Master Naturalist Training Program!

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Have a passion for environmental stewardship and conservation? The City of Bellevue is now accepting applications for its 7th annual Master NaturalistTraining Program. 

In exchange for this free environmental training, naturalists reciprocate at least 5 volunteer hours per month up to 100 hours of service in the care of Bellevue’s natural resources. Applications must be postmarked by December 1st, 2014. Preference will be giving to Bellevue residents. Please visit http://www.bellevuewa.gov/volunteer-master-naturalist.htm for more information or to apply. You can also call 425-452-4195 or email parks_stewardship@bellevuewa.gov for more information.

[volunteer]: Citizen Science opportunity at Mount Rainier NP

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Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff of the University of Washington,

Please feel free to pass this information along to friends, family, or acquaintances who you feel may have an interest in this program.

Do you love amphibians, science, and exploring National Parks? Then the Citizen Science Program is for you. The Citizen Science program gives volunteers the opportunity to hike and explore some of Mount Rainier’s remote lakes and wetland habitats while gaining experience in surveying and science. This year’s Citizen Science program will be starting up around late July and will run until mid-September.

We are looking for volunteers to help conduct amphibian surveys to document the presence or absence of amphibian species at various lakes, ponds and wetlands including historical Western Toad sites. As a volunteer you would be part of a small group that will hike to pre-determined sites and help conduct amphibian surveys. You do not need any previous experience and surveying equipment will be provided. You may volunteer once or multiple times throughout the season. If you need to stay overnight for a few days, free camping is available at Cougar Rock, White River, Ohanapecosh and Longmire campgrounds, however, there is no long term housing available. We are conducting both day trip and overnight backpacking surveys throughout the park.

If you are interested and available to volunteer during the time period from late July to mid-September then please email me back and indicate:

  • Your phone number and preferred email
  • Preference on volunteering for day surveys or overnight backpacking trip surveys
  • Your experience and comfort level with hiking/backpacking
  • Any physical limitations you may have
  • Approximately what date or dates you are available
  • Preference on which days of the week you prefer to volunteer (weekends, weekdays, etc)

I have added two attachments to this email that provide some additional information. If you choose to volunteer I will provide you with more details when I hear back from you!Please feel free to pass this information along to friends, family, or acquaintances who you feel may have an interest in this program. If you have any questions feel free to call me at (360) 569-6756 or email me at laura_davis@partner.nps.gov. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Laura Davis

Citizen Science Coordinator

Mount Rainier National Park 

laura_davis@partner.nps.gov

(360) 569-6756

[Internship]: Marine Debris Intern

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The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), a citizen science program based at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, is looking for 2-5 undergraduate students to assist with program’s upcoming marine debris data collection project beginning spring 2015.

Students working with COASST gain valuable, hands-on experience with citizen science programs, scientific protocol development and testing and learn the complexities of adapting data collection to a broad and diverse corps of participants. Students will work directly with the program’s research staff to:

  • create marine debris photo database with linked attributes
  • field-test the marine debris protocol
  • create the marine debris field toolkit
  • finalize marine debris literature search
  • network with marine debris principal investigator, researchers, and partners

Once quarterly, students will present their work at lab meetings, and attend the Pacific Coast field trip.

Interested students should send an email to: Jane Dolliver, Program Coordiantor, coasst@uw.eduPlease include a statement of interest that contains:

  • applicable background in marine biology (coursework, job/intern experience)
  • experience with data, statistics packages, databases (excel, R, catalyst etc.)
  • experience with volunteers, volunteer programs, and/or other research labs
  • days and times of availability for January-March – Winter Quarter 2014 (8am-8pm)

[course]: Citizen Ecology

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Tired of large classes? Looking for a unique class only offered this spring? The following course can count for the natural science, policy and decision-making, or fieldwork requirements of the Environmental Studies major or minor. Open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Science communication and community outreach are incredibly relevant to PoE and environmental studies in general!

ENVIR 495D, Citizen Ecology
MW 10:30-11:20, W 1:00-2:50
Open to all majors, SLN 13758
  • Should ecologists recruit the public to help collect important data to better understand global change—data that is otherwise difficult to get? 
  • Or is data collected by the public fundamentally flawed?
  • How can scientists and non-scientists communicate effectively about ecological ideas? 
  • Does citizen science change participants’ understanding of ecology and science, or their civic decision-making? Should it?
Citizen science (CS)—or “crowdsourced science”– is an important emerging phenomenon in ecological research. CS is characterized by collaboration between academic scientists and interested participants from the public, who volunteer to collect and share data.  This course explores the potential uses and shortcomings of CS research in ecology through labs and readings.  We also address science communication and social implications of CS.

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This course is offered one time only through Huckabay Fellow (and ENVIR 280 TA from last spring!) Susan Waters. It will count for either the ‘natural science’, ‘policy and decision-making’, or ‘fieldwork’ perspectives requirements.