July26, 2009 — PWA Docent Celebration, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
After a very exciting and busy year for the docents, it was time to get together with food, drink, and fellow docents at the Johnson’s residence. The PWA Board and docents with their spouses/support persons had the opportunity to get to know each other a little better and catch up on the latest news.  Sharon Mansfield, central figure in the photo, was thanked for her five years of leadership as the Education Chair.
 

June 27, 2009—PWA Docents Field Trip to Point Reyes National Seashore
Eight PWA docents who give bird walks at Shollenberger carpooled to a Point Reyes Field Seminar, “A Bird’s Eye View of Habitat”, taught by ecologist Josiah Clark.  This birding and ecology class, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, explored the many habitats and components that determine bird composition, population density, and levels of activity.
 

June 11, 2009 -- Docent Enrichment Field Trip to Casa Grande High School (CASA) Plant Nursery
Six PWA docents visited the CASA plant nursery and were treated to an excellent tour by Dr. John Shribbs, PWA Board member and teacher at CASA.  John designed the nursery and constructed it with on-site teachers and students.  Native vegetation planted at Shollenberger/Alman Marsh were (and continue to be) grown and nurtured at the CASA nursery.
 

April 12, 2009—PWA Docents Enrichment Field Trip to Fairfield Osborn Preserve
Twelve PWA docents carpooled to the 411-acre Fairfield Osborn Preserve, which is managed by Sonoma State University as an educational and research site in nearby Penngrove.  Naturalist Amy Holland and Elizabeth Giuliani, program coordinator, met the docents in the parking lot to begin the two-to-three hour excursion into the wilds of the Preserve, giving us an inside look at the striking diversity and quiet beauty found there.  At Copeland Creek, all sat down on the banks of the creek and ate their brown-bag lunch while Amy searched and found the elusive Pacific Giant Salamander and the Sonoma County scorpion for show-and-tell.
 

February 26, 2009 — Graduation Day for 15 New Docents
Fifteen applicants finished the eight-week course for new wetlands docents. These graduates will be an outstanding addition to our educational program, increasing our docent staff to 48.
 

February 6-8, 2009 — San Francisco Flyway Festival
PWA led tours at Shollenberger, beginning at 9:30 A.M., on each of the three mornings for the annual Festival at Mare Island.
 

January 3-31, 2009 — PWA Dresses Copperfield’s Window
Docent Maureen O’Reilly chaired the subcommittee to design and implement the window display, featuring docent recruitment and PWA activities.  Camille Jordan and Sally Rowland compiled photos and other materials to depict schoolchildren activities, habitat restoration, and the joys of being a docent.
 

January 2, 2009 — PWA Docents Volunteer for the Annual Sonoma Valley Christmas Bird Count
The docents counted 115 bird species from Alman Marsh (at the Sheraton) to Tolay Park and all the birds between the two areas.
 

November 1, 2008 — PWA Public Meeting
The PWA annual meeting was held 9:30 A.M. to Noon at Lucchesi Community Center.  The featured speaker was Patricia Winters, who presented a program on Bay Area Bats.  Docents were recognized who contributed significantly to our educational program (Sharon Mansfield, Len Nelson, and Bob Dyer) and habitat restoration (Valerie Franklin and John Richards).
 

October 3-5, 2008 — PWA Sends Two Docents to the 4-H WHEP Workshop
Docents Karin Jones and Tommy Smith attended the 4-H WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program) workshop, “From Forest to the Surf”.  The workshop was located at Walker Creek Ranch in Marshall (Marin County) and included a tour of the Bodega Marine Lab and surrounding areas.
 

October, 2008 — Barn Owl House
Two PWA docents, Andy LaCasse on the right and Gary Compari on the left, erect the Barn Owl house at Shollenberger.  This house that Andy built replaced the Barn Owl’s home at Alman Marsh after the barn was torn down.
 

September 19, 2008 — Native Shrubs and Trees Planted at Alman Marsh
About 70 shrubs and trees from the Casa Grande High School nursery were planted at Alman Marsh near Athleta, a women’s organic sportswear company which borders Alman Marsh.  John Shribbs and Gerald Moore supervised Athleta employees in the planting.  The employees have agreed to weed and water the plants for a couple of years.
 

August 4-6, 2008 — PWA Sends Two Docents to the STRAW Workshop
Docents Helen Heal and Susan Kirks participated in the STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed) workshop, the cornerstone of the Watershed Education Program of the Bay Institute.  They explored the history, geology, hydrology, aquatic life, and importance of the Bay to ocean life and the watersheds that empty into it.
 

September 11, 2008 — PWA Docents Enrichment Field Trip to PRBO's Palomarin Field Station
Missy Wipf, PRBO Educator Biologist, gave a summary to 12 PWA docents of the origin, history, and evolution of bird banding.  Then Missy with PRBO banding interns led us on a tour of the mist-nests, showing us how birds were captured.  Back in the lab, we watched the interns examine the birds and record the data of a Steller Jay (examined by Andres Carvajal), Song Sparrow, Wilson’s Warbler, and Spotted Towhee.  Afterwards, we looked at the interns’ accommodations and took a short bird walk to a nearby creek where we listened to bird calls and songs throughout the chaparral and riparian habitats.  A brown-bag lunch ended the morning’s activities.
 

August 1, 2008 — Camelbak Employees Remove Nonnative Invasives at Shollenberger
This morning 26 employees met at Kiosk #1 and pulled on Camelbak gloves, which were later donated to PWA.  After watching a demo of the day’s targeted nonnatives, they picked up bags and quickly moved down the east trail, pulling Italian Thistles, Bristly Ox-tongue, thinning the mustards, bagging the weeds, and then loading the bags on the truck for transport to the dumpster.  A phenomenal amount of work was done by this group, resulting in our dumpster being filled to the point where an employee remained in the dumpster to stomp down the weeds.  This weed removal activity was supervised by PWA docents Susan Kirks, Gerald & Mary Edith Moore, and John Richards.  Afterwards, the docents accepted an invitation to join the employees for lunch at their new location in the RNM Properties building.
 

June 13, 2008 — PWA Docent Celebration, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
After a very exciting and busy year for the docents, it was time to get together with food, drink, and fellow docents at the Mansfields’ hilltop residence. The PWA Board and docents with their spouses/support persons had the opportunity to get to know each other a little better, catch up on the latest wetlands news, and look at thank you cards and read letters from students and teachers.
 

May 3, 2008 – Annual Petaluma River Cleanup
From 9:00 AM to noon, PWA helped with the Petaluma River cleanup.  Some PWA members met at the Petaluma Marina to work with other groups to cleanup the river via boats.  Other members worked at cleaning up the trails in Shollenberger Park and Alman Marsh.  The turnout was excellent.
 

March 27, 2008 — PWA Docents go on the Jepson Prairie Preserve Enrichment Field Trip
It was a cold, breezy morning when ten PWA docents arrived at the Preserve and were met by Kate, Jepson Prairie docent coordinator, and Jim.  These two very knowledgeable docents of fauna and flora led the group on a three-hour adventure to the vernal pools, teeming with descendents of ancestral invertebrates, and wildflowers.  After hands-on activities at the vernal pools, the group was led over the prairie to view the mounds and native bunch grasses.  Later, some of the docents met for lunch at Baker’s Square in Dixon.

February 16, 2008 — Boy Scouts Volunteer to Plant Natives at Shollenberger Park
Thanks to Life Scout candidate, Douglas Lindsey, and the Petaluma Boy Scout Troop 74, hundreds of plants, including coyote bush, wild rose, and a variety of other shrubs were planted at Shollenberger.  From 9:00 AM to Noon, the scouts, several parents, and Scoutmaster Mike Jayne enjoyed the wetlands as they found a home for the native plants.

February 1-3, 2008 — Flyway Festival
PWA participated in the 12th annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival.  Eight PWA docents with a couple of people from the Madrone Audubon Board staffed information/display tables Saturday and Sunday at Mare Island.  Also, PWA docents led one bird walk each day at Shollenberger Park.

January thru April 2008 — High School Restoration Volunteers
Dinah Lee, English teacher at Casa Grande High School (CASA), brought her English class students to Shollenberger one weekday each month to help with habitat restoration.  The students helped PWA to weed or plant.

January - February 2008 — High School Restoration Volunteers
Two Casa Grande High School (CASA) English classes with their teacher Vanessa Hauswald helped PWA with habitat restoration at Shollenberger.  One weekday each month, Vanessa and her students pulled/cut invasive nonnatives and/or planted native grasses/shrubs.
 

January 23, 2008 — PWA Docents Miwok Enrichment Field Trip
Loretta Farley, park ranger of interpretation at the Point Reyes National Seashore, showed 11 PWA docents the hands-on materials they use to teach students about the Miwoks.  Then she led us on an excellent one-hour tour through the reconstructed Miwok village at Kule Loklo, including a visit inside the roundhouse. Afterwards, Loretta walked us to the cultural museum where Kirsten Kvam, collections curator, showed us artifacts found at Point Reyes which were from the Coast Miwok tribes. Later, the docents met for lunch at Reyes Café in Point Reyes Station.
 

December 14, 2007 — American Association of University Women (AAUW) Tour Shollenberger Park
Gerald Moore, PWA docent, led a one-to two-hour tour for 14 members of the Art & History section of AAUW.  As the group walked the Shollenberger Park trail, the history of Shollenberger, Alman Marsh, and Ellis Creek was told and landmarks indicated.  The group was updated on the wastewater treatment plant and polishing wetlands under construction at Ellis Creek.  PWA’s programs on education and stewardship of the Petaluma wetlands were discussed.  After the tour, some of the ladies lunched nearby at the Lily Kai restaurant.
 

December 1 and 8, 2007 — New plantings at Shollenberger Park
Thanks to Eagle Scout candidate, Nicholas Lourme, and the Petaluma Boy Scout Troop 74, about 250 plants, including coyote bush, wild roses, acorns, big leaf maple, buckeyes, and a variety of other shrubs have found a home at Shollenberger.  A total of 151 hours was volunteered by Nicholas, 24 scouts, several parents, and Scoutmaster Mike Jayne.
 

October 19, 2007 — Graduation Day for 15 New Docents
Fifteen applicants finished the six-week course for new wetlands docents. These graduates will be an outstanding addition to our educational program, increasing our docent staff to 37.
 

August 18, 2007 — Trail Repair in Alman Marsh
Thanks to Sabrina Hearst, teacher at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Two Rock, and 20 of her students, the low spot on the Alman Marsh Trail which floods during the rainy season is now repaired.  Peter Colasanti, a contractor who is a PWA board member & docent, guided six of the students in the trail repair.  While these students worked on the trail repair, Sabrina and the remaining 14 students removed Bristly Ox-tongue and Prickly Lettuce in a nearby meadow.  Within two hours, the trail was repaired and thirty-five, 4x4-foot bags were filled with these very invasive, nonnative weeds.  The project was coordinated by Gerald Moore, PWA Chair, and supported by Ron DeNicola, Petaluma Parks and Landscape Manager.
 

June 16, 2007 — Weed Removal Party at Shollenberger/Alman Marsh, 9:00 AM – noon PWA Board, docents, and friends mechanically removed Harding Grass seed heads using scissors (pruners) and standing thistles by gentle pulling or cutting them off at ground level.  Seed heads and thistles were bagged and put into a dumpster.
 

June 13, 2007 — PWA Docent Celebration, 3:30 – 5:30 PM
After a very exciting and busy year for the docents, it was time to get together with food, drink, and fellow docents at the Mansfields’ hilltop residence. The PWA Board and docents with their spouses/support persons had the opportunity to get to know each other a little better, catch up on the latest wetlands news, and look at thank you cards and read letters from students and teachers.
 

May 15, 2007 – Certificate of Commendation
Judy Sovel accepted a certificate of commendation from the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance for her third grade class at Petaluma’s McNear Elementary School.  The award was given as recognition for the wonderful scrapbook the class created on the Petaluma Valley Watershed and Petaluma Wetlands.  The children wrote and drew what they had learned from the PWA docents in-class and in-field activities on the science and animals in the watershed and wetlands.
  

May 9, 2007 – A New Kiosk Explaining the Weed Management and Habitat Restoration in Shollenberger/Alman Marsh
Peter Colasanti constructed and erected the new Kiosk, located beside Kiosk #1, at the entrance of Shollenberger Park.  Gerald Moore designed and installed the contents.

Early April into June 2007 – Monitoring the Tree Swallow Nests at Shollenberger/Alman Marsh
On 5 April, PWA Docent Len Nelson began monitoring the 20 swallow houses in a joint study, called Golondrinas de las Americas, with naturalists ranging from Alaska to Argentina.  This data will also be shared with PRBO Conservation Science.  Information on how the data is collected can be found under BIRD RESEARCH, “Monitoring the Tree Swallow Nests”, and a photo of newborn chicks on this Web site.

April 10, 2007 — PWA Docents Visit Bouverie
At the invitation of Barbara Carlson, a Bouverie docent since 1992 and a PWA docent, ten of our docents toured Bouverie.  Barbara enthusiastically led our docents through oak woodlands, a cascading-stream trail containing eager Red-bellied Newts, and then lunch at the gushing waterfall.  While inspecting the riparian habitat, Barbara found a Red-bellied Newt for us to hold and examine.  It wasn’t long before some of the PWA docents were carefully turning over the rocks in the creek bed and finding more newts. 
 

February thru early April 2007 – Habitat Restoration Work
Cardoon has been removed from Shollenberger/Alman Marsh, using a cut-and-paint (with Roundup) technique.  Purple and Yellow Star Thistles continue to be manually dug out and removed.  Italian Thistle and Harding Grass have been and continue to be spot sprayed with Roundup.

February 2-4, 2007 -- Flyway Festival
PWA participated in the 11^th annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival.  Eight docents staffed information/display tables for PWA and Madrone Audubon at Mare Island.  PWA docents led three bird walks, one each morning, at Shollenberger for about 40 avid birders, providing close-up views of a number of species of migratory waterfowl.

January thru March 2007 – Planting the Natives
Over 2000 native grasses, shrubs, trees, and flowers have been planted at Shollenberger/Alman Marsh.  The natives were grown and tended primarily by John Shribbs and his students with occasional help from PWA docents and others in the native plant nursery at Casa Grande High School.  Most of the plants were Meadow Barley and Creeping Wild Rye grasses; while others included California Buckeye, Coyote Bush, Willow, California Wild Rose, California Poppy, and Yellow Monkey Flower.

January thru February 2007 -- Migratory Bird Walks Provided to Schoolchildren
Because of the increasing demands for our educational programs to schoolchildren, new activities were provided during the January and February winter months which had previously been unstructured.  A 40-minute PowerPoint presentation was shown in elementary classrooms by docents Len Nelson and Kathleen Murry, followed by a 90-minute migratory bird walk in Shollenberger by four docents, each docent leading a group of children.  The walks started at PRBO and went along the south and east trails.  Bob Dyer coordinated these activities.

January 5, 2007 – Digital Presentation on PWA at Marin Audubon’s General Meeting
Gerald Moore gave a digital presentation at the Richardson Bay Sanctuary for Marin Audubon.  The subject was an introduction, history, and overview of PWA’s activities.

 

December 6, 2006 -- PWA Docents Lead a Tour of Shollenberger for the Docents of the California Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Bob Dyer, Andy LaCasse, Gerald Moore, and Elaine Pruett led a two-hour tour for 15 docents from CAS.  As the docents walked the Shollenberger Park trail, the history of Shollenberger, Alman Marsh, and Gray’s Marsh was told; landmarks indicated; and birds scoped and identified.  CAS docents were updated on the wastewater treatment plant and polishing wetlands under construction at Gray’s Marsh.  PWA’s programs on education and stewardship of the Petaluma wetlands were discussed.

After lunch, the CAS docents were taken to PRBO where Missy Wipf gave an overview of PRBO’s programs and a tour of their facilities.
 

November 12, 2006 — New Fence at Shollenberger Park
Thanks to Eagle Scout candidate, Paul Shaw, and Petaluma Boy Scout Troop 74, The Backpackers, Shollenberger has a new 56-foot rustic wooden fence behind the four picnic tables near the park’s entrance.  The new fence replaces a plastic fence erected by PWA docents two years ago. The purpose of the fence is to deter the public from the sensitive habitat beyond it. Paul was assisted by nine other scouts and several parents, including Scoutmaster Mike Jayne. This Eagle Scout project was coordinated by PWA docent John Richards and supported by the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance.
 

Spring into Summer 2006 — Shollenberger Rookery

March thru late June 2006, two PWA docents, Bob Dyer and Len Nelson, monitored the Shollenberger heron/egret colony for the Cypress Grove Research Center of Audubon Canyon Ranch.  Information and photos, “Great Egrets Rule the Roost at Shollenberger Colony”, can be found under BIRD RESEARCH on this Web site.
 

October 13, 2006 — Graduation Day for Eight New Docents
Eight applicants finished the six-week course for new wetlands docents. These graduates will be an outstanding addition to our educational program, increasing our docent staff to twenty-six.
 

September 16, 2006 — Petaluma Junior High’s Culture Club at Alman Marsh
This morning members of the Culture Club and their parents, with direction from their leader and PWA docent Connie Peabody, descended on Alman Marsh to take part in the Sonoma County Coast & Creek Cleanup Day.  Gloves and bags were distributed; the pickup began.  Most of the collected garbage consisted of Styrofoam and discarded bottles, located at the northern end of the trail.  The filled bags were transported to the dumpster at the end of the parking lot.

 

August 19, 2006 — PWA Docents Led Potential New Docents at Shollenberger
Sharon Mansfield and Tommy Smith led some of the new PWA docent candidates on a tour of Shollenberger, a show-and-tell of the many animals & habitats of the Petaluma wetlands.

August 18, 2006 — PWA & PRBO
PWA docents joined with the PRBO educational section to offer a family bird walk and bird natural history activities.  About 20 people participated. 

August 9, 2006 — PWA Docent Enrichment Field Trip:  a Moonlight Walk at Delta Pond
PWA docents joined the Laguna de Santa Rosa docents for an evening walk at Delta Pond with biologist Denise Cadman.  Along the walk, Denise pointed out various birds and identified a Cormorant rookery.
 

August 2006 — PWA Docents, Representing Madrone Audubon, Become Volunteer-wildlife Monitors at Tolay Park
The new Tolay Lake Regional Park, four miles south of Shollenberger Park, is being designed and developed over the next two to three years. In the interim, the Sonoma County Parks Department has asked 11 PWA docents and birding leaders, as local representatives of Madrone Audubon, to run frequent surveys of the birds and other mega fauna at the Tolay site and provide the data to the parks department.
 
Those working on the Tolay project include coordinator Gerald Moore; experienced bird survey team leaders Peter Colasanti, Lisa Hug, and Andy LaCasse; plus experienced birders Gary Compari, Bob Dyer, Len Nelson, Maureen O’Reilly, Elaine Pruitt, John Richards, and Tommy Smith.

July 8, 2006 — Native Grass Workshop
PWA docents attended a native grass workshop at Bouverie Preserve given by Jeanne Wirka, the Bourverie biologist and a grass expert.  Jeanne led the docents into the preserve, indicating the native species and explained when and how to harvest the seeds for reproduction.  In the classroom, books of dried grasses generated many questions by some of the docents who suggested making similar books for PWA’ docent program.

 

June 11, 2006 — Casa Grande Students Manually Remove Harding Grass Seed Heads

A concentrated effort began this afternoon by Casa Grande Students with direction from their science teacher and PWA Board member, Dr. John Shribbs, to remove seed heads from a large area of invasive Harding Grass. Twelve students and Dr. Shribbs descended on the field of Harding Grass with pruners/scissors and garbage bags.  The attack lasted from 1-4 pm and about 12 large bags, 40x46 inches, were filled and carried to the side of the trail where they were loaded onto a pickup truck and transported to the dumpster at the end of the parking lot.

June 11, 2006 — PWA Leads a Tour for Open Space
To help celebrate the 15th Anniversay of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, PWA led a tour of the Petaluma Marsh/Alman Marsh, a birder's paradise.
 

June 7, 2006 — PWA Docent Enrichment Field Trip

Twelve PWA docents carpooled to the PRBO Banding Station, Point Reyes National Seashore, for a docent-led tour of the bird-mist nets and demonstrations of banding.  Missy Wipf, Educator Biologist, gave an excellent presentation on the origin and history of bird banding, how it has evolved, and what is learned by keeping these records over a long period of time.
 

May 27, 2006 — Third Grade “Art in the Wetlands” Contest
 
The Petaluma Wetlands Alliance has created an excellent docent program which focuses on third grade classes in the Petaluma area. We go into the classroom for a morning with a wetlands slide show plus several hands-on activities. A day or two later the class comes to Shollenberger Park for a bird walk and more hands-on activities. After this exposure to the wetlands, we invite the students to draw or paint a picture that reflects their experience in our wetlands. The teachers send these pictures to us.

This year we decided to hold a contest among all the 207 pictures we received. The “Art in the Wetlands” was hung in the Petaluma Library Forum Room and judged on the morning of 27 May. The judges selected 13 pictures from the exhibit. The rest of the day the art exhibit was open to public viewing, and at 1:00 PM each student winner was awarded an “Honorable Mention” ribbon and a prize of a nature book. Refreshments were served. Ribbons and awards will be delivered to the classroom for those student winners who did not attend the open house. The 13 winning pictures are currently on display in the Petaluma Library.
 

May 24, 2006 — PWA Docents Visit Viansa Winery Wetlands
Fourteen of our docents carpooled/met at Viansa for a docent-led tour of the wetlands by Mike McGrane, Ranch Manager.  After an introduction and visual overview of the wetlands, Mike enthusiastically led our docents down to the wetlands.  The loop trail passed a variety of bird houses and followed alongside the freshwater wetlands for three miles.  Many species of birds were seen---mostly on the water, but some in nests and others in flight.  Also there was evidence of the presence of mammals.
Mike gave us an idea of levee management issues, wildlife potential, and plant succession issues which could occur in our wetlands.  The docents were encouraged to envision our new polishing wetlands as being similar to what was seen at Viansa.  Our visit concluded with lunch from Viansa's deli, sitting and talking at long tables beside the wetlands' overlook.
 

Saturday, May 20, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm 
 
PWA joined Madrone Audubon to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day at Shollenberger Park.  The day's festivities included docent-led bird walks, children's activities, and educational exhibits.  Docent-led bird walks included special walks for families with children and Spanish language walks. Children were invited to guess which bird laid a variety of eggs, were able to examine different types of feathers and invited to paint their own bird. Bird houses and framed photos of the wetlands' birds were displayed. Exhibit subjects covered bird migration as well as our weed management program.
 

May 2006 — PWA Thistle Parties at Shollenberger
 
At least ten days in the month of May, docents and board members attacked the Italian Star and Yellow Star Thistles at Shollenberger Park by pull-dig, hoe, and weed whip methods.  Petaluma Parks & Recreation brought a mower with a long blade and mowed along either side of the loop trail---this additional help was greatly appreciated.
 

Sunday, May 7, 9:00-noon — Petaluma River Cleanup

Some of the PWA met at the Petaluma Marina for supplies (gloves and bags) and took a work party to Shollenberger Park and the Alman Marsh. Others met at Shollenberger Park and cleaned the kiosks.
 

April 18, 2006 — PWA Docents Visit Bouverie

At the invitation of Barbara Carlson, a Bouverie docent since 1992 and a new PWA docent, nine of our docents toured Bouverie.  Barbara enthusiastically led our docents through oak woodlands, a cascading-stream trail containing eager Red-bellied Newts, and then lunch at the gushing waterfall.  It is hopeful another tour will be scheduled in the next few weeks for those PWA docents who missed this opportunity or would like to go again. 
 

April 14 & 28, 2006 — Riparian Survey at Tolay Lake Regional Park

Steve Ehret of the Sonoma County Parks asked PWA and Madrone Audubon to count birds on the west side of Tolay Lake Regional Park, the riparian area.  The count was for two hours each day, 8-10 am.  Five cars for PWA/Madrone birders and 10 cars for the public were allowed to enter the park.  Peter Colasanti, Gary Compari, and Peter Leveque volunteered to lead the bird surveys.  Over 50 species of birds were counted on each of the two days.
 

February 26, 2006 — The 56th Annual Awards and Installation Banquet for the California Parks & Recreation Society, District I.

The Shollenberger Park Docent Program supported by the PWA received a 2006 Community Services Award "For outstanding service and support to City of Petaluma Parks & Recreation".  District I serves all municipalities from the Golden Gate Bridge north to the Oregon border, and Jim Carr nominated the Shollenberger Park Docent Program supported by the PWA for this award.  This was the only docent program so honored. 
 
On behalf of the docents, Gerald Moore and Bob Dyer accepted the award.  Thanks is due to all the docents who have contributed to the efforts resulting in this recognition!!!.

A new docent-training program will be offered starting in September. More information on the program can be found under DOCENT TRAINING on this website.

February 19, 2006 — Shollenberger Park/Alman Marsh Cleanup

A new docent,  Mike Ramirez, organized a cleanup of Shollenberger Park and Alman Marsh.  Fifty volunteers picked up a lot of trash along the trails, especially near the river and in the gully between Shollenberger and the Gray property.  Scouts, Casa Grande students, members of the general public, and PWA docents participated in the cleanup.  See the photos.
 
January 27-29, 2006 — Flyway Festival.

PWA participated in the San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival.  Eight docents staffed an information/display table at Mare Island. Three docent-led bird walks at Shollenberger were provided for some 35-40 avid birders.  Seventy-five different species were recorded during the walks, including  the Peregrine Falcon, Clark and Western Grebes, and 12 migratory ducks.