Volunteer Opportunities on the San Francisco Peninsula

 

One spells disaster, the other naturalist, but what these two volunteer opportunities have in common is training and rewards. Both require weekly classes for six to eight weeks, some hands-on practice and a commitment to the community, but what you will come away with is a thorough understanding of your subject and the ability to share that with others.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

CERT is a national disaster preparedness program for citizens, run at the local level by individual emergency management agencies, typically the city’s fire department. Each city provides 18-20 hours of free training to its residents using materials from the nationally recognized program. Participants learn how to respond in the event of an emergency and receive training in light search and rescue, fire safety, triaging victims and first aid. Trainees are taught how to use fire extinguishers, shut off utilities and deal with hazardous materials. Most cities on the Peninsula offer training twice per year, followed by a Skills Development and Application Day where volunteers get to practice their skills on another set of volunteer victims. Victims are either moulage (made-up to look wounded) or are “bodies” for search and rescue teams. The skills day is a great time for youth to get involved too, as the trainees need victims of all ages and sizes. To learn more visit the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program or contact your local fire department.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (FMR)

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve offers free naturalist training every year from January–March to those interested in tide pools and educating others in marine life. The docent training sessions take place on Saturdays and require an additional 6 hours of “lab time,” or Mentoring Days. Once trained, docents are expected to volunteer three times per month from January–June and twice a month the remainder of the year. In addition to learning about the creatures in the tide pools, guides will need to be able to navigate slippery terrain and enforce rules that protect the sea creatures. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is a Marine Protected Area and as such a “no take” zone, as well as a no pet area. Harbor Seals also inhabit the rocky shoreline and must be kept safe from disturbance. As more people learn of this unique habitat, more docents are needed to educate and control the growing crowds. Visit the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve for more information on how to become a volunteer docent or to help the reserve in other ways.