Reorient & Reconnect!

Here we nearing June, when some Friends of the Desert Mountains' Volunteer activities pretty much "dry up" – but don't despair – we have many others that continue year round!

To keep our Volunteers engaged and ready for action, this Summer we will be offering virtual training and educational opportunities for all volunteers who wish to remain active in the coming busy seasons.

We will be brushing up on Friends’ history and Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument facts, flora & fauna. Other trainings will focus on improving our interpretation skills and new parameters for public safety including COVID precautions. 

THE BIG QUESTION

As businesses start to reopen, we are working closely with Monument staff to ensure that the necessary measures are in place.  Even though we currently do not have a re-open date we would like to know how many volunteers are willing to help out in the visitor center selling Friends inventory.  With the high demand of responsibilities with monument staff, Friends volunteers will be responsible for the sales.  We need your help!  Please email Janice Heronema at janheronema@gmail.com if interested.

There's A Monument In Your Backyard

Monday, June 21, 2021 Noon Pacific Time via this Zoom link
Take an armchair adventure to Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and discover a land rich in biodiversity and cultural history. In this interactive webinar you can share your favorite places and learn of new sites to explore, while gaining a better understanding of America's Greatest Gift, our Public Lands.

SUMMER’S COOL: friends’ volunteer education online!

Tune in for additional classes from BLM staff, local experts on Monument flora & fauna, community science, hike leading & sweeping, environment, water issue, endangered species and more. Keep those interpretation skills sharp and have fun re/learning about this magnificent place we endeavor to preserve.

Friends of the Desert Mountains’ “interpretative hike program” started 15 years ago. 

Historically speaking, the volunteers and VC staff began leading hikes at 9:00 AM on Thursday and Saturday during October through April.  During May through September hikes continued, but on other days and times each week. 

Throughout the years new ideas were suggested and some were added or deleted to the program.  During the pandemic with CDC restrictions, adjustments were made to the program. 

From this, it is felt that new ideas need to be explored in order to have more “interpretative hike leader” participation to meet the program goal of encouraging more public attendance.

As a member/volunteer with the Friends hike program, we would like you to complete the following survey to assist with the development of a “new and improved” program for the 2021-2022 season.

YOUTH EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY:

• Assisting with curriculum development & re-engagement of programs at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

• Working with Desert Mirage HS Green Academy teachers and students on issues relating to our watershed and the Salton Sea

• Being Field trip leaders/mentors for outings with Environmental Leaders in training (college-aged interns), coming on board soon

• Contributing to our toddler reading program virtually.

• Expanding our education efforts to better serve underserved children and their communities.

The staff of the US Fish & Wildlife Service needs help to make protect the boundaries of the Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge and State Ecological Reserve. If you can drive along 38th Avenue just one day per week and report on what you observe, you will be contributing to better, more active management of sensitive sand dune habitat. Please contact USFWS wildlife Biologist Razia "Raz" Shafique-Sabir [razia_shafique@fws.gov]. She'll show you how easy it is to monitor, mitigate, and report harmful trespass and other adverse impacts to the sand dunes. Don't forget to tell Raz that you are a Friend of the Desert Mountains!

ONGOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Something for everyone! We have ways for folks to help support Friends’ mission no matter their age or physical ability. It’s your enthusiasm and love for the desert that counts the most.

WHY DO WE ASK YOU TO TRACK YOUR HOURS? VOLUNTEER HOURS COUNT!

Volunteer workers are pure gold to a small organization like Friends of the Desert Mountains. Not only are you the hands, hearts, and face of Friends, your work is invaluable to us when it comes to applying for grants and funding. Your hours prove community support exists for Friends’ mission, and that locals are invested in the outcomes.

When you report your volunteer hours, your donated time translates into dollar amounts we can use to match the funding we request via grants. This way, your “sweat equity” in our special places can keep paying dividends even when you are at rest. Please help us make the most of all you do!

And when you do submit your hours, please do so via our Volunteer Portal rather than turning in your hours log at the office. You will free staff from having to re-enter your volunteer time into our database, saving hours of valuable staff and volunteer time!

Volunteer hours for the month must be either turned in to staff or submitted online by the 10th day of the following month. Please contact a Friends staff member or program chair with any questions about recording or submitting hours. It's wise to keep track of what hours you submit to prevent missing hours or double-counting.

We are so grateful for the work you do, we want to make sure you know that!

make a difference Any day, on your own, or with a Friend…

Here are some other ways you can help care for your community!

• Mike Schuler trash can has been approved to be emptied into the Target dumpster.

• Using your "11th essential" (plastic bag) to help clean trails while you enjoy the outdoors

• Educating the public about responsible trail use

• Talking to folks about how they can do something about: climate change, invasive species, making trails safer, making the outdoors more accessible for all, etc...

• Spreading the word about all the great things you do as a Friends Volunteer!