Be an Estuary Educator

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Who are Estuary Educators, and what do they do?

Estuary Educators act as ambassadors for the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, engaging children and adults in fun, hands-on, educational programming that encourages stewardship of the Morro Bay estuary and watershed. They demonstrate strong communication skills, and enjoy helping people understand and enjoy the estuary and its habitats, creatures, and unique processes. Their unbiased, science-based approach to education increases awareness of important environmental issues facing the estuary, along with the understanding that everyone can help protect this precious natural resource. They are comfortable working in classrooms and presenting to groups of up to twenty people.

Our organization: a local nonprofit designed to benefit Morro Bay and the people who love it

The Morro Bay National Estuary Program brings people together to protect and restore the Morro Bay estuary for people and wildlife. The Estuary Program is a non-regulatory, not-for-profit organization that conducts monitoring and research, restores natural habitats, and educates residents and visitors on how to keep Morro Bay clean and healthy. The Morro Bay National Estuary Program is one of 28 national estuary programs around the country that are working to safeguard and improve the health of some of our nation's most important coastal waters. The Estuary Program achieves results by closely collaborating with many partners to accomplish our shared goals of protecting and restoring the estuary and the watershed. For more information about the program, visit MBNEP.org.

Estuary Educators' Duties

Estuary Educators conduct demonstrations and other educational activities for small groups by request. They work with Estuary Program staff to set their own hours of availability, and they receive at least two weeks’ advance notice for any scheduling request. Estuary Educators lead demonstrations and other programs that have been created or approved by Estuary Program staff. These programs include watershed model demonstrations, a Black Hill hike-and-talk focused on the concept of watersheds and nonpoint source pollution, or a Salt Marsh walk-and-talk focused on biodiversity and salt-marsh species' adaptations. Estuary Educators will receive training on all three programs. Some programs take place outdoors, at Black Hill, the salt marsh, or at an educational event. Others are conducted indoors, either in the Morro Bay Estuary Nature Center or in school classrooms. Estuary Educators who have volunteered with the Estuary Program for six months or more may work with Estuary Program staff to create new science-based programming that focuses on the Estuary Program’s mission and goals.

Time commitment

Estuary Educators must be available to accept program requests during at least eight hours each week. For example, one volunteer may offer to lead programs between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Another volunteer may offer to lead programs between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Both volunteers have made eight hours available for Estuary Educator duties, meaning that they are willing to consider requests for programs that would be scheduled during those hours. (More information about scheduling will be provided during volunteer training.)

Training program and timeline

All Estuary Educators will participate in two mandatory training sessions, and review required materials at home. During the first session, they will learn about the Morro Bay National Estuary Program and basic information about the estuary itself. They will also observe and/or participate in each of the programs offered. Estuary Educators will receive training materials to take home and review at the end of this first session. During the second session, volunteers will discuss and ask questions about the review materials, learn more about the Morro Bay estuary, and discuss their availability and the programs they would like to offer. At the end of these training sessions, new Estuary Educators will be able to present to community groups as requested.