Redmond Neighborhood Blog: Docent Naturalists Wanted at the Northwest Stream Center

Friday, March 24, 2017

Docent Naturalists Wanted at the Northwest Stream Center

Do you have a passion for forests, wetlands, streams, fish and wildlife? Enjoy communicating with small groups of people? Would you like to wander a few times a month through a very beautiful 20-acre natural area where views of flora and fauna change every day? Then the Adopt A Stream Foundation’s Northwest Stream Center may the place for you.

The Adopt A Stream Foundation is recruiting volunteers to become Docent Naturalists (Nature Trainers) to conduct interpretive tours at the Northwest Stream Center in Snohomish County’s Mc Collum Park (600 –128th Street SE, Everett WA, 98208; http://www.streamkeeper.org/aasf/Contact_and_directions.html).

Initial Docent Naturalist orientation dates are March through April.
Northwest Stream Center Docent Naturalist must commit to a minimum of two 4-hour shifts per month, be able to understand and retain basic natural resource science, be comfortable speaking to audiences of up to 10 youth and adults, and complete an open book take-home stream and wetland ecology exam. All candidates must successfully undergo a thorough background check.

In addition to greeting Northwest Stream Center visitors, Docent Naturalist will lead interpretive tours past a 160’-long Trout Stream Exhibit and onto an Elevated Nature Trail that winds through a complex forest and wetland area next to a salmon stream. The entire route is 1/2-mile long and wheel chair accessible. Docent Naturalist will also perform minor trail maintenance duties to ensure that the route is safe for visitors.

It is not necessary to have formal education in natural resources to become a Docent Naturalist. The Adopt A Stream Foundation will provide candidates with stream and wetland ecology basic training and written materials to fill any information gaps. Candidates can range from 18 year-olds to senior citizens. “This will be a fun activity for college students to retirees,” says Adopt A Stream Foundation Director Tom Murdoch. “We expect the first Docent Naturalist team at the Northwest Stream Center to have a wide-range of talent and experience....here, they will enjoy seeing a wide range of northwest plants and animals as well as salmon in the fall. ”