Monterey District Natural Resources Volunteer Program
MONTEREY DISTRICT NATURAL RESOURCES MONTHLY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
ABOUT THE MONTEREY DISTRICT NATURAL RESOURCE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
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We are happy to be able to host socially distant volunteer work days every month! Come by yourself or with friends and family! Every month we hold four natural resource volunteer event days in our lovely Monterey State Parks.
California State Parks is following current CDC guidlines regarding COVID 19 protocols for groups. We ask that all attendees please be mindful of keeping a 6-ft. distance between themselves and others. Wearing a mask is necessary if you have not been vaccinated. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have had any flu-like symptoms over the last 14 days, we ask that you please stay home. At each work day, remember to bring your own mask, water, sunscreen, and a midday snack when attending out programs. We are excited to get our hands dirty and enjoy safely working with our community of volunteers!!
To RSVP for State Parks Natural Resources projects email: Samuel.Winter@parks.ca.gov
To register for the California State Parks Foundation co-sponsored projects visit: https://www.calparks.org
NOTE: Poor air quality from wildfires, or inclement weather due to rain or high winds, will cancel work days. Social distancing protocols are required.
BE SURE TO RSVP AND EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS!
The California State Parks Monterey District consists of 17 park units that stretch north to south along the Monterey Bay and Big Sur coast. Some of the District’s park units are Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Garrapata State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Altogether, the District manages approximately 16,000 acres of land to preserve natural resources and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
These parks are home to a variety of plants, animals, and plant communities, including multiple species of threatened, endangered, or rare plants and animals. These species include the Smith’s blue butterfly, California red-legged frog, and countless rare annual flowers such as Monterey spineflower, Sand gilia, Coast wallflower, and Yadon’s piperia. The Natural Resource Division protects these natural resources by restoring and conserving native plant communities threatened by competition from non-native, invasive plants and increased off-trail use.
The Natural Resource Volunteer Program leads on-going natural resource management projects across the District that include invasive plant control, revegetation, vegetation mapping, wildlife habitat restoration, sign and fence maintenance, and trail maintenance. It takes many hands to restore and protect natural resources in our State Parks and we cannot do it without the service and support from dedicated volunteers.
The Natural Resource Volunteer Program currently has regularly scheduled volunteer workdays at four different State Parks: Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Garrapata State Park, Carmel River State Beach, and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. We can also schedule additional programs for school groups who would like to come for a class field trip or we can schedule a project for a group of friends, family, youth group, team, club, or non-profit.
Upcoming Special Events!
The Natural Resources Volunteer Program frequently holds special events in addition to our regularly scheduled volunteer projects. Check back here for the latest information!
LGBTQ+ Volunteer Day : FORT ORD DUNES STATE PARK | Saturday, 2/4/2023 | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations and State Parks Natural Resource Team
WEEKLY & MONTHLY WORK PROJECTS - NATURAL RESOURCES VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
We are happy to be able to host socially distant volunteer work days every month! Come by yourself or with friends and family! Every month we hold four natural resource volunteer event days in our lovely Monterey State Parks. We have added weekly natural resources volunteer days at Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds for 2022.
RSVP for State Parks Natural Resource projects email: Samuel.Winter@parks.ca.gov
Register for California State Parks Foundation co-sponsored projects at: www.calparks.org/volunteer
NOTE: Poor air quality from wildfires, or inclement weather due to heavy rain or high winds will cancel work days. Social distancing protocols are required.
BE SURE TO RSVP AND EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS!
MONTHLY VOLUNTEER PROJECTS:
- Every Friday: ASILOMAR STATE BEACH | Friday, January 6th, 13th, 20th, & 27th| 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resource Team
Meeting location: Location varies. Contact Rosie.Eisner@parks.ca.gov for more information
Project: This is a WEEKLY program where we work in the greenhouse, collect seed, plant native plants, remove invasive plants, and more! Project and meeting location will vary week by week.
- Broom Bash: ISHXENTA STATE PARK | Monday, January 9th | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resource Team Cancelled due to weather! Join us on February 13th.
Be part of one of our longest running volunteer projects! Join us at Ishxenta State Park for a morning of pulling invasive French Broom from the beautiful Monterey Pine Forest. Volunteers must be comfortable walking and working in difficult terrain, off-trail, and in areas with poison oak, steep slopes, and ticks. RSVP to Samuel.Winter@parks.ca.gov
- 2nd Saturday: CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACH | Saturday, 1/14/2022 | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resource Team
Meeting location: Southern Carmel River State Beach, at the intersection of Ribera Rd. & Cuesta Way
Project: It’s time to plant! Join us for a morning planting and watering native plants in our restoration plots. *Friendly reminder*: Restrooms are not easily accessible from this meeting location.
- 3rd Wednesday: POINT LOBOS STATE NATURAL RESERVE | Wednesday, 1/18/2022 | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resource Team
Meeting location: Sea Lion Point Parking Lot
Project: Return to the Cypress Grove! This month, we’re heading back to the Cypress Grove to see what’s popped up following the recent rains we’ve had.
- 3rd Saturday: FORT ORD DUNES STATE PARK | Saturday, 1/21/2022 | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resource Team & California State Parks Foundation
Meeting location: Fort Ord Dunes State Park main parking lot (end of 8th Street in Marina)
Project: Join us in the historic Fort Ord Dunes for a morning of volunteer work! This month, we’ll return to the 1st Street beach access to pull invasive mustard.
- 4th Tuesday: GARRAPATA STATE PARK | Tuesday, 1/24/2022 | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resource Team & California State Parks Foundation
Meeting location: Soberanes Canyon Trailhead (Gate 8)
Project:Volunteer work with a view! Join us on the bluffs of scenic Garrapata State Park. We’ll be removing non-native, invasive plants such as Cape ivy, mustard, ice plant, and sticky eupatorium that threaten the persistence of native vegetation communities.
- Rescheduled!: CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACH | Saturday, 1/28/2022 | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resource Team
Meeting location: Southern Carmel River State Beach, at the intersection of Ribera Rd. & Cuesta Way
Project: It’s time to plant! Join us for a morning planting and watering native plants in our restoration plots. *Friendly reminder*: Restrooms are not easily accessible from this meeting location.
Thank you to all the hardworking volunteers who join us each month. Together, we accomplish so much!
Follow us on Instagram @Monterey_natresource_volunteer
Snowy Plover Guardian Program
California State Parks and the Monterey Audubon Society are excited to announce the return of our Plover Guardian Program! The goal of program is to encourage public stewardship of coastal ecosystems and to promote responsible recreation practices that protect native species, especially the Western Snowy Plover, a Federally Threatened shore bird that nests and overwinters on our beaches. For more information, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact us at: Volunteer.Monterey@CA.Parks.gov