From our blogs

15 Dec 2016

Special thanks to Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. for donation in Q3 2016

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. who donated $6,000 to the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society between July 1, 2016 and September 30, 2016.

This gift will help with matching funds for the educational display for our Santa Clara Valley Water District trash clean-up grant for Pollution Prevention.

08 Dec 2016

Seeking legal, business and finance skills on the SFBWS Board of Directors

by Ceal Craig

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Friends Group for the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, authorized by Congress to support the education, interpretation, and research activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society seeks to nurture in the public a sense of understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuges, their natural and cultural history, and to support the conservation, preservation, and restoration of the bay lands as essential wildlife habitat.

We envision wildlife and its habitat thriving in a healthier San Francisco Bay area as a result of increased citizen stewardship of the environment.

Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, the Society is supported by over 2,000 individual members and by donations and grants from corporations & foundations. The Wildlife Society operates bookstores at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Refuge Visitor Center in Fremont and the Environmental Education Center in Alviso.

Following a meeting of the Board of Directors on October 19, 2016, Renee Fitzsimons is the new Vice President while Debra King is secretary. Two slots on the Board of Directors remain open.

We are looking for more Board of Director members, in particular people with a legal background and business financial experience. Please contact Cecilia (Ceal) Craig at ceal.craig [@] sfbws [dot] com if you want to chat about these opportunities.

01 Dec 2016

Volunteer Opportunities: Winter 2016

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Opportunities: Winter 2016 at the Environmental Education Center (Alviso, California).

If you have an interest in wildlife and their conservation, enjoy working with people, and are enthusiastic and dependable, the Environmental Education Center’s Volunteer Program is for you! As a volunteer, you’ll receive on-the-job training from staff and other volunteers in the project area you choose.

Project areas are: restoration projects, information desk on weekends, interpretive programs, school field trips, and citizen science/community service.

Prior to volunteering at the Environmental Education Center, you must attend a Volunteer Orientation. You can also attend the orientation just to see what opportunities there are, and if it is the right fit for you.

14 Nov 2016

SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board presents 2016 “WuHoo” Pollution Prevention Award to City of San José

The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board presented the 2016 Dr. Teng-Chung Wu Award to the City of San José for its innovative pollution prevention activities.

Kerrie Romanow, director of San José’s Environmental Services Department, accepted the award for the City on September 14, 2016 at a ceremony in Oakland, California. “This prestigious award recognizes the strong partnerships that San José has developed to help keep our creeks and Bay clean; we’ll continue to grow our efforts and keep up the momentum by looking for new ways to protect the environment and serve our community ,” Romanow said.

SFBWS Board of Directors President Cecilia (Ceal) Craig at the 2016 WuHoo Awards. Credit San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

SFBWS Board of Directors President Cecilia (Ceal) Craig at the 2016 WuHoo Awards. Credit San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

16 Oct 2016

Current Projects and Future Ideas at SFBWS

by Cecilia (Ceal) D. Craig, PhD President, SFBWS Board of Directors

Current Projects

The Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society is moving through a strategic planning process to develop goals for the upcoming years, and to migrate the organization into a Friends organization for the Refuge Complex. In particular, we want to broaden our focus to include the needs of the four refuges within the Refuge Complex that the Society supports (Don Edwards San Francisco Bay, Salinas River, Ellicott Slough, and Farallon NWRs), and maintain a fruitful collaboration with the Friends of San Pablo Bay who assist the other three refuges in the North Bay (San Pablo Bay, Marin Islands, and Antioch Dunes NWRs).

Much is happening around San Francisco Bay such as the next phase of the Salt Pond Restoration efforts at the Eden Landing ponds in Hayward; Measure AA and its impacts on upcoming restoration efforts; the Shoreline Levee Project; habitat restoration and associated studies; environmental education and stewardship projects; recreational improvements such as interpretive mobile apps; and much more.

09 Oct 2016

Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week (Oct 9 - 15) at Don Edwards SF Bay NWR

Come celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week this year from October 9 through October 15 at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Take part and learn how national wildlife refuges conserve and protect wildlife and habitat through science, interpretation, and recreation at the Refuge Headquarters in Fremont.

October 15 - Fremont

On October 15, drop by the refuge to view critters that live in the sloughs and mud that form the basis of our food chain, see the beauty of San Francisco Bay by going on a Bay Bike Ride, or take a relaxing stroll at dusk to view the setting sun. Take part in some or all of the activities listed below.

  • Native Plant Sale
  • California Jr. Duck Stamp Winners Display
  • Bay Bike Ride
  • Introduction to Nature Drawing with Linda Knoll
  • Plankton and Mud Lab
  • Live Bird Show with Sulphur Creek Nature Center
  • Twilight Marsh Walk
01 Oct 2016

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed to operate the Nature Stores and the visitor information desk at the Fremont Visitor Contact Station (Contact Station) and the San Jose Environmental Education Center (Education Center).

We are also seeking volunteers to help with an exciting cleanup program in Santa Clara County for which the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society (Society) ha received a grant.

Reach out to Mary.Deschene@SFBWS.com, 510-7920222, ext. 364 for more information or dates! Look for more volunteer positions as we plan for the future.

24 Sep 2016

Volunteer Opportunities: Fall 2016

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Opportunities: Fall 2016 at the Environmental Education Center (Alviso, California).

If you have an interest in wildlife and their conservation, enjoy working with people, and are enthusiastic and dependable, the Environmental Education Center’s Volunteer Program is for you! As a volunteer, you’ll receive on-the-job training from staff and other volunteers in the project area you choose.

Project areas are: restoration projects, information desk on weekends, interpretive programs, school field trips, and citizen science/community service.

Prior to volunteering at the Environmental Education Center, you must attend a Volunteer Orientation. You can also attend the orientation just to see what opportunities there are, and if it is the right fit for you.

17 Sep 2016

Challenges Ahead — Take Our Survey!

Earlier this year, a new effort spearheaded by Fish & Wildlife Service Education Center Director Genie Moore was aimed to develop a Visitor Services strategic plan for the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR. Two staff and one volunteer from the Society worked alongside Fish & Wildlife (FWS) staff and a community leader for many hours to develop a work plan that would incorporate the goals from the refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan, the FWS Standards of Excellence and the Next Generation Science Standards being implemented in California schools. The desired outcome was an action plan that is SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely) and sustainable to be used in natural resources management plans to be developed in the coming year for the Refuge Complex. However, FWS staffing losses have proved to be a challenge and the Society has decided to suspend its direct involvement in this effort and focus instead on primary program priorities for Living Wetlands and Watershed Watchers programs.

08 Sep 2016

Coastal Cleanup Day • September 17, 2016

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge presents Coastal Cleanup Day at the Dumbarton Fishing Pier Parking Lot, Marshlands Rd, Fremont on Saturday, September 17, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Do you want to help wildlife and the environment? Join the thousands of people around the world for International Coastal Cleanup Day. At Don Edwards SF Bay NWR you can remove invasive weeds or pick up trash along the parking lot and trails. We’ll supply plastic gloves (or bring your own) and trash and recycling bags. You supply energy, sturdy shoes, sun protection, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring a reusable water bottle.

Volunteers can choose to be shuttled to areas along the Shoreline Trail to reach areas farther away. For more information, call 510-792-0222, ext. 362 for the Visitor Services Intern or Paul Mueller at ext. 361. No reservations necessary.

Children under age 18 must have parental approval. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. To expedite the registration process, log on to http://www.fws.gov/refuge/don_edwards_san_francisco_bay to download the forms and bring to the registration table. Forms are also available at the registration table.

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