We need help controlling and monitoring invasive organisms!

1. We started removing invasive blackberries from our 64-acre upland site in 2007.�You can help us with this spiny task.
2. Here is an easy one. We need help controlling weeds as new native plants gain in strength around our buildings and in the upland.
3. Get your feet muddy to monitor for European green crab. This requires a firm commitment on specific days throughout the summer.

There are two categories of volunteer opportunities described on this page:

• Education Program
• Stream Team

Scroll down for detailed descriptions. Please contact Glen Alexander, 360-428-1070 for more information.

Education Program Volunteer Opportunities

There are four different volunteer jobs in the Education Program. If you are interested in this kind of work please contact the Reserve.

1. Program Assistant
This job involves helping with school groups participating in the full-day program. These are usually Tuesday through Friday 9:30 to 2:30. The volunteer typically helps set up and put away equipment and live displays. They also interact with groups of students as they guide themselves exploring the beach and indoor exhibits.

2. Traveling Exhibit
This job involves staffing our traveling exhibit at festivals and fairs. The volunteer helps set up and take down the display including live animals. They also interact with the public describing Reserve programs and plants and animals

3. Bird Expert
During the winter (January through March) we sometimes get large numbers of visitors interested in birding. The skills of these visitors vary widely from those looking for eagles to those looking for a Terek Sandpiper. We seek volunteers with birding expertise to sit at our reception desk, greet people as they come in, answer questions and educate them about local birding.

4. Heron Cam Observer
We have a video camera set up in a heron colony across the bay and live images are available to visitors in our exhibits. We need volunteers to observe heron behavior, capture video images of herons at all different stages of breeding and development and to explain the project to visitors.

Stream Team Volunteer Opportunities

Education/Training
All Stream Team Volunteers have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain new insights, network with local experts, meet new friends, and participate in a worthwhile community program. Stream Team Volunteers are supplied with a manual, equipment, supplies, and FREE TRAINING.

Stream Team Field Monitors
The field volunteers are responsible for collecting and recording water quality data at assigned stream reaches on a monthly basis. Please note that this position may require walking on rocky, steep, and/or uneven terrain.

Stream Team Lab Managers
Those who prefer dry feet are trained to conduct fecal coliform and turbidity tests at the Padilla Bay Research Reserve lab facility.

Data Managers
The data manager provides support by entering monitoring data in a spreadsheet and generating graphs and charts for an annual monitoring report.

Select Skagit Stream Team to learn more about this program.