Did you ever wonder what it is like to go on a docent-led interpretative
walk? What kind of people show up? What do they find interesting? What kinds
of interactions are there? Through the power of the Internet, you can now
experience in advance, and in your home, many of the
San Luis Obispo Coast
District volunteer docent-led walks. The morro-bay.com web site is a
not-for-profit community service site, featuring educational information, maps,
photos, historical notes, and information about enjoying beautiful Morro Bay and
surrounding areas in a responsible way. Included in this extensive web site are
several sections on docent activities. Just head your browser over to
morro-bay.com, and click on "Docent Pages" http://morro-bay.com/docents/
or "Outdoor"
http://morro-bay.com/outdoor/ to see for yourself.
Visit the
Central Coast Natural History Association's
website where the
Morro Bay Museum of Natural History
and related docent activities are described.
Here, you can find many "photo-essays" documenting the popular walks such as Los
Osos Oaks Preserve, Hazard Reef, Salt Marsh to Mudflats, Birding the Bluff,
Birds and Nature at Morro Strand, Birding Islay Creek, Stories of the People of
the Pecho, Shark Inlet to a Beach Picnic, The Franciscan Mélange at Estero
Bluffs, and more.
Read also all about special related topics in articles submitted and published
online by docents, such as Curt Beebe's articles on "All about Poison Oak" at
http://www.curtbeebe.com/ , and the slimy blue jellyfish-like
creatures "Velella Velella" at
http://morro-bay.com/docents/curt-beebe/velella/. Interested in the history
of Morro Rock? Check out the 20-photo essay on "What did it Look
Like between the Mainland and the Rock from the Late 1800's until Today?" at
http://morro-bay.com/morro-rock/. And, if history is your thing,
http://morro-bay.com/historical/ should be of interest to you.
Learn everything there is to know about one particular walk like "Windy Cove" by
perusing online the entire knowledge base used to train docents. The Windy Cove
Site, for example, is extensively documented at
http://morro-bay.com/windy-cove/.
Here you will find Support Documents: Tips for Enjoying Windy Cove,
Beachcombing at Windy Cove Handout, Promotional Poster for half-hour half-mile
walks, and all of these Tutorial Modules (State Park docents leading this walk
should study all of these modules): Algae, Lichens, Vascular Plants, Other
Plants, Sources of Detritus, Barnacles, Feathers, Bones, Birds, Clams, Worms,
Crabs, Other Animals, Pollution, and FAQ Frequently Asked Questions. After you
read this material, if you are not impressed with the depth and quality of the
knowledge assembled by these dedicated walk docents -- then stay home -- nature
just isn't your bag.
The morro-bay.com archives contain an ever-expanding array of docent-generated
materials. Do you like Raptors? Freeman Halls "Montaña de Oro Raptor
Identification Tips" at
http://morro-bay.com/docents/freeman-hall/raptor/ is just for you -- it
includes 14 photos of local raptors presented in a handy-identification guide
format easily printed on your PC.
Our docents are multi-talented. Evelyn Dabritz writes children's stories related to our local nature -- see http://morro-bay.com/docents/dabritz/ for "Innkeeper at Morro Bay," and "It's not Easy Being a Pelican." Artists abound in our docent community. Barbara Renshaw's watercolor drawings of local State Parks scenery, flowers, and plants at http://morro-bay.com/docents/renshaw/ will simply astound you.
Our Pismo group is known for their dedication to the beautiful Monarch
Butterflies prevalent in their area. You can find their
colorful brochure
online.
The creation and preservation of intellectual property related to our docent
activities is made possible today in a way never before available, and at a
negligible cost. The Internet provides a new way to share, expand, and keep
current on all the things of beauty in our California Central Coast area that we
all hold dear. So, surf the Net, do some Virtual Wandering with our dedicated
docents -- and then go take some live docent-led walks. There simply is nothing
more rewarding or educational you can do, and the people you will meet will make
your day!
A shortcut to this page
http://morro-bay.com/docents/hype/ is
http://morro-bay.com/go/docents
Rev.
Monday, February 18, 2008 05:09:20 PM