The Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project team consists of education and curriculum specialists, habitat restoration scientists, classroom and alternative educators, students of all ages, and interested community members. Return of the Natives is continually proud of the diversity of dedicated people who make our many programs possible. RON works with thousands of schoolchildren and community volunteers to restore these creeks.
RON has experienced great success through their partnerships with other agencies. Some of their longest and most established partners include the City of Salinas, BLM-Ft. Ord, and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Other partners fund RON efforts through grants and contracts.
Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project
Teacher training and implementation of native gardens or natural
area on school campuses, city parks, and other open spaces.
Involves students and community in propagation of native plants,
landscape design, habitat restoration, and curriculum development..
Return of the Natives has on-going restoration projects in
Natividad Creek and Cesar Chavez Parks-Salinas, on the Fort
Ord Public Lands, and in the Moro Cojo Slough area near Moss
Landing. Return of the Natives is the education and outreach
arm of the Watershed Institute, CSUMB, and has offices and
greenhouses on the CSUMB campus
Contacts: Laura Lee Lienk, Director, 582-3689 Laura_Lienk@csumb.edu
War on Weeds Project
A project of Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project and BLM Ft. Ord Public Lands
Twice monthly weed bashes or education programs conducted
in the Ft. Ord Weed Management Area including local beaches,
river corridors, and Toro Creek watershed.
Contact: BLM Ft. Ord Office 394-8314
Return of Natives, Laura Lee Lienk, Director, 582-3689 Laura_Lienk@csumb.edu
Salinas Storm Drain Stenciling Project Cooperative
A project with the City of Salinas Public Works Department
Salinas Recycling Task Force (Hazardous Waste Recycling and Education)
S.D.S. Monterey County Health Department
M.C.W.R.A.
Monterey Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation
Sierra Club
A.M.B.A.G.
Monterey County Water Awareness Committee
Help stencil "NO DUMPING FLOWS TO THE BAY" warning
messages on storm drains and drain gates. Needed because our
urban wetlands/slough system is seriously polluted with run-off
and pollution affecting marine life in the Bay.
Contacts: Tom Montoya, Salinas Public Works Department, 758-7103
Cindy Marquez, Salinas Volunteer Coordinator, 758-7382
Dune Restoration at Salinas River State Park and the Moss Landing Marine Lab
Field trips and work days to help stabilize and restore the
dunes with propagated plant materials.
Contact: Sue Shaw, Restoration Specialist, 633-6136 (before 7:00 am M-F)
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Preserve and adjacent Nature Conservancy Lands
Assist in scheduled, habitat restoration projects under the
direction of expert naturalists. Great educational network
and source of support.
The visitors center of the Reserve has a lovely native plant
garden.
Contact: Kenton Parker 728-2822
Carneros Creek Watershed Association
A neighborhood based program which is making great headway
in this feeder creek to the Elkhorn Slough. Seasonal clean-ups
and plantings.
Contact: 728-7709
Beach Garden Project
Classroom Propagation of dune plants for restoration of area
State Beaches. Opportunities to involve students in seed collection
activities in the actual habitat where the propagated plants
would eventually be returned. Organizers can provide free,
potting containers, planting medium, seed material, and plant
stock for use in the project. Because of the delicate nature
of the dune ecosystem, and the requirements of certain nesting,
bird species for peace and quiet, this project is seasonal:
Contact: Joey Durrell Canepa 659-1263
Marina State Beach and Ft. Ord Dunes Restoration Project
Join volunteers and rangers as they plant natives and combat
invasive exotics.
Contact: Ian Harlan 384-7695 or Jean Scott 384-0617
Asilomar Beach State Park Coastal Dune and Monterey Pine Forest Restoration Effort
Classroom Cultivation on Native tree species indigenous to
sites on the Monterey Peninsula. Opportunities to help in
an on-going highly successful project.
Contact: Tom Moss, California State Park Ranger/Naturalist,
Restoration Planner, 372-0481
Eco-Corps - Monarch Habitat Restoration Projects
Eco-Corps is the environmental activist group of Pacific Grove.
Their restoration projects included monthly restoration work
days in Washington Park and the Monarch Grove Park. Assistance
is needed in planting, weeding, watering, and mulching native
stands of Monterey Pines and other native species favored
by the Monarch Butterfly.
Big Sur Coast and Pt. Lobos Weed Team
A joint project of State Parks, US Forest Service and California
Native Plant Society. Volunteer events and fun celebrations.
Contact: Dave Pasavoy, 624-4909
California Native Plant Society, Bob Hale 647-8821 or 656-3108
Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary
An outstanding opportunity for students to blend habitat restoration
with scientific research, studying the changes that take place
in a given habitat through the reintroduction of native plants
(large meadow restoration) and new animal life. A native plant
greenhouse is on-site. Students can help with the capture
and banding of migratory birds that frequent riparian habitats,
and track bald eagles and condors (??) using radio telemetry.
Contact: 624-1202
Monterey Regional Park District Restoration Projects
Work with Regional Park Rangers and Park Naturalists on their
many restoration projects. Sites include the Frog Pond Natural
Area in Del Rey Oaks, Monterey Bay area beaches, and the Rancho
Restoration Project at Garland Park in Carmel Valley. An excellent
curriculum has been developed for use with intermediate age
students.
Contact: District Naturalist, 659-6062
Pebble Beach Corporation
The Pebble Beach Company has many restoration and other educational
projects available to teachers.
Contact: 625-8419
Save Our Shores
http://www.saveourshores.org/Sea_Lion_Stewards/index.html
