GGAS’s Virtual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration: We look forward to seeing you at our annual Golden Gate Audubon Society Volunteer Appreciation Celebration this Thursday, January 28th at 7 pm PST. We’ll be honoring our 2020 volunteers and welcoming in the 2021 new year! We will also present our annual Golden Gate Audubon Society 2020 Elsie Roemer Conservation and Paul Covel Education Awards to outstanding members of our dedicated volunteers and birding community. If you would like to get information for how to attend, please contact Volunteer Services Manager, Janet Carpinelli, at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org.
NOTE: Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) impact and county-wide stay-at-home orders, our volunteer opportunities are cancelled until February 1st. Generally, activities may be cancelled or postponed at any time. If an event is cancelled, you will receive an email notice 24 hours in advance.
Join us at our habitat restoration events throughout the month. Following accepted Covid-19 protocol, we will keep the event size to 10 volunteers each. Once 10 people have signed up per event, the event will be marked FULL. If you need directions, or have questions, please email our Manager of Volunteer Services, Janet Carpinelli at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org.
In order to participate in these events, all participants must pre-register. Click on your chosen event on the calendar below and follow the link to complete registration. Waivers for volunteers under 18 years of age must be signed by a parent or guardian.
For everyone’s safety, please bring and wear a mask or face covering. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, weather appropriate clothing, hat and/or sunscreen, and, if necessary, rain gear. Bring your own water bottle and snack. If you have your own garden gloves, please bring them, but there will be glove liners and gloves for your safe use at the site. We’ll provide instruction and tools. No experience necessary.
Please do not forget to follow our Birding Code of Ethics. If you’d like to learn more about our Birding Code of Ethics, please click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
If you would like to schedule a group workday (maximum 10 volunteers), please contact our Manager of Volunteer Services at least one (1) month ahead of requested date at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org.
Saturday November 21, 2020
Golden Gate Park, North Lake, San Francisco
10:00 am
– 12:00 pm
In partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, volunteers support habitat for local and migrating birds at North Lake in Golden Gate Park. Remove invasive, non-native plants and plant California native plants that provide food and cover for the many birds at this site.
Directions: Meet at restroom pavilion on JFK Drive near Chain of Lakes Drive.
Please use the Registration button to register. For more information, please contact our Manager of Volunteer Services: jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org.
Saturday October 24, 2020
Golden Gate Park, North Lake, San Francisco
10:00 am
– 12:00 pm
In partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, volunteers support habitat for local and migrating birds at North Lake in Golden Gate Park. Remove invasive, non-native plants and plant California native plants that provide food and cover for the many birds at this site.
Directions: Meet at restroom pavilion near intersection of JFK Drive and Chain of Lakes Drive.
Please use the Registration button to register. Groups are welcome but RSVP in advance is required. Please contact our Manager of Volunteer Services: jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org.
Wednesday October 7, 2020
Heron’s Head Park, San Francisco
10:00 am
– 12:00 pm
Volunteers will help with a variety of activities at Heron’s Head Park in southeast SF including removing invasive non-native plants along the Wetlands shoreline, picking up trash, and replanting native plants. Volunteers should meet at the EcoCenter just beyond the parking lot. There is a bathroom in the EcoCenter.
See here for more info about the EcoCenter. And here for more info about the park here.
RSVPing before the event required – use the registration form by clicking the button.
Saturday October 17, 2020
Golden Gate Park, Buffalo (Bison) Paddock, San Francisco
10:00 am
– 12:00 pm
Restore White-crowned Sparrow habitat with San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and Golden Gate Audubon.
RSVPing before the event required. Please pemail our Manager of Volunteer Services, Janet Carpinelli at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.
Directions: In Golden Gate Park at Chain of Lakes and JFK Drive. Meet at the east end of the Bison Paddock.
Upcoming Volunteer Events
Pier 94, San Francisco's South Eastern Waterfront
Join us at a restored wetland in San Francisco Bay. Activities at Pier 94 include invasive plant removal, trash pickup and planting. See native plants, and a variety of shorebirds and waterbirds.
Next events:
Sat Apr 6, 2019 from 9a-noon
Sat. May 4, 2019 from 9a-noon
Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Park, Oakland
Golden Gate Audubon hosts events at the MLK Jr. Shoreline Park in Oakland on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Participate in planting and shoreline cleanups. GGAS helped create this park which is home to the endangered Ridgway’s Rail.
Upcoming dates:
- TBA
Directions: From I-880 in Oakland, exit at Hegenberger Road and head west. Turn right onto Doolittle Drive (Hwy. 61) and right again onto Swan Way. You will then turn left into the park and drive to the last parking lot near the observation tower. See here for map.
Golden Gate Park, Buffalo (bison) Paddock, San Francisco
Restore White-crowned Sparrow habitat with San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and Golden Gate Audubon.
Upcoming dates:
- Saturday, September 19, 10 am – noon
- Saturday, October 17, 10 am- noon
RSVP before the event required. Please email our Manager of Volunteer Services, Janet Carpinelli at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.
Directions: In Golden Gate Park at Chain of Lakes and JFK Drive. Meet at the east end of the Bison Paddock.
Golden Gate Park, North Lake, San Francisco
In partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, volunteers support habitat for local and migrating birds at North Lake in Golden Gate Park. Remove invasive, non-native plants and plant California native plants that provide food and cover for the many birds at this site.
Upcoming dates:
- Saturday, September 26, 10 am – noon
- Saturday, October 24, 10 am – noon
RSVP before the event required. Please email our Manager of Volunteer Services, Janet Carpinelli at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.
Directions: Meet at restroom pavilion near intersection of JFK Drive and Chain of Lakes Drive.
Groups are welcome but RSVP in advance is required. Please contact our Manager of Volunteer Services: jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org.
Heron’s Head Park,
San Francisco
Volunteers will help with a variety of activities at Heron’s Head Park in southeast SF including removing invasive non-native plants along the Wetlands shoreline, picking up trash, and replanting native plants. Volunteers should meet at the EcoCenter just beyond the parking lot. There is a bathroom in the EcoCenter.
See here for more info about the EcoCenter. And here for more info about the park here.
- Wednesday, September 2, 10am – noon
- Wednesday, October 7, 10am – noon
RSVPing before the event required. Please email our Manager of Volunteer Services, Janet Carpinelli at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.
Ocean Beach – Beach Cleanup, San Francisco
In partnership with the National Park Service, monthly beach cleanups for shorebirds at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Second Fridays of each month from 9 am-noon. Equipment is provided. Meet at Stairwell 17 on the Great Highway across from the Beach Chalet. Minors are welcome but must have a waiver signed by an adult parent or guardian in order to participate.
Upcoming dates:
- TBA
- Fri Apr 12, 2019 from 9a-noon
- Fri May 10,2019 from 9a-noon
Crissy Field – Beach Cleanup, San Francisco
In partnership with the National Park Service, monthly beach cleanups for the Snowy Plover and other shorebirds are held at Crissy Field in San Francisco. All equipment (gloves, pickers and buckets) are provided by the NPS. A commitment to learn more about the Snowy Plovers and their environment and assistance at six or more beach cleanups per year is requested. Limited to 8 volunteers. Next events:
- Mon Apr 8, 2019 from 10a-noon
- Mon May 13,2019 from 10a-noon
Directions: Volunteers meet at the WARMING HUT, 983 Marine Dr, San Francisco CA 94129.
Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco
In partnership with the Treasure Island Development Corporation and SF Environment. Habitat restoration for birds and other wildlife on Yerba Buena Island in the midst of San Francisco Bay. Instruction, gloves and water are provided. Events are on the third Wednesday of each month from 1-3pm. Meet at Quarters 10 Park and Clipper Cove.
- Wed Apr 17,2019 from 1-3pm FULL
- Wed May 15,2019 from 1-3pm
Proposed Alameda Wildlife Reserve, Alameda
Home to the endangered California Least Terns. Work with the Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve to prepare habitat by removing invasive shrubs and ground covers. Adults must be present to work with anyone under the age of 15, unless given special permission. Next volunteer events:
- Sun Apr 14,2019 from 9a-noon
Directions: Meet at the main refuge gate at the northwest corner of the former Naval Air Station in Alameda. Address is 2501 MONARCH ST. in Alameda, then drive toward the gates to the left of the Creative Technologies building. The far gate will be open, where a volunteer will have you sign-in.
Candlestick Park Eco Stewards – Golden Gate Audubon Society Volunteer Opportunity Candlestick Park Eco Stewards. Volunteers plant native plants and work on other activities at Candlestick Point State Park in San Francisco.
- 1st Saturday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Second Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Fourth Friday 9:00 am-1:00 pm.
Wear appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes and hat; gloves and tools provided. All ages welcome. Directions: Meet at the State Park Nursery at 1150 Carroll Ave. (Ranger Station); take 29 Muni bus to the Gilman Playground stop. Follow Gilman toward the stadium and make a left on Aurelious Walker, which loops around and becomes Carroll Ave. CLICK FOR MAP.
Conservation Committees
San Francisco Conservation Committee
click photo for info
East Bay Conservation Committee
click photo for info
Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve
click photo for info
Train to Become a Docent
Help passersby spot and appreciate the birds at spots at Lake Merritt, or along the Bay Trail in Richmond and Cesar Chavez Park in Berkeley and in downtown Oakland. We provide training for docents in the spring for the Lake Merritt nesting birds and downtown Oakland Heron programs and in the fall for Birding the Bay Trail.
RSVP required in advance for training. Email volunteer@goldengateaudubon.org for details
Other Ways to Help
Your skills, knowledge, and expertise can help us in dozens of ways. Lead a field trip, teach children about birds and wetlands, provide office support, write letters to elected officials, join a habitat restoration work party or photograph our events. Whether you have a lot of time or a little, we welcome your participation. Contact volunteer@goldengateaudubon.org for more information.
Photographers – Volunteers are needed to help by photographing at our events.
Event Volunteers: Volunteers are needed at a variety of events to engage
the public by talking about Golden Gate Audubon’s programs and the
advantages of membership. Event entry fees are paid for these volunteers.
To find out more, click here.
Existing Volunteers: Our existing volunteers can log their hours and activities by clicking on Volunteer Hours.
VOLUNTEER WITH ECO-EDUCATION
NOW RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS FOR THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR!
Join one of our upcoming volunteer trainings led by our experienced environmental education staff and local celebrity birders!
We’re looking for volunteers who love being outside with kids to help us on our weekday field trips to local parks with 3rd-5thgraders in Oakland, Richmond, and San Francisco. No prior experience as a teacher or birder is necessary – just a love of nature and children.
As a volunteer, you would assist us on our school day long field trips. Activities include bird walks, habitat restoration, and nature hikes. Field trip sites include Arrowhead Marsh in Oakland, Point Pinole in Richmond, and Glen Park in San Francisco.
Our award-winning Eco-Education program offers a year-long curriculum with in-class and field trip components to low income public schools around the Bay Area. Come be a part of the fun of connecting young people with nature!
Required:
– a love of working with children, nature, and being outdoors
– a desire to help young people ASK QUESTIONS and be INQUISITIVE about birds and the natural environment
– available at least 1-2 weekdays a month, for the whole school day ( usually from 9 or 10am to 2 or 3pm)
– willingness to travel to our field trip sites in Oakland, Richmond, and/OR San Francisco (carpooling often available)
Helpful but not required:
– physically able to travel about 1-2 miles, sometimes on unpaved and uneven trails (some but not all of our field trip sites have paved, wheelchair accessible trails)
– a love and ability to help students plant native plants
– a desire and ability to lead small groups (5-10 students each) in activities
– fluent in Spanish
For more information, contact Clay at canderson@goldengateaudubon.org.
Click here to see what it’s like to go on an Eco-Ed field trip!
SE NECESITAN EDUCADORES AMBIENTALES
Trabaje con estudiantes en el programa Eco-Oakland de nuestra organización GGAS. No se requiere experiencia previa. Prevemos 12 horas de entrenamiento para programas en el salón de clase y paseos al aire libre ecológicos.
Usted se compromete a participar en el entrenamiento y participar por lo menos 7 horas al mes con estudiantes de escuelas primarias del Este de Oakland y sus familias en paseos ecológicos y en programas en el salón de clase.
Los estudiantes aprenden sobre la ecología de las aguas y fauna local, con actividades creativas del salón de clase. En paseos al campo, a riachuelos locales, y al parque de Martin Luther King, Jr, litoral regional, los voluntarios trabajan en actividades de mano con los estudiantes, y restauran hábitos de los ríos, los pantanos y el mar, observan pájaros, estudian invertebrados, y examinan la calidad del agua.
Los voluntarios también asisten con los paseos de Eco-Oakland para los estudiantes y sus familias a los sábados al Océano Pacífico. Para muchas familias, éstos son sus primeros viajes al océano. Con estas excursiones altamente populares, los estudiantes y sus familias vienen a entender y apreciar la conexión entre sus vecindades, los ríos, la bahía, y el océano.