Walk For The Wild 2023!

Walk for the Wild is a national event of America’s Wildlife Refuge System, taking place during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 7 to October 14. There will be 46 Teams, 26 States, and more than 70 National Wildlife Refuges participating across our nation!

Be sure to mark your calendar for October 13 and 14!

We’re on a mission to empower wildlife and humans to thrive. The “Walk for the Wild” challenge is to get people moving a distance of 5K (3.1 miles) in nature and to raise funds to support the wildlife refuges of Bandon Marsh and the offshore Oregon Islands.

Schedule of Events:

October 13th (4:30-6:30pm)– Walk for the Wild kick off party! Bandon Brewery. In old town: 395 2nd St. SE Bandon. Join us for delicious pizza, craft beers and a silent auction filled with art from local artists and gift certificates from local businesses.

October 14th (8:30am-12noon)– Walk for the Wild Walk! at the Bandon Marsh Wildlife Refuge. 83673 N Bank Lane, Bandon.

8:30am-12:00noon Eclipse viewing party. Come get a free pair of eclipse glasses! The partial eclipse begins at 8:05AM and lasts about 2.5 hours. The annular eclipse begins at 9:16 AM PDT and lasts about 3 minutes. Learn more about these rare eclipses.

9:30am: Walk with a South Slough National Estuary bird expert to learn more about birds.

11:00am: Walk the Myrtlewood Trail with a ranger. Learn about the wildlife at this refuge.

See the Bandon Marsh and Oregon Islands Refuge Team page, by clicking here.

For more background information on the national Walk For The Wild program, click here.

SEE YOU THERE!

OPENING FOR A VOLUNTEER WITH AN RV OR CAMPING TRAILER

Do you love the Oregon coast, enjoy watching wildlife, and have an RV or camping trailer? Come and spend three months in Bandon OR, as a SEA volunteer!

SEA is recruiting a volunteer wildlife interpreter to work at one of our beautiful coastal overlooks in Bandon. This position runs from May 1 through July 31, 2023.

Offshore islands and rocks at Face Rock Wayside and Coquille Point, provide nesting habitat for thousands of seabirds. The volunteer will work a 4-hour shift (10am-2pm), three days a week at Face Rock Wayside or Coquille Point, doing interpretive work with the public.

SEA will provide training and equipment for viewing tufted puffins, peregrine falcons, common murres, western gulls, and many other marine birds. The volunteer will share information about this unique coastal habitat and use spotting scopes to assist visitors with viewing wildlife.

The volunteer will also work a shift on two other days a week for OR State Parks, helping to monitor a snowy plover nesting area at nearby China Creek State Park. Your primary duty will be to provide interpretation regarding snowy plovers, their habitat, and conservation efforts in protecting their nesting areas.

You will be expected to inform visitors of the rules regarding the restricted nesting grounds on adjacent beach and surf areas. While on duty, you will be required to keep records of visitor contacts as well as any rule infractions you may witness. Bullards Beach State Park (located near Bandon) will provide a free RV campsite for the duration of the 3-month period and provide a state vehicle to get back and forth to China Creek State Park. The Oregon State Park system requires a DMV license and criminal background check for its volunteers.

For more information or to apply for this volunteer opportunity, please contact Laurie Friedman (SEA Volunteer Coordinator) at tokku129@gmail.com.