Become a Salish Sea Steward or a Beach Naturalist Volunteer!

The Skagit County Marine Resources Committee is offering FREE Training

 

The Skagit County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is providing free training for citizens interested in learning about issues impacting our marine waters, and getting involved in conservation, restoration, and education efforts.

 

The Skagit MRC Salish Sea Stewards program provides approximately 40 hours of training that consists of evening classroom sessions (5:30pm – 8pm) and two field trips. This training covers topics that focus on the geology, ecology and biology of our local marine waters and shorelines. Additional training workshops will be offered in science and monitoring as well as outreach and education. “Graduates” of the program are expected to contribute 30 hours of volunteer service with any of several Skagit MRC and partner organizations. Nancy Olsen, Program coordinator says, “The goals of this program are to offer an entry point for citizens to learn and become involved in the restoration and conservation of Skagit County’s marine resources. Meeting others and sharing field work that makes a difference are wonderful fringe benefits that volunteers enjoy.”

 

The Beach Naturalists training consists of four classroom sessions (evenings 5:30pm – 8pm) and two field trips.  Topics include tide pool ecology, coastal processes, and environmental interpretation. Skagit MRC and Deception Pass State Park are collaborating to share trainings for Beach Naturalist programs at both Washington Park and Rosario Beach. Beach Naturalist “graduates” will gain experience as interpreters for school groups and the public at Rosario Beach in Deception Pass State Park or at Washington Park, Anacortes.

 

Training begins March 10th.  Applications are due February 28^th and can be downloaded from the Skagit MRC website: www.skagitmrc.org.  For more information, contact Nancy Olsen nancy.skagitbeaches@gmail.com.