Special Training Event for New Volunteers!

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**Our next Volunteer Orientation and Training is on Friday, February 10!
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Bolsa Chica State Beach Visitor Center**

Contact us at flow@amigosdebolsachica.org to sign up!

FLOW, which stands for Follow and Learn about the Ocean and Wetland, is Amigos de Bolsa Chica’s Citizen Science Monitoring Program. This is an exciting opportunity for members of the community to learn more about phytoplankton and coastal ecology, to participate in the collection of scientific data and to get involved in water quality monitoring efforts. Every week we send our data to California's Department of Health. Anyone interested in participating of this program is encouraged to sign up for training to become a volunteer!

As a volunteer for FLOW, you will . . .
-learn how to monitor phytoplankton;
-identify potentially harmful plankton species;
-measure water quality variables such as temperature, salinity, pH and nutrients;
-help teach junior high and high school students about environmental quality
-be part of a network of citizen scientists that collect data all over the state and nation!

Specifically, this training will focus on microscopy, in which we will: review set up procedures for microscopes and our computer / camera; discuss how to identify potenitally harmful plankton species; and review plankton taxonomy.

This is a great training for anyone interested in plankton, water quality and in helping the environment. No experience necessary.

Since we are a partner with the California State Parks, once you complete your paperwork and live scan to be an official volunteer with them, your volunteer hours count towards earning you a State Parks parking pass!