Page 56 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2017

TeenNat - Pepperwood’s Youth Summer Conservation Science Internship
While some teens will be spending their days playing video games, this summer young people at Pepperwood will have fun exploring the forests and grasslands, chaparral and ponds, all while collecting critical conservation data to be used by researchers around the world.
Pepperwood’s conservation science internship “TeenNat” is returning for its fifth year and applications are now being accepted. TeenNat will run Tuesdays through Thursdays from July
5th through August 3rd, 2017.
Photo by Mario Balitbit
Mar 11 & Mar 18 - Bohemia Ecological Preserve Hike Docent Training After training, take on the duties of leading hikes scheduled for the public at the Bohemia Ecological Preserve. First 2 days of training Free, subsequent enrichment courses $20 each, scholarships available. 6773 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental landpaths.org/eventdetails
Mar 18 ~ Intro to Backpacking Class The instructors will bring a fully packed backpack, then unpack it so you can see what’s in it. No actual hiking $10, 10a Sugarloaf Ridge State Park 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd. Kenwood sugarloafpark. org/event
Mar 25 ~ Saturday Solar Viewing 11am - 3pm Specially filtered telescopes allow safe observation of our favorite star – our Sun. Solar viewing is Free. Public Star Party 6:00pm Observatory's 3 main telescopes $3.00 $8.00 per car Sugarloaf Ridge State Park 2605 Adobe Canyon Road Kenwood, CA
California State Parks
Whale Watching 3799 Westshore Rd. Bodega Bay, Docents are stationed at Bodega Head on weekends from January through Mother's Day. Potential docents are required to attend one of the three General Orientation Sessions, as well as the Whale Watch Docent Training. Info: Sarah Angulo (707) 869-9177 x 5#.
Mar 3 ~ Visit With a Mountain Lion Take look at a young mountain lion named and other species, Cotati Free - 1–2:30p or 3–4:30p outings@sonomalandtrust. org Mar 5 ~ First Wildflowers Hike Trione-Annadel State Park 10a-1p Identify early wildflowers. parks. ca.gov/?page_id=480
get outdoors NATURE
By Date:
Mar 3 ~ Birds and Botany - hike the forests, meadows and hills around Pine Flat and up Redhill We’ll be watching & listening for birds on the hike out. 9-2p $15-$25 RSVP: meetup.com/Friends-of-the- Modini-Mayacamas/events/236321335/
Mar 29 ~ Winging it Wednesday - Along wheelchair accessible routes. Free 8:30a Riverfront Regional Park 7821 Eastside Rd. Healdsburg
Stewards of the Coast
and Redwoods ~ Volunteer, learn, or teach! Register at www.stewardscr. org or 707-869-9177. Email: stewards@ stewardscr.org. All events $20 unless noted otherwise. full year: stewardscr.org/cms/ images/2017_OTS_brochure.pdf)
Mar 4 ~ Seal Watch Volunteer Training Attend this training, help protect the harbor seals during the pupping season (March to Labor Day). Free 9a - 12p Sarah Angulo sarah@stewardscr.org or phone at (707) 869-9177 x 5#.
Mar 5 ~ Plants of the Redwood Understory How to identify redwood sorrel, fetid adder’s-tongue, trillium, calypso orchids, and other understory plants $16-$20 9a - 12p - Jazzy Dingler jazzy@stewardscr.org 707-869-9177 x 1#.
Mar 11 ~ Drawing from Nature Botanical Art Seminar
Mar 12 ~ Tidepool Program Volunteer Training (Classroom) Free - 1:30 - 4:30 AR Volunteer Center (Stewards Office)
Mar 11 ~ Arbor Day Tree Planting Party
Families are welcome. All trees and tools will be provided. 9-12p - Juillard Park 227 Santa Rosa Ave. SR - Contact: Elaine Gutsch 707-543-3279 egutsch@srcity.org srcity.volunteerhub.com/Events/
There is no charge for the internship but the application process is competitive
and participants ages 13-18 must apply by April 7th, 2017. Pepperwood helps set up carpools to the preserve and some limited transportation assistance is available.
Mar 17 ~ Project Learning Tree Workshop
Applications can
be downloaded at pepperwoodpreserve. org/what-we-do/nature- education/teennat/.
Mar 18 ~ Wildflower Hike in Austin Creek - $16- $20 - 9a-5p Carpool from Stewards Office
Mar 25 ~ Forest Therapy Walk - $16 - $20 - 10a-1p Pomo Canyon Campground- For Adults only
Mar 27 ~ Tidepool Program Vounteer Training (Field Visit) 4-7p North Salmon Creek (Miwok)
Apr 1 ~ Learning Together, Teaching One Another (Teaching Resource Day) Free 9-4p AR Volunteer Center Stewards Office 17000 Armstrong Woods Rd. Guerneville
TeenNat engages diverse
youth in real research, connects them
with scientists and other professionals, provides them with technical skills
in data collection and photography, and exposes them to nature. Interns
are trained to use GPS units and digital cameras to document plants and animals found at Pepperwood (and after the program they get to keep their digital cameras in exchange for their service!). They upload their findings to iNaturalist.org, a global network for biological data used by researchers around the world. TeenNat interns have uploaded over 2,700 observations to date. They also collect data on Pepperwood’s redwood populations for Save the Redwood League’s long-term monitoring initiative.
Interns learn about career pathways in the sciences as they interact with researchers and conservation professionals. “This internship has made me consider going into the environmental conservation sciences,” said TeenNat alumni Maddi Blanc, “and I look forward to what I can contribute to the scientific world in the future.”
Photo by Maddy Glen
- 9-4p AR Volunteer Center Stewards Office Project Designed for teachers, non-formal educators, parents and community leaders working with youth from pre-school to grade 12.
Apr 2 ~ Exploring the Intertidal Zone
Field Seminar $16 - $20 9-3p Shell Beach Hwy 1 Jenner
TeenNat received national recognition through the Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship awarded to Pepperwood Education Director Sandi Funke for her work designing the program. TeenNat has also been showcased by the North American Association for Environmental Education at their international conference. TeenNat is supported by grants from the Community Foundation Sonoma County, Save the Redwoods League, Dean Witter Foundation, Miranda Lux Foundation, and through donors and members of Pepperwood.
56 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/17