EVERETT, Wash. – Washington State University Snohomish County Extension’s Beach Watcher program hosts their 12-week volunteer training course starting March 10.
During the online-only course, volunteers will receive 80 hours of instruction through presentations, online field trips, and hands-on practice. Students will study a variety of topics including: coastal processes; marine organism identification; water quality conditions; public education techniques; habitat restoration solutions; and more.
In return, volunteer commit to donating at least 80 hours of their time over two years as a citizen scientist, educator, steward, and project planner. Volunteers pick the projects of most interesting to them to fulfil their hours.
No expertise is required, only an interest in Puget Sound issues and a willingness to share knowledge with people at local beaches and events throughout Snohomish County.
Beach Watchers work on a broad range of projects, allowing each volunteer to find what meets the unique interests in our own communities. Projects range from doing beach interpretation of marine life at local parks during low tides to water quality sampling to organizing preschool story time at local libraries.
As with all WSU Snohomish Extension programs, the training is open and accessible to all interested participants without discrimination.
The training starts on March 10 and runs every Wednesday from 9-3:30 p.m. The course costs $85. For more information and to apply visit: https://extension.wsu.edu/snohomish/beach-watchers/volunteer-training/.