Purpose:

To care for the resources of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve by establishing, restoring, and maintaining the native plant gardens and habitat at the Reserve; performing routine maintenance and stewardship of the trails; propagating quality local native plant stock in the native plant nursery for restoration efforts; removing graffiti and litter; and helping to cleanup the beaches.

Skills/ Qualifications:

Successful habitat restoration volunteers will be hard workers, be interested in restoring natural habitat, and be able to perform physical labor outdoors. Gardening experience is helpful but not required.

Duties:

Stewardship volunteers perform a variety of duties, depending on their schedules and interests. Duties can include removing invasive plant species, planting native species, collecting seeds, repairing disturbed natural areas, educating the public about the restoration process, propagating plants, removing brush, trimming overgrown vegetation, replacing signs, repairing broken fencing and handrails, and helping to maintain the nursery facility.

Reports To:

Stewardship Associate

Time:

4 hours per month (minimum) Sessions are held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Visitor Center, as well as every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Border Field State Park.

Training:

All volunteers must first complete the online Volunteer Application. Once the application is received, you will be contacted to set up a volunteer interview where you will be able to ask questions about the program and fill out the necessary volunteer paperwork for California State Parks and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In order to become more familiar with the Tijuana Estuary, we require that volunteers complete several online training modules which provide an overview of wetlands, estuaries, and the Core Programs here at TRNERR. In addition, stewardship volunteers will participate in on-the-job training that includes information on plant identification, invasive plant removal, and native plant gardening.

Benefits:

Develop gardening, trail maintenance, and landscaping skills. Learn about the estuarine environment. Become acquainted with the dedicated Reserve staff and their programs. Support indigenous plant and animal species, including those listed as rare and endangered. Enjoy the outdoors while volunteering. See firsthand the results of your work. Join a team of volunteers dedicated to restoring the natural environment.

To apply: Submit a Volunteer Application Form