Want to share your love of birds and nature with other people ? Volunteer with Golden Gate Bird Alliance’s youth or adult education programs in 2015-16!

We’re holding trainings during September for volunteering with either our award-winning Eco-Education program in elementary schools, or our Burrowing Owl docent program in Berkeley.

Eco-Education

Eco-Ed student learns to use binoculars / Photo by Eva Guralnick
Eco-Ed student learns to use binoculars / Photo by Eva Guralnick

Our Eco-Ed program works throughout the school year with low-income elementary schools in Oakland, San Francisco, and Richmond, providing classroom instruction and field trips. We need people to help during weekday field trips to local parks with 3rd through 5th graders. No prior experience is necessary – just a love of nature and children. You can choose the city and dates to fit your schedule.

Join in the fun this coming school year by attending one of our upcoming trainings, which run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Choose ONE of the following sessions:

  • Thursday Sept. 3 at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond
  • Wednesday Sept. 9 at Arrowhead Marsh, MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland
  • Monday Sept. 14 at Pier 94 in San Francisco
  • Tuesday Sept. 15 at Point Pinole in Richmond

To sign up for a training or for more information, contact Anthony atadecicco@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

Click here to see what it’s like to go on an Eco-Ed field trip!

Burrowing Owl Docents

Burrowing Owl docents introduce passersby to the small population of owls that overwinter at Cesar Chavez Park along the Berkeley waterfront. Docent training happens just once a year. This year’s training is on Saturday September 26 in Berkeley.
Docents monitor with the goals of:
  • Protecting the over-wintering Burrowing Owls and encouraging their propagation.
  • Educating the public about the presence of Burrowing Owls and the need to protect them and coexist with them.
  • Encouraging the protection of grassland bird species.
  • Helping these charismatic little owls stimulate public interest in bird conservation.
  • Collecting data on Burrowing Owl numbers and their human visitors.
Docents commit to shifts of an hour or more, at least once every two weeks from October through March. To sign up, email nweeden@goldengatebirdalliance.org.
Docent Doug Donaldson helps a park visitor spot Burrowing Owls / Photo by Ilana DeBare
Docent Doug Donaldson helps a park visitor spot the owls / Photo by Ilana DeBare
Eco-Ed Director Anthony DeCicco and students at Point Pinole / Photo by Eva Guralnick
Eco-Ed Director Anthony DeCicco and students at Point Pinole / Photo by Eva Guralnick