Back to Natives Restoration is dedicated to the restoration and conservation of Orange County and California wildlands, through education and restoration programs featuring native plants as a centralizing theme. Occasionally Back to Natives needs volunteers to assist with habitat restoration projects (removing non-native plants, and planting native plants). If you are interested in learning about these VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
Send an email to volunteer@backtonatives.org, and be added to our email list. We will inform you about upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Keep an eye on our events page for event information.
Due to the Summer HEAT, we will be resuming our volunteer restoration events in Fall. Our next scheduled event is:
Coastal Clean-up day at Mason Regional Park September 20, 9AM – 12PM
Join OC Parks and Back to Natives at Mason Regional Park in Irvine, one of many Orange County locations to participate in the 24th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day! We’ll pick up trash along the Sand Canyon Wash, which drains to the San Diego Creek and then the Pacific Ocean. Those who are interested will also have the opportunity to pull some weeds. Bring gloves, sunscreen, water, snacks, hat, and closed toe shoes. Bags to collect trash and recyclables will be provided. To register, sign up at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/counties/forms/ocparks.html, and designate Mason Regional Park as your Preferred Cleanup Location. Email info@backtonatives.org and we’ll send more info and directions.
National Public Lands Day “Hike and Weed” September 27, 9:00AM
Join Back to Natives at the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy to celebrate National Public Lands Day as we “Hike and Weed.” The rains brought out weeds in many different areas. Some of the areas require a hike in order to get to them, so Back to Natives will be partnering with the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy to lead volunteers in this fun habitat restoration project! The Hike and Weed is #13 in our “Around the County in 18 Hikes” program in 2008. We’ll be keeping track of the number of times you join us, because at the end of the year those who have attended THE MOST hikes will be entered to win a fabulous prize! Visit www.backtonatives.org/specialevents.html for details on all 18 hikes and events. RSVP to info@backtonatives.org – we’ll send you directions.
Interested in a longer Volunteer Committment? Learn more about our USFS and Back to Natives Restoration Volunteer Training Program by clicking HERE.
Service Learning Programs
Back to Natives offers service learning programs, integrating meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Back to Native’s service learning program is designed to introduce middle/high school students to ecological concepts through field trips and community service. Email volunteer@backtonatives.org for more information.\
Volunteers of the Year for 2007-2008
Emily Kwok weeding mustard during the USFS Back to Natives Restoration Training Program at Starr Ranch.
Emily and Emily Weeding the Habitat Garden at California Elementary School in Orange.
Emily Beck testing water samples taken during a water quality study at Jasmine Creek in Corona Del Mar.
Emily Beck and Emily Kwok were honored by Back to Natives as Volunteers of the year for 2007! Through their many hours of volunteerism through the Back to Natives Intern program they have assisted with various projects and general office support. Including: BTN & USFS Restoration Training Program; Jasmine Creek Water Quality Study; California Elementary habitat garden maintenance; San Juan Elementary habitat garden maintenance; volunteer restoration events and the OC Fair table for Friends of Harbors Beaches and Parks. Back to Natives Restoration subsequently submitted both Emily Beck and Emily Kwok for the Volunteer Center of Orange County's 'Spirit of Volunteerism Awards."
Emily Beck was hired by Friends of Harbors Beaches and Parks to work on their Orange Coast River Park propagation program, as a direct result of her experience with Back to Natives Restoration
Emily Kwok is continuing her internship while she completes her education in Botany and Horticulture.
Congratulations to both Emily Beck and Emily Kwok! And thank you for your hard work and continued support!
Back to Natives provides community service opportunities to one and all, including…
High School Students. Some people WANT to do community service, and some people HAVE to. Community service hours are often required of students wishing to graduate from high school. This community service requirement provides immediate and practical experience working with others in real settings within the community.
Internship Program. Back to Natives is seeking quality individuals to serve as Interns. Interns help with research, community outreach, and on site restoration. Having community service hours documented on your transcript is very beneficial when searching for employment, or seeking entrance to college or graduate school. At this time, interns are not paid. BTN is an equal opportunity employer.
Earn Credits for Volunteering!
University of California Irvine offers assistance and support for students looking for volunteer opportunities to explore possible career choices. Visit the website for UCI and the Center for Service and Action at: http://www.volunteer.uci.edu/units/index.php
Disabled and physically challenged: Back to Natives encourages the passion of all individuals and groups to help conserve, preserve and restore wild areas and habitat. Be aware that there are some locations that are more difficult to traverse than others, and in the wild smooth surfaces are rare. If you or your group are up to the challenge, we look forward to you volunteering your time to help us save habitat.
Developmentally Disabled Citizens. Back to Natives appreciates the aid of all individuals interested in helping to conserve, preserve and restore natural areas and habitat. Direct contact with nature, along with completion of a project that has results the individual can visit and appreciate for years to come has appreciable impact and facilitates physical interaction with the natural worlds.
Theatre in the Park, Theatre in the Forest
Back to Natives Restoration has developed and is promoting a community development project to perform conservation themed plays and theatrical presentations at Orange County Nature Centers, Wilderness Parks and the Cleveland National Forest. Through partnerships in the community with Parks, Nature Centers, University of California Irvine faculty and private citizens we hope to plant the seed of conservation, sustainable living, habitat restoration, volunteerism and community involvement throughout Orange County, through this encouragement of the arts.
As a society we have come to a cross roads where we either accept the presence of Global Warming, habitat destruction, loss of species, and the overall degradation of our quality of life or we ignore the symptoms of our wasteful society and allow our quality of life along with the natural environment to degrade and possibly disappear. To respond to this possibility we need to give people the option of sustainable living, water conservation, sustainable development, and reduced emissions. Not to mention showing the benefits of giving back to our community through volunteerism, whether through beach cleanups, habitat restoration projects, community education or even with community socialization events. Prior to each performance, a display of information about these topics will be available for attendees to browse and investigate. The plays shall show the plight facing many aspects of our society, from fuel economy to solar energy to endangered species, and allow the audience to conclude for themselves what they as individuals shall do with the information provided. Attendees will not be charged to view performances. ‘Theatre in the Park, Theatre in the Forest’ is meant to be a community outreach, and educational program
School Program Consulting Allow Back to Natives to develop and implement a custom educational program for your facility or organization. Environmental Education is increasingly seen as the tool necessary for organizations to reach out to the community to help them become aware of more sustainable living practices. BTN curriculum is customized to your location and ecological emphasis for your organization. All BTN curriculum is aligned to state guidelines and standards.
Habitat Restoration Consulting .Let Back to Natives assist your organization with habitat restoration with research and development of an historically accurate and location appropriate species list. BTN provides full research on locale specific species research and onsite survey and monitoring. Planting and seeding procedures will be finely documented. Remember, restoration is only successful when the community is involved and volunteerism is encouraged.
Native Plant Propagation Program Back to Natives Restoration is dedicated to the appreciation and use of locally native plant species in every aspect of our lives. There is a great need for the understanding and proper training in the use of native plant species. People visiting a nursery to purchase plants areu usually not there for a specific species. instead they are looking for what looks healthy, green and has flowers. Propagating natives for the public is one necessary step towards shifting the mindset from water hungry plants.
Volunteer Training and Recruitment Back to Natives Restoration provides a full service Restoration Volunteer Training and Recruitment Program. Volunteer training and recruitment can be the most difficult and time consuming aspect of any organization. Without volunteers however many of our projects and daily tasks would not be performed. With proper training volunteers can be your most prized asset, and great friends to boot! Allow us to recruit Volunteers for your next project, and we'll show you how valuable volunteers really are!
Event Promotion and Media Relations Media relations and event promotion are a mysterious element of our non-profit community. Everyone has their own media contact list, but no one seems to cover your event. Let Back to Natives take care of media releases and raise Media Awareness of your events and organization. BTN has had much success in past events with phenomanal media coverage and public support and turnout. Let BTN promote your next event and relax as the media and the public respond with coverage and support of your worthy cause.
Native Plant Garden Consulting Water conservation and costs of garden maintenance are turning most people sour towards lawn and gardens. Let Back to Natives examine your yard and area to give you the tools and information necessary for a more successful landscape. BTN will visit your site and give you tips and information on how you can turn a water hungry lawn and traditional non-native landscape into a water saving, money saving beautiful native garden. Gardening should be enjoyable not a punishing labor, BTN will show you how to make it fun again while providing habitat for birds and butterflies!.
Emily Beck testing water samples taken during a water quality study at Jasmine Creek in Corona Del Mar. 