Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Volunteer Newsletter January - February 2017 Upcoming Volunteer Enrichments Volunteer Carmel River Watershed Recognition Saturday, January 14 9AM- 11:30AM Garland Meeting Room Celebration Lorin Letendre, Director of the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, is passionate about preserving and enhancing the watershed. In addition to leading the LGO! Carmel River Watershed driving tours, he has been Saturday active in the dam removal project, Carmel River Task Force and researching the history of the area. March 11 Archaeology of Carmel Valley Time & Saturday, February 11 9AM- 11:30AM Garland Meeting Room Location TBA Gary Breschini, archeologist will discuss the impact of the Sobranes Fire on fragile local archaeological sites. For over 40 years Gary and his wife, Trudy Haversat, have explored, dug, researched, and identified local artifacts telling the story of the Esselen and Rumsen Indians - the earliest residents of Carmel Valley. Join 7th Graders on a visit to Palo Corona Ranch Jackie Nelson MPRPD is seeking volunteer support. Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District is partnering with the Carmel Middle School to host 210 middle school students at Palo Corona Regional Park (PCRP) on Wednesday, March 1 through Friday, March 3, 2017. Each day, 70 students will walk from the middle school to Inspiration Point for lunch; then break-out into smaller groups to discover the history, ecology and restoration efforts along the Carmel River watershed. The event hours are from 9:00 am- 2:30 pm. Entering its third year of the “Monterey Bay Outdoor Education Field Program,” Carmel Middle School teachers, educators and volunteers take the entire 7th grade to Elkhorn Slough Reserve, Point Lobos and previously Garland Ranch Regional Park. The acquisition of Rancho Cañada opens up the opportunity to pilot the program at PCRP thus, developing limitless potential for future outdoor education programs at the site. The curriculum for this interactive, hands-on program is in the developmental stages and will be completed by mid-January 2016. Volunteers are welcome to join in designing the activities and/or helping lead the fieldtrips on March 1, 2 or 3. For more information please contact: Jackie Nelson (831) 372-3196 x 109 or [email protected]. January / February 2017 Volunteer Newsletter Page 2 Volunteer – Annie Holdren- Following the Thread by Jeanie Wells Annie Holdren sees a thread going through her career. When confronted with complicated information, she enjoys figuring out what’s relevant—and inter- esting. “I loved analyzing data!” exclaimed Annie, when talking about her PhD work and subsequent job as a medical data analyst. After doing archaeologi- cal excavations at historically documented “Carib” sites in the West Indies, she found that analyzing artifacts was far from straightforward. She turned to social network analysis, and found patterns that formed the basis for her dissertation at UCLA. As she was finishing graduate school, Annie married and moved to Monterey. Her first job made use of her analytical skills. But after having a baby she sought a more flexible schedule. A dear friend, who knew her as a writer that loved science, lured her away to write a national science curriculum for ele- mentary schools. She took on other curricula projects and found a passion for writing that makes the complicated clear and for developing hands-on activi- ties that prompt students to ask their own questions. Annie’s husband, Craig, a “Renaissance Man” is an architect, and an artist/ illustrator, mushroom collector, free-diver, and lover of nature. Annie and Craig met in her home town of Palo Alto, CA and have raised three daughters, Alexis, Maya, and Makaira. His work brought them to the Monterey Peninsula, where Craig’s first office was across the street from the PG Museum of Natural History. She was working on a science curriculum at the time and trying out ideas in her daughters’ classes. That lead her to bringing classes to the PG Museum. She noticed that everything was behind glass, and so she created ways for students to have hands-on experiences related to the exhibit topics. In 2007 the museum seemed about to close. Fortunately, it was saved by a newly formed non-profit in a public-private partnership with the city. They hired a new Director and also hired Annie to develop the education and volunteer programs. She held enrichments for volunteers, worked with teachers to understand what they wanted on school field trips, and came up with ways to give all visitors hands-on opportunities. Through this, she began to work on the museum’s actual exhibits. After getting the programs off the ground, Annie focused on exhibits entirely. “I love designing exhibits and writing exhibit text” It takes skill to hone exhibit labels that get to “the heart” of the information, the important part, the part that interests the reader and makes them want to learn more. She says, “It’s wonderful to be able to give this to the public, so everyone can understand the beauty and connections between humans and nature.” She is now working as a freelance Interpretive Writer and Exhibit Designer. Her current project is for a Riparian Conference at UC Davis next fall. She is coordinating and curating an art aspect for scientists to help show them how art and science interact. She will be helping scientists share their information artistically, both visually, and through participation and performances. Our staff have recruited Annie for her expertise in interpretive writing and exhibit design. The first challenge, our small exhibit at the Visitor’s Center. She started helping us with our art exhibits and is now helping to identify interpretive threads that might weave through future exhibits’ text and interactions. “I’m also working on versions of a sign to interpret the steelhead/riparian art piece we display in the Visitors Center.” She’s sharing her expertise in these specialty areas as a volunteer and plans to attend more Volunteer meetings to meet other volunteers. Annie lights up with enthusiasm for nature and creating interpretive experiences. She is a great asset to our efforts. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn more from her. When you meet Annie, you too will discover many great stories if you “follow her thread”. January / February 2017 Volunteer Newsletter Page 3 Marina Dunes Preserve A Brief History Article excerpted from MPRPD website Marina Dunes Preserve (MDP) is currently a 62 acre parcel. Though no evidence exists to say that the site was explicitly used by the Ohlone people prior to European contact, it is safe to say that these dunes, in general, were used exten- sively by them. What impacts may have occurred would have most likely been limited to foot paths. After WWII the dunes began to see heavy use. In 1983, the site of MDP was just an abandoned sand mining site with a lot of off-road vehicle damage. A proposal to convert these dunes into a large-scale resort hotel failed and the opportunity to purchase the property for coastal public access was realized. The property was purchased by MPRPD to enhance and protect public access to the Monterey Bay seashore and restore native vegetation to the site for more natural habitat con- ditions. The District’s first act was to remove the old sand processing plant. The foundations can still be seen on the ocean side of the dune. Volunteer enrichment Nov 2016 dune walk Since 1990, MPRPD has slowly and steadily been restoring the area. Local visitors enjoy the property primarily as an access way to the beach. Access follows the old sand mining roadway. Interpretive aspects of the dune habitat Harsh, sunny, windy, blowing sand, salt air, sand drains water quickly Fore dunes - most exposed to elements- wind, salt air, sand, short plants Mid dunes - In trough areas plants are a little taller Hind dunes– most protected from elements; here plants grow even taller Ways the native plants and animals have adaptations to survive and thrive in this harsh environment. Flowers, leaves collect moisture (dew) White under leaves to reflect the sun’s rays - Lizardtail Sticky stems and leaves collect sand to use like an armor for protection from wind and sun - Sand verbena Many animals live in burrows Threatened and endangered species: Western Snowy plover; Smith’s blue butterfly; See plant species below (purple) Partial Plant Species List Cryptantha leiocarpa Coast Cryptantha Abronia latifolia Yellow Sand Verbena Dudleya caespitosa Liveforever Abronia umbellata Pink Sand Verbena Ericameria ericoides Mock Heather Achillea millefolium Yarrow Erigeron Glaucus Seaside Daisy Agoseris apargioides var. eastwoodiae Eastwood's Agoseris Eriogonum latifolium Coast Buckwheat Ambrosia chamissonis Beach Burr Eriogonum parvifolium Dune Buckwheat Armeria maritima Sea Thrift Eriophyllum staechadifolium Lizardtail Artemisia californica California Sagebrush Erysimum ammophilum Coast Wallflower Artemisia pycnocephala Sagewort Erysimum menziesii Menzies’ Wallflower Astragalus nuttallii Rattleweed Eschscholzia californica California Poppy Atriplex leucophylla Saltbush Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria Monterey Gilia / Sand Gilia Baccharis pilularis Coyote Bush Hesperocyparis macrocarpa Monterey Cypress Cakile maritima Sea Rocket Heterotheca grandiflora Telegraph Weed Calystegia soldanella Beach Morning Glory Leymus mollis American Dune Grass Camissonia cheiranthifolia Beach Primrose Lotus scoparius Deerweed Cardionema ramossisimum Sand Mat Lupinus chamissonis Silver Beach Lupine Castilleja latifolia Indian Paintbrush Nuttallanthus texanus Blue Toad-flax Chorizanthe pungens Monterey Spineflower Phacelia ramosissima Branching Phacelia Corethrogyne filaginifolia California Beach Aster Poa douglasii Sand Dune Bluegrass Crassula connate Sand Pgymy Polygonum paronychia Beach Knotweed Croton Californicus Croton January / February 2017 Volunteer Newsletter Page 4 Call for “Let’s Go Outdoors!” Guides and Instructors Jackie Nelson Let’s Go Outdoors! Tis the season to begin planning for the Spring/Summer 2017 Let’s Go Outdoors! guide. We invite you to share your passion for the outdoors and interests in nature-related programs with the public.