Newport Bay Naturalists And Friends

Restoration Programs

Newport Bay Conservancy staff and volunteers concentrate on environmental stewardship and develop grants to work on larger-scale restoration projects. Big Canyon Creek Restoration and Estuary Adaptation Project: An ongoing effort to remove invasive Brazilian peppertrees and other invasive plants and re-establish riparian, alkaline marsh, and coastal sage scrub habitat. Control of Invasive Algerian Sea Lavender in Upper Newport Bay: An ongoing effort to remove Algerian Sea Lavender, a dominant invasive weed, throughout the Upper Newport Bay. Bayview Habitat Restoration Project: A restoration project to re-establish coastal sage scrub that is led and managed by NBC volunteers. Restoration Assistance: Assist in monthly restoration events led by OC Parks in collaboration with NBC. Trash Cleanups: Starting in September each year with Coastal Cleanup Day (through February), lead public volunteers help pick up trash in the Bay from land or on the water from kayaks. Special Restoration Projects: Throughout the year, participate in various efforts from the landowners to control and tackle priority areas in the Bay with public groups, volunteers or staff.

Educational Programs

Associate Volunteer and Naturalist Training: Since 1990, Newport Bay Conservancy has a collaborative training program with landowning partners to onboard and deploy volunteers to assist various programs around the Bay. The Conservancy leads typically four, one-day volunteer training with partners who sponsor First Aid/CPR certification from January to August annually. These volunteers are considered Associates. Each year anywhere from 10-20 Associate volunteers participate in a Naturalist Training program starting in September with a 12-weeks of knowledge learning consisting of Thursday night lectures and Saturday morning field studies. This training culminates in the spring where volunteers are given more guidance, support and training by staff and partners to work collaboratively to plan and produce their own programming while learning how to take the lead in other programs. Visitor Services: The Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center welcomes around 40,000 visitors annually. Trained volunteers staff the welcome desk six days/week providing guests with directions, information, and details about the plant and animal life of the Bay. The Back Bay Science Center is another facility at the Bay which Newport Bay Conservancy opens to the public every Sunday which showcases around 2,000 people annually the marine life found at the Bay. Elementary School Programming: K-5th environmental programs that align with California State Science Content Standards on Tuesday mornings throughout the school year. These programs for schools are at low/no cost with the assistance of trained Volunteer Naturalists leading and Associate Volunteers assisting those field trips. Fostering interest in Nature (FiiN): In partnership with the City of Newport Beach, the Conservancy provides overall supervision and facilitation of two-night, three day outdoor science camp for 5th grade students in the local watershed. Newport Bay Conservancy hires and onboards seasonal staff to provide 24-7 supervision for classes of up to 40 students every Monday through Wednesday and Wednesday through Friday for eight weeks in September through November. High School and College Programming: Provide various field trip opportunities for students throughout the school year could include a Cleanup Day, a water tour day, a day at the Back Bay Science Center, and/or student environmental fairs. Interpretive walking and water tours: Volunteer Naturalists lead various walking and water tours throughout the year. These include October - March’s monthly Friends Tour, Newport Bay Conservancy’s longest-running tour which leads the public through outdoor learning stations highlighting the Bay’s birds, plants, marine life, geology and native peoples. Public kayak tours are led every Saturday morning, while group tours are also led on various other days throughout the year. Community Outreach: Newport Bay Conservancy volunteers and staff participate in multiple outreach events through the year connecting with thousands of other people. These can be school STEAM nights, college fairs, talks at senior centers, hosting a water station at the OC Marathon, having a booth at the Hyatt - Subaru Jazz Festival and many more.