Elkhorn Slough Seeks Volunteer Docents

Free Training Begins Saturday, January 25

The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is seeking new volunteer docents to engage the public and help fellow explorers discover the nature and beauty of the slough.

The Elkhorn Slough Reserve offers docent-led tours Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Docent program started in 1983 with a small group of locals sharing about the science and restoration work happening just north of Moss Landing.

Today, Docents are still the public face of the Reserve, guiding guests through shady oak woodlands and spotting birds in the marshes.

Docents are asked to lead at least one tour a month for a full year, and enjoy benefits including special field trips, an annual appreciation dinner, and discounts in the Visitor Center bookstore.

The Reserve will be hosting a series of free Docent Trainings each Saturday from Jan. 25 through Feb. 22. Classes take place at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Over the course of these five sessions, volunteers will learn about different aspects of the Elkhorn Slough, from its wildlife and plants to its history of human impacts and land use. Each day will involve hands-on activities and talks, as well as outdoor excursions.

Educators from the Reserve and partnering organizations will lead interactive learning activities to help new docents build their knowledge and develop the confidence to lead public tours of the Reserve trails.

Classes are free, but registration is required. To register, visit www.elkhornslough.org/events/reserve-docent-training or contact Reserve Volunteer Coordinator Ariel Hunter at ariel.hunter@wildlife.ca.gov or call (831) 728-2822. Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (Royal Oaks)

Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) is a community-supported nonprofit land trust whose mission is to conserve and restore the Elkhorn Slough and its watershed.

ESF protects 4,000 acres of rare habitat including oak woodlands, coastal prairie, maritime chaparral, coastal dunes, and wetlands. Since 1982, ESF has been the nonprofit partner of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve.

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For more information, visit www.elkhornslough.org.