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City of Berkeley
Marina Education Programs

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/marina/default.html

Organization Type:
Government Agency

Mission:
To provide environmental education programs to students, teachers, docents, and general public through hands-on activities

Contact:
Patty Donald
City of Berkeley, Marina Education Programs
Shorebird Park Nature Center
160 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 981-6720
Fax: (510) 981-6725
pdonald@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Geographical Focus:
Local, Regional, State

Counties Served:
Alameda, Contra Costa

Activities:
Research, Education, Recycling, Conservation, Tourism, Recreation, Water Monitoring, Water Pollution Prevention, Reuse of Building Materials

Topic:
Cultural History, Beaches, Rocky Intertidal, Wildlife, Watershed Hydrology, Endangered Species, Water Quality/Storm Water Runoff, Bay & Estuary Habitats, Boating, Open Ocean/Oceanography, Marine/Estuary Reserves & Sanctuaries, Wetlands, Green Buildings, Solar Heating and Electricity

Educational Resources:
Curriculum, Maps, Outreach Programs, On-Site Programs, Guided Walks, Field Trips, Nature Trails, Brochures, Exhibits/Displays, Website, Speaker/Lecture Series, Adventure Playground, Education, Advocacy, Restoration, Water Monitoring, Water Pollution Prevention

Education Programs:

Tours of the Straw Bale Building:
Topics cover reusing waste products for building materials, solar heating and electricity (Active and Passive), certified lumber, wheat paneling, recycled glass countertops, fly ash in the cement, recycled doors. Video and DVD.

Animal Programs (November-February):
All programs are up to 3 hours. They include 40-50 minute interactive slide and video presentation and 2 hours of hands-on stations.

  • Birds (K-12): Identification of local species, adaptations, sounds, feathers, nesting, conservation, and weather permitting, walk w/binoculars
  • Fish (1-12): Fish anatomy, Gyotaku (Japanese fish printing), aquarium bingo, touch table, close up look at scales and gills
  • Bay Scientist (3-12): Use lab sheets and microscopes to explore water chemistry, living rocks, dock life, and plankton.
  • Marine Mammals (K-12): Mammal identification through sound, feeding techniques with artifacts, insulation station and conservation

Low Tide Programs (K-12):
This program consists of a 40-50 minute introductory slide show, hands on exploration of the touch table, observation of the Bay Aquarium in the Nature Center and two hours of outdoor explorations to three habitats: Rocky Shore, Dock, Pier.

  • Research Boat Trip (5-12) Includes: Two teachers' in-services (one for Low Tide Program and one for the boat trip), and 2 class field trip dates
    Day 1: a three hour Low Tide Program, (see above description) with the addition of Bay history
    Day 2 (one week later): two hours land prep and two hours on a research vessel, where we will trawl for fish, collect plankton, examine Bay mud, study navigation
  • Sailing Experience (4-12): Experience sailing on the Bay in the 51 ft ketch Pegasus. 15 kids sail on the Pegasus while the other half of the class learns the mechanics and vocabulary of sailing by handling the sails and lines on a small Lido sailboat on land. Class then rotates.

Target Audiences:
K-12

Group Size Accommodated:
Up to 30

In-Service Training:
Teachers, Docents/Volunteers, Naturalists, Students/Interns, General Public
17 training sessions for docents which cover geology, history, creative teaching, fish, birds, marine mammals

Volunteer Opportunities

  Program:
Bayit Volunteer Program
  Description:
The education programs could not be accomplished without the help of volunteers. The BAYIT program offers training for docents starting in November. Docents work with elementary school classes each month and trainings continue through March.
  When Needed:
October through March
  Commitment Required:
Two days a month
  Application/Training:
Contact volunteer coordinator
  Community Service Documentation:
Yes
  Contact:
Patty Donald
(510) 981-6720
pdonald@ci.berkeley.ca.us


Internship Opportunities

  Description:
Help with all office work, computer input updating information. Help with all special events. Shoreline clean-up and Berkeley Bay Festival. Help with classes when needed, photocopying, PSA's and press releases.
  When Needed:
September through June
  Qualifications:
IBM, MAC skills, Self reliant, Natural Science or Marine Science background great but not necessary.
  Application:
Call and send resume
  Number of Interns:
1 or 2
  Housing Provided:
No
  Paid:
No
  Stipend:
No
  Credit:
No
  Contact Name:
Patty Donald
(510) 981-6720
pdonald@ci.bekeley.ca.us


Service Fee:
Prices are per class and include teacher inservice packet: $140 Animal Programs, $140 Low Tide Programs, $575 Research Boat Trip, $175 Sailing Experience

General Services:
Restrooms, Picnic Area, Telephone

Parking Availability:
Yes

Public Transit Access:
AC Transit #9

Disabled Access:
Ramps to building for Animal programs. Outside areas accessible for intertidal areas but items are brought up to the students, or students are carried down to shore.



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