Our Volunteer Naturalists are the core of the work that the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve do throughout the year. They actively promote preservation and appreciation of the rocky intertidal habitat by providing tidepool interpretation to school groups and the thousands of casual visitors that come to the Reserve every year.
2025 FFMR Volunteer Naturalist Training Class
Registration for the 2025 FFMR Volunteer Naturalist Training Class is now open. Classes begin January 11, 2025. The registration deadline is January 5, 2025. Click here to download the registration form for more information.
NOTE: Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is offering volunteer opportunities for students who
are interested in the marine environment and would like to participate in our Seal Sitter
Program. Click here to learn more about the upcoming orientation on October 26.
Volunteer Naturalist Training
Volunteer Naturalists who have completed our training course have committed to working a minimum of 6 hours per month, in 2-hour shifts, for the first year after passing the course.
The training classes take place at a location in Moss Beach usually beginning each February, and covers all of the major phyla of invertebrates, chordates, algae and marine mammals found at Fitzgerald. Here is the course curricula outline:
- Introductions/Tides/Zonation
- Arthropods
- Worms/Bryozoan/Tunicates/Sponge
- Mollusks
- Echinoderms/Cnidarians
- Tidepool Ecology/Algae
- Marine Mammals, History
- Geology
- Birds
In addition to time spent in the classroom we include field work in the intertidal and an additional 6-hours of mentoring with an experienced Volunteer Naturalist.
As a tidepool Volunteer Naturalist you must be over 17 years old and physically able to navigate the rocks and reef. You will be walking on slippery and uneven rocky surfaces for up to 2 hours at a time in a variety of weather conditions.
Continuing Education
The Friends host Continuing Education events throughout the year to keep us updated, informed and refreshed on subjects covering a wide range of marine-related topics. Depending on the subject, sessions may be held virtually, in-class or in the field.
Other Volunteer Activities
In addition to providing tidepool interpretation on the reef, there are many ways our trained Volunteer Naturalists can contribute their time and knowledge.
Public Events
The Friends work closely with the San Mateo County Parks Department for public events held throughout the year at the Reserve.
July Fourth Parade
We invite all our Volunteer Naturalists to participate in the Half Moon Bay Annual July Fourth Parade. The Friends are always cheered by the crowds and have received blue ribbons for their creative marine-life costumes.
Visitors Center
Our Volunteers staff the Visitors Center where there are a variety of marine specimens and videos where visitors can get an introduction to the Reserve. The Visitors Center is open on busy weekend low-tide days.
Seal Sitters
Volunteers are stationed down on the main beach at the cone line to keep visitors a safe distance from the harbor seals that haul out at every low tide. Visitors enjoy viewing the harbor seals through a spotting scope while Volunteers provide information about our resident pinnipeds.
Junior Naturalist Camp
Each summer, 15-20 lucky campers spend 5 days at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in our Junior Naturalist Summer Camp for 9-12 year olds. FFMR Volunteers educate campers on the science and history of the Reserve while entertaining them with arts, crafts, guided tidepool tours, games and competitions.
Volunteer Interest
When you become a Volunteer Naturalist with the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, you are helping to protect and preserve a remarkable natural area. To indicate your interest in volunteer opportunities, please send an email with the subject “RE: Volunteer Interest” to info@fitzgeraldreserve.org. Please indicate yours interests and availability, and we will contact you.