OverviewJoin the original Habitat Restoration Program (HRP) at Point Reyes National Seashore to help protect and restore endangered plant and wildlife habitat at Abbotts Lagoon, the Lighthouse Bluffs, the Estero area, and other high-value habitat areas at Point Reyes National Seashore. Visit some of the most beautiful areas in the park and learn about local plant ecology while you work alongside park staff to carry out ecological restoration projects. Get involved, meet new people, and make a positive impact on your environment! Duties
Knowledge/Skills/Experience DesiredAbility to perform moderate physical labor, sometimes on steep, uneven terrain in windy, wet, foggy, cool, or hot conditions. Special Requirements of the PositionVolunteers are advised to wear long pants, sturdy shoes and other seasonally appropriate clothing, as well as bring lunch and water. Gloves and tools will be provided. Weather at work sites may be considerably cooler than that at Bear Valley. Schedule and Time CommitmentWorkdays are scheduled throughout the year on either the second or last Sunday of the most months and on some third Thursdays. For the Sunday workdays, we meet at 9 am at the Bear Valley Visitor Center and carpool to a work site elsewhere in the park, then work until about 1 pm. If you wish to participate in a Sunday workday, please confirm your attendance with Ellen Hamingson (see contact information below) before 4 pm on the Thursday immediately preceding the Sunday workday. You are also invited to join the Marin Chapter California Native Plant Society's Third Thursday Weeders. This group meets on the third Thursday of most months. Please email Ellen Hamingson (see contact information below) in advance to get directions to the meeting place and other details. Plan to meet near the work site at 9:30 am and work until 1 pm, followed by lunch on-site. For additional details about the next Sunday HRP workday or the next Third Thursday Weeders workday, visit our Calendar page and search for "Habitat Restoration." Currently scheduled workdays for early 2020 include:
Volunteers are not required to work more than one day at a time. However, volunteers are welcome to work as many of the work days as desired. TrainingTraining is provided on-the-job. Benefits to the VolunteerVolunteers have the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful areas in the park and learn about local plant ecology while working alongside park staff. Volunteers enjoy the satisfaction of helping to protect and restore endangered plant and wildlife habitat. Group TypeIndividuals and groups welcome. Minimum group size is 4, maximum group size is 20. If you have a group of 5 or more, please call as far in advance as possible to see whether space is still available since many sites can support only a limited number of volunteers. Many groups contact us a month or more in advance. However, do not hesitate to call as late as the Thursday preceding the Sunday workday. Program staff usually take their weekends on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Sunday workday. Minimum AgeMinimum age is 9. Minimum age for groups of 8 or more is 16. All volunteers under 18 must have a signed parental consent form. Please contact us (see below) for more information. AccommodationsHousing and RV sites are not available. Application and Contact InformationPlease confirm your attendance before 4 pm on the Thursday immediately preceding the Sunday workday, or apply here. (You will be directed to Volunteer.gov.) Visit the Habitat Restoration Volunteer Program page for more information. 
National Invasive Species Awareness WeekNational Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is a nationwide event occurring in the spring to raise awareness of the threat of invasive species of plants and animals and what people can do to prevent their spread. Representatives from local, state, and regional organizations gather in Washington, D.C. in late February to discuss policies and changes that can be made to prevent and manage invasive species. A series of educational and advocacy events are planned online and in local communities. In the late spring, local partners hold public events to remove invasive species and educate the public. For 2020, NISAW will occur from Saturday, May 16 through Saturday, May 23. Visit NISAW's website to learn about local invasive species prevention, removal, and educational events. California Invasive Species Action WeekThe 2020 California Invasive Species Action Week will be observed from Saturday, June 6, through Sunday, June 14, 2020. The goal of the Action Week is to increase public awareness and promote public participation in California's fight against invasive species. There are numerous ways for people to participate, either independently, or as part of an organized effort. For example, you can learn which invasive species are issues in your area, remove invasives from your property, select native plants for your garden, harvest them for food, or volunteer to remove invasives from a participating park. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is making plans for 2020's California Invasive Species Action Week. With group activities unlikely to resume by June, they have changed their focus to activities that can be done online or by kids and families in their neighborhoods. They will be posting links to videos, games and activities created by our program and others at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Action-Week, including a series of Invasive Lunch webinars. 
California Invasive Species Action Week Youth Art ContestIn 2020, kids were invited to learn about an invasive species that threatens your favorite outdoor place and enter the Department of Fish and Wildlife's "Habitat Hero" youth art contest. The deadline for entries was May 15, 2020, and winners were announced during the Action Week! Check out the CISAW web page for poster contest details and to find out how you can take action: www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Action-Week. The CISAW Schedule of Events will be filled with volunteer opportunities and events hosted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, California's National and State Parks, and dedicated volunteer programs and organizations across the state. Check the Action Week web page to find a participating organization or event near you, or for details on hosting a project or event of your own! |
Last updated: May 18, 2020