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Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary

richardsonbay.audubon.org

Organization Type:
Non-Profit

Mission:
The Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. Our mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems by inspiring and educating our community, with a focus on youth, and by emphasizing conservation initiatives related to our Sanctuary on Richardson Bay.

Contact:
Wendy Dalia
Richardson Grove Interpretive Association
376 Greenwood Beach Road
Tiburon, CA 94920
Phone: (415) 388-2524
Fax: (415) 388-0717
richardsonbaycenter@audubon.org

Geographical Focus:
Local

Counties Served:
Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, Contra Costa

Activities:
Research, Education, Conservation

Topic:
Bay & Estuary Habitats, Beaches, Coastal Processes, Habitat Restoration, Marine/Estuary Reserves & Sanctuaries, Water Quality/Storm Water Runoff, Watersheds/Hydrology, Wildlife

Educational Resources:
Outreach Programs, On-Site Programs, Guided Walks, Field Tirps, Nature Trails, Newsletter, Brochures, Guidebooks, Website

Education Programs:

  • Sense of Wonder - Pre-K
    Using all five senses, children explore our site and enjoy all the sanctuary has to offer while learning how to respect nature.
  • It’s A Small World - K-3
    On hands and knees, with magnifying lenses, observing quietly ... this is how you will find us exploring invertebrates, fungi, and microbes during a Small World trip to the Sanctuary.
  • Audubon’s Birds - K-3
    Young birders use binoculars, field guides, listening skills, and other tools. Fall and Winter trips focus on migrating shorebirds and water birds. Spring trips focus on songbirds.
  • Uplands - K-6
    Students explore plant communities, local geology, native plants, and the animals that depend on them.
  • Bay Science & Stewardship - grades K-3
    Students learn scientific methods of inquiry while exploring local geology, watersheds, tides, and tide pools. Using nets, buckets, mud sieves, and our own observations, we uncover the diversity of animals living along our shore.
  • Bay Shore Studies - grades 4-6
    In small groups, students become estuarine ecologists to explore the intertidal zone--turning over rocks to study crabs, barnacles, mussels and more. Students collect data on population distributions, salinity and temperature and ponder local bay ecology with a focus on food webs, adaptation, and estuarine processes.

Target Audiences:
K-12, Adults, Teachers, Non-formal Educators, General Public

Group Size Accommodated:
Up to 30

Other Languages:
Spanish: Parent information about the Center and what their child did during a field trip. We are working with an Audubon partner to provide more Spanish language programming.

In-Service Training:
Teachers, Students/Interns, Docents/Volunteers:
We have an annual volunteer training for our bay science education program. We plan to offer a teacher training this coming year focused on bay science, watersheds, marine debris, and incorporating environmental education and research into the classroom. We have seasonal internships available in Fall, Spring, and Summer.

Volunteer Opportunities

 
  • Bay Shore Studies: Save the Bay, one 10-year-old at a time! Volunteer with the Bay Shore Studies Program and we'll teach you how to effectively lead and inspire small groups of 4th - 6th graders through our intertidal zone. Annual 8 week training begins each Fall. Contact Julie at (415) 264-2828 or email bayshorestudies@mindspring.com.
  • Front desk: Greet visitors in the nature store. Sell store merchandise. Answer phone calls and assist with office work as needed. Contact person: Gretchen Grani, 388-2524 x113.
  • Weekend events: Lend a hand during weekend events, family programs, and birthday parties. Contact person: Wendy Dalia, (415) 388-2524 ext 111, or email wdalia@audubon.org.
  • Restoration Work Days: Help remove invasive plants, plant natives, collect seeds, and enjoy being outdoors with our staff and other volunteers. Contact person: Mindy Hiatt, (415) 388-2524 x107, for Blackie’s Student Brigade and Youth Volunteer Opportunities; Kerry Wilcox, (415) 388-2524 x101, for Adult opportunities.
  • Waterbird Surveys (November – March): Monitor water bird populations to gather data on population changes and usage of eelgrass and restoration sites. Contact person: Kerry Wilcox, (415) 388-2524 x101.
  • Special Projects: Volunteer on an as-needed basis, with special projects such as mailings, construction work, restoration projects, building maintenance, garden and trail maintenance, etc. Contact person: Kerry Wilcox, (415) 388-2524 x101.
  Community Service Documentation:
Yes


Internship Opportunities

  Program:
Teacher Naturalist Intern
  Description:
Assist in teaching and leading educational and camp programs including preparing and planning educational programs.
Develop, market and lead Mom and me style Sandpiper program for toddlers
Be the first to answer telephones
Coordinate newsletter production
Assist in developing and providing Teacher Resource Materials for outreach.
Coordinate the Audubon Birthday Program, supervise volunteers, prepare for and lead Saturday parties
Operate the bookstore, create spreadsheets, maintain the mailing list, and make phone calls to help with general running of the Center.
Work with Sanctuary Manager and Estuarine Ecologist on restoration and research.
Interact and work with volunteers, students, local schools and community members
Participate in sanctuary management including trail work and beach cleanup.
Stock kitchen and bathroom supplies.
Inventory store and education materials.
  When Needed:
Fall, spring, and summer
  Qualifications:
Skilled in creating a safe, warm and welcoming atmosphere to awaken children's curiosity for and enjoyment of nature.
Able to interact well with children, teens and adults.
Experience teaching children.
Willing to work outdoors in any weather as necessary.
Interest in local natural history and the outdoor environment.
Reliable, self-motivated, creative and a team player.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
Committed to the entire 5 months.
Available to work weekends and evenings when necessary, and able to work a Tuesday – Saturday work week.
Comfort in using current technologies, including Microsoft office programs, phone systems, etc.
Current CPR & First Aid certification
Capable of working with small children
Occasional heavy lifting/carrying
Occasional work in various climates and areas, including cold, wet, hot, dry, mud, Bay.
Tasks associated with gardening and yard work.
Occasional work on a small boat.
  Application:
Send cover letter and resume to (email preferred):
Education Director
Richardson Bay Audubon Center
376 Greenwood Beach Rd
Tiburon, CA 94920
richardsonbaycenter@audubon.org
  Number of Interns:
1 in Fall, 1 in Spring, up to 5 in Summer
  Housing Provided:
No
  Paid:
Yes
  Credit:
No


Service Fee:
Our volunteer training is $65 for an 8 week training
Pre-K 1.5 hour field trips are $175
grade K-1 field trips are $200
grade 2-4 field trips are $225 (except our Bay Shore Studies grade 4-6 program is $200)

General Services:
Restrooms, Picnic Area, Bookstore/Gift Shop

Parking Availability:
Small gravel parking areas along road



This Resource Directory is a product of the California Coastal Commission's Public Education Program

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