 - Giacomini Wetland Restoration Workday

Saturday, September 26, 2009 - Experience Tule Elk

Sunday, September 27, 2009 - Habitat Restoration Workday

Sunday, September 27, 2009 - Beach Cleanup

Sunday, September 27, 2009 - Experience Tule Elk

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Event: Adopt-a-Trail
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Olema Valley Trail

This event is filled to capacity and closed.

The Adopt-a-Trail volunteer assists park staff in maintaining trails throughout Point Reyes National Seashore. Volunteers will clear brush, remove downed tree rounds and limbs, dig drainage ditches, hike on and off backcountry trails and may be asked to drive a government vehicle or crew cab pickup, transporting volunteers and tools on an incidental basis. Volunteers must be able to perform moderate to heavy laboring tasks, be able to read and follow directions, and possess experience and ability in using hand tools. Prior experience or training is required to use power tools, if approved by the volunteer supervisor. Volunteers must also be able to work outside on backcountry trails in mountainous terrain along the Pacific Coast in elevations from sea level to 2000 feet; work in hot/dusty or cold/wet/foggy conditions; and be willing to work in areas with potential exposure to poison oak, stinging nettles and ticks. Volunteers are required to provide closed-toe shoes.

Although this event is now closed, if you are interested in participating in Adopt-a-Trail projects in the future, please contact Bill Michaels by phone at 415-464-5157 or by email.

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Giacomini Wetland volunteers

Event: Restoration at Giacomini Wetlands Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Meet at 5th and C Streets in Point Reyes Station at 10:50 a.m.

Volunteers, come help us to continue to restore the Giacomini Wetlands, which is fast approaching its first "birthday." The Giacomini Wetlands is a former dairy ranch that was restored back to wetlands last year with removal of levees, tidegates, and other agricultural infrastructure. On Saturday, we will be weeding in and around the Tomasini Triangle Freshwater Marsh, removing protective fencing from previous planting areas, and installing sedge and rush transplants on the perimeter of the marsh. These weeding and planting efforts will help improve the value of this unique habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as for federally threatened species such as California red-legged frog. Come get involved with this great project and meet new people. Bring lunch, water, hiking boots (rubber boots preferable), and sun lotion. Gloves and tools are provided, but feel free to bring your favorite pair of gloves and weeding and pruning shear tools if you like.

Contact: Amelia Ryan 415-464-5227 or by email.

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Tule Elk Docents with visitors at Windy Gap, Tomales Point, Point Reyes National Seashore

Event: Experience Tule Elk
Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2009
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Tomales Point

See the tule elk during the rut (mating season) weekends and holidays July through September, weather permitting. Docents will be stationed at the Tomales Point Trailhead from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and at Windy Gap (1 mile north along the Tomales Point Trail) from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Interact with volunteer docents who will have binoculars and spotting scopes to allow visitors to observe elk rut behaviors. Feel free to ask the docents questions about tule elk.

Contact: Doug Hee 415-464-5145 or by email.

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Volunteers removing cape ivy

Event: Habitat Restoration Workday
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at the Bear Valley Visitor Center

Volunteers help protect and restore endangered plant and wildlife habitat at Abbott's Lagoon, the Lighthouse Bluffs and other high value habitat areas at Point Reyes National Seashore. Visit some of the most beautiful areas in the park and help eradicate invasive plant species encroaching upon rare, native habitat. Learn about invasive plant ecology and the flora and fauna of Point Reyes National Seashore. Plan to work up a sweat manually removing the nonnative European beachgrass, iceplant and other invasive species. Get involved and meet new people. Bring lunch, water, and sturdy shoes. Gloves and tools are provided.

Contact: Ellen Hamingson 415-464-5196 or by email.

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Beach Cleanup volunteers

Event: North and South Beach Cleanup
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Location: North Beach

This event is filled to capacity and closed.

Join us in cleaning up the beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore. Solving our water pollution problems requires everyone’s involvement. How does trash become marine debris? Look around the next time you walk down the street. When it rains, trash on sidewalks and streets accumulates in the gutter and is swept into your city’s storm drain system. Most storm drain systems discharge directly into the nearest waterway, which eventually flows to the ocean. Trash may also be dumped directly into the ocean by recreational and commercial boaters, and it is often left on the beach by beach-goers. Trash and human made debris can harm or kill marine organisms. Pollution also makes using the beach less enjoyable for humans. Enjoy a day on the beach and be a part of the marine debris solution by joining this beach cleanup!

Although this event is now closed, if you are interested in participating in Beach Cleanup projects in the future, please contact Melanie Gunn by phone at 415-464-5131 or by email.

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