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Join free, live, online garden tours • April 26, May 3, May 10, 2020, 10am - 3pm

Join the 2020 Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour free online this year via Zoom and YouTube!

Spend three Sundays in the Gardens — April 26, May 3 and May 10 — with passionate garden owners and the talented designers of the Bay Area’s most beautiful and inspiring landscapes will show us what’s happening in the garden now, feature their favorite natives, describe their favorite native plant gardening resources, and more.

This year’s Tour features 42 gardens, which can be seen on the Tour’s website. You can view photos of each of these gardens, read a description of the garden and print out its plant list at View the 2020 Gardens. You will be able to meet the homeowners and view about half of these gardens live online through Sundays in the Gardens.

This program will be hosted on Zoom, and live-streamed on YouTube. Registration is required. Click here to register for the online tour. Your registration email will contain links to join the live events.

The exemplary landscapes on the Tour hope to inform, inspire and motivate you to incorporate native plants into your own gardens. They contain at least 60% native plants, are pesticide-free, water-conserving, and provide habitat for wildlife.

Renowned ecologist and best-selling author Douglas Tallamy will open this event on Sunday, April 26, at 10:00, after which each garden owner will host a 25 minute long live visit.

Celebrate spring: Fill a coloring page showcasing local habitats and wildlife

Use your creativity to fill a coloring page that showcases the habitats and wildlife of Don Edwards SF Bay National WIldlife Refuge!

There are many different species found at the Refuge, including lots of migratory birds!

Print out the coloring page below, fill it with color, and also learn about the importance of the habitats and the wildlife that depend on them.

You can share your creativity by sending photos of your completed coloring page to us at watershedwatchers@sfbws.com.

⮇ Click here to download the handout (PDF 1.7 MB) ⮇

Celebrate spring: Go on an outdoor sensory scavenger hunt

Use your senses to explore nature in your own backyard or neighborhood!

Print out the checklist in the guide below, make observations, and check off everything you find. You can also color in the pictures, or draw your own pictures of what you find on the back!

You can share your observations by sending photos of your completed checklist to us at watershedwatchers@sfbws.com.

⮇ Click here to download the handout (PDF 375 kB) ⮇

Celebrate spring: Egg decorating with natural dyes

Make naturally dyed eggs just in time for the Spring Season and Easter!

Find a list of materials and instructions in the guide below to create your own natural dyes from a variety vegetables and spices.

Once you know the basic process to make natural dyes you can experiment with other fruit, vegetables, and spices – if it stains your hands it will dye egg shells!

Creating your own natural dyes, instead of buying kits from the store, ensures that artificial or synthetic dyes don’t get into our watersheds.

Once you are done dyeing and decorating your eggs, you can share your beautiful creations by sending pictures to us at watershedwatchers@sfbws.com.

⮇ Click here to download the handout (PDF 1.8 MB) ⮇

Beautify your neighborhood and participate in a community science project!

Are you taking walks around your neighborhood and noticing litter on the ground?

Did you know?: Litter can enter watersheds via creeks and storm drains that end up in the San Francisco Bay and ultimately the ocean? This poses a threat to the wellness of wildlife and our planet. We work with Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program to help reduce various types of runoff from polluting our waterways and habitats. Here is a fun way you and your family can help!

Come celebrate the anniversary of the nation's first National Wildlife Refuge

On March 14, 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt created the first national wildlife refuge at Pelican Island, Florida, to protect brown pelicans and other birds from extinction through plume hunting.

While our visitor centers are closed at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, visit and take a walk, bring a lunch and watch the Refuge creatures forage and eat while you eat yours.

The Refuge and its trails remain open from sunrise to sunset. Please avoid overcrowding the trails and maintain the social distancing guidelines while walking the trails.

Closures and event cancelations at Don Edwards SF Bay NWR

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided late afternoon Wednesday, March 11, 2020 to cancel all public programs and volunteer events at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge until further notice.

The hunt meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2020 has been postponed until further notice.

For those who have a scheduled group program, please contact the staff person who made the reservation.

The Visitor Center in Fremont, and the Environmental Education Center in Alviso are also closed to the general public until further notice.

The Refuge and its trails remain open from sunrise to sunset.

For any other questions or concerns please contact Genie Moore by email at genie_moore@fws.gov.

Marsh-In Summer Day Camp Associate 2020

Summer Camp Associate needed to assist the Marsh-In Summer Camp Program!

Are you a recent college graduate looking for a summer opportunity in Education, Environmental Science, and Community Outreach? We are hiring for our annual Summer Camp Associate position to plan and coordinate the 2020 Marsh-In Summer Camp Program at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Please see below for more details and how to apply. Application deadline is March 31st!

General Description

Associate position needed to assist San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society at the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center (EEC). This position will be from May – August, and responsible for the planning and organizing of the 2020 Marsh-In Summer Camp Program. The Associate will be working under the Watershed Watchers Program Coordinator, while also being advised by other EEC Staff members.

Marsh-In Summer Camp is a free camp for students entering grades 1-6. Each day of camp has a theme: Bird Day, Fish Day, Mammal Day, and Nocturnal Night. There is one overnight for older campers entering grades 4-6 where we sleep outside! Habitat Heroes is a training week for students entering grades 7-12. Habitat Heroes assist with camp by leading camper groups and various activities throughout the day. Marsh-In Summer Camp participants are chosen via a lottery, and we accept approximately 65 students.

Associate will also have other opportunities to assist and lead Environmental Education programs, such as library, after school, restoration, and weekend programs. There might also be opportunities to assist Refuge Biologists with threatened and endangered species surveys.

Submit your artwork for the Earth Day 2020 Teen Environmental Art Show

Calling all Teen Artists currently attending school in grades 6 through 12!

Take advantage of a great opportunity to have your artwork on display at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge environmental education center in Alviso from April through May 2020.

All submissions are due by March 21st at the Environmental Education Center in Alviso. Artwork should be no larger than 24" by 32", be prepared with a securely attached hanger, the registration form, and label including the artist's name, grade, and the title of the piece.

Artwork should incorporate the Earth Day 2020 theme, "Climate Change."

SFBWS Nature Stores stocked with new items

If you are passionate about environmental awareness and nature conservation, you can now share your values with those you love.

The Nature Stores at the Fremont Visitor Center and the Alviso Environmental Education Center are stocked with items to inspire and inform about the National Wildlife Refuges with a local focus.

Find pocket guides, books (including a book on Drawbridge), toys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and more--relevant and fun items--that you can proudly gift to your family and friends on any occasion, to share your love of the Refuge.

New items this quarter: informative fields guides, soft cotton hoodies (Water is Life and Foxie), and t-shirts: Salamanders in short and long sleeve, and Dive into Nature.

  • Fremont Visitor Center: 11 am to 4:30 pm - Wed through Friday
  • Environmental Education Center: Saturday - 10 am to 4:30 pm

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