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Our Non-discrimination Policy: Rotary Nature Center Friends brings people together, regardless of age, ability, and background to participate in environmental education and stewardship. We strive to provide meaningful access to urban nature to each individual and community we serve. We do so by including the voices of the community in all that we do.
SIGN UP! UC California Naturalist Certification Course - "Urban Estuaries: San Francisco Bay and Lake Merritt (Oakland California)": Fall 2026 Course is now open for enrollment. Register on Eventbrite and finish registration and enroll by submitting fees. https://urban-estuaries-sfbay-and-lake-merritt-calnaturalist-class.eventbrite.com
LAKESIDE CHATS: Lakeside Chats are an online series of interactive talks sponsored by Rotary Nature Center Friends, bringing nature and people together in urban Oakland CA.
PLAYLIST => HERE
We have created a YouTube Playlist to archive the underwater videos we shared and hope to add to it in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8zoh5C35Fbw15J-gt2k9mHv3ikqjGQCp
=> Register for the nest Lakeside Chat: Lakeside Chat #67 - with naturalist Adrian Cotter "Crowkland and San FRavencisco"
lakeside-chat-67-with-adrian-cotter-crows-and-ravens.eventbrite.com
Register by Eventbrite and the zoom link will be emailed to the address you register with a few days before the program.
Inquire about EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS and ACTIVITIES (Page 2 above) - Click HERE to email us.
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SEE PHOTOS OF OUR YOUTH & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN ACTION BELOW and VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE.
=>JOIN US for our FREE MONTHLY ONLINE Programs.
=>JOIN US for our FREE MONTHLY ONLINE Programs.
In this season of giving, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Rotary Nature Center Friends, 501(c)3, so that we can continue to grow our online Chats series and outreach to young people and everyone in the community through in-person stewardship and science events. To donate, please use the donation button above or send your donation by mail to Rotary Nature Center Friends, 609 Kains Ave. Albany CA 94706. Make checks payable to Rotary Nature Center Friends. You will receive a thank you letter with the amount of your donation and our EIN. We are offering as a thank you gift our new Lake Merritt Wildlife Calendar with all-new wildlife photos by Kerstin Firmin for donations of $100 or more. Thank you for being part of our online community this year.
OUR MISSION: Rotary Nature Center Friends is an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit advocating for the Rotary Nature Center in Lakeside Park as an interpretive education and science center for all the people of Oakland and as the Steward for the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge.
View the collection of living things observed in the lake on October 29th at the Lake Merritt Boating Center two months AFTER the August 28th fish kill. iNaturalistProject
See salmon carcass collection Chat Highlight with CDFW's Emily Jacinto-McKim HERE
JOIN US for monthly third Saturday work days at the Nature Center grounds and Sailboat House Marsh on 3rd Saturdays - RSVP HERE
SUPPORT OUR WORK by making a tax-exempt DONATION
SUPPORT OUR WORK by making a tax-exempt DONATION
NEW LAKE MERRITT WILDLIFE CALENDARS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! $30
FREE WITH DONATIONS OF $100 OR MORE
SUBMIT DONATIONS OR PAYMENTS ON PAYPAL OR CREDIT CARD using the DONATE button above. Indicate calendar purchase or donation in the message box.
CHECKS MAY BE SENT TO :
ROTARY NATURE CENTER FRIENDS
609 KAINS AVE.,ALBANY CA 94706
SOME RECENT STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES:
SOME RECENT STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES:
Identifying invertebrates living in and around Lake Merritt
Identifying invertebrates living in and around Lake Merritt
Water Quality Testing on the Lake Merritt Channel
Water Quality Testing on the Lake Merritt Channel
Pickleweed monitoring and water testing at Sailboat House Marsh. Lake Merritt Tidal Marsh Project Overview PDF
We have been monitoring Chinook Salmon in Lake Merritt's tributary, Glen Echo Creek, since 2021 collaborating with The Lake Merritt Institute.
Sixth graders from St. Paul's School discuss how human modifications of the watershed may have affect historic salmon runs.
150th birthday celebration for North America's first Wildlife Refuge --Lake Merritt! Held on October 23rd 7-8 pm on KTOP TV & via Zoom
150th birthday celebration for North America's first Wildlife Refuge --Lake Merritt! Held on October 23rd 7-8 pm on KTOP TV & via Zoom
"Like" us on Facebook @RotaryNatureCenterFriends
"Like" us on Facebook @RotaryNatureCenterFriends
Home of LAKE MERRITT OBSERVATORY
Home of LAKE MERRITT OBSERVATORY
ROTARY NATURE CENTER Program Partner
ROTARY NATURE CENTER Program Partner
Gatherings, workshops and events have been postponed during the COVID-19 public health crisis. We are experimenting with online natural history lessons and activities that can be carried out by students and adults at home or outside maintaining social distancing.
Gatherings, workshops and events have been postponed during the COVID-19 public health crisis. We are experimenting with online natural history lessons and activities that can be carried out by students and adults at home or outside maintaining social distancing.
Events, weekly activities and some extended workshops for youth to provide extraordinary experiences in science, engineering and conservation. The achievements of these projects will be shared inside the nature center and in the community. See photos of past events below.
Events, weekly activities and some extended workshops for youth to provide extraordinary experiences in science, engineering and conservation. The achievements of these projects will be shared inside the nature center and in the community. See photos of past events below.
Thank you to the San Francisco Elks Lodge #3 for funding our activities!
ALL YEAR 2020 - Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge, America's First Wildlife Refuge!
ALL YEAR 2020 - Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge, America's First Wildlife Refuge!
Promo for upcoming documentary 4:32
Promo for upcoming documentary 4:32
Take one: 4:37
Take one: 4:37
CA Wildlife Act of 1870 was passed by CA State Legislature on March 18th making Lake Merritt
CA Wildlife Act of 1870 was passed by CA State Legislature on March 18th making Lake Merritt
POSTPONED: Celebration at the nature center when it is safe - details to come.
POSTPONED: Celebration at the nature center when it is safe - details to come.
-- April-May 2020 -- Virtual Nature Programming:
-- April-May 2020 -- Virtual Nature Programming:
Presentation at OUSD Earth Day Webinar
Presentation at OUSD Earth Day Webinar
Participation in Cal Academy City Nature Challenge with Save SF Bay
Participation in Cal Academy City Nature Challenge with Save SF Bay
Virtual Field Trip to the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge - Seasonal Changes, with Cleveland Elementary
Virtual Field Trip to the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge - Seasonal Changes, with Cleveland Elementary
Virtual Water Quality Testing with St. Paul's Episcopal School
Virtual Water Quality Testing with St. Paul's Episcopal School
-- Feb 2020 -- Cleveland Elementary Students visit the bird sanctuary. Great writing follow-up about the field trip and Hank the rescue pelican! Photos
-- Feb 2020 -- Cleveland Elementary Students visit the bird sanctuary. Great writing follow-up about the field trip and Hank the rescue pelican! Photos
-- Community College visits with Rotary Nature Center Friends at Lake Merritt
-- Community College visits with Rotary Nature Center Friends at Lake Merritt
-- Jan-Feb 2020 -- Sponsoring OUSD student teams at the Sea Lion Bowl with S.F. Elks Lodge 003
-- Jan-Feb 2020 -- Sponsoring OUSD student teams at the Sea Lion Bowl with S.F. Elks Lodge 003
-- Jan 2020-- Naturalist events at Lake Merritt!
-- Jan 2020-- Naturalist events at Lake Merritt!
1/4/20 Naturalist Tony Iwane of iNaturalist and CA Center for Natural History leads a winter birds walk starting outside the Nature Center, 9:30 am to 11 am - please be on time. PHOTOS
1/4/20 Naturalist Tony Iwane of iNaturalist and CA Center for Natural History leads a winter birds walk starting outside the Nature Center, 9:30 am to 11 am - please be on time. PHOTOS
1/11/20 Naturalist Damon Tighe from the CA Center for Natural History leads a "critter hunt" at the Lake Merritt Boating Cetner docks 10 am to 1 pm. PHOTOS
1/11/20 Naturalist Damon Tighe from the CA Center for Natural History leads a "critter hunt" at the Lake Merritt Boating Cetner docks 10 am to 1 pm. PHOTOS
FALL 2019 ---
FALL 2019 ---
-- Sept-Oct 2019 -- Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study of Aquatic Life, Plankton
-- Sept-Oct 2019 -- Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study of Aquatic Life, Plankton
10/21/19 120 Oakland students visit and some present at poster presentations at the State of the Estuary Conference PHOTOS
10/21/19 120 Oakland students visit and some present at poster presentations at the State of the Estuary Conference PHOTOS
-- Sept - Dec 2019 -- Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory Expeditions
-- Sept - Dec 2019 -- Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory Expeditions
-- Sept-Dec 2019 -- Water-testing with local schools and public at Lake Merritt
-- Sept-Dec 2019 -- Water-testing with local schools and public at Lake Merritt
-- May-Dec 2019 -- GLOBE water testing. The Rotary Nature Center is a G.L.O.B.E. Hydrology Station
-- May-Dec 2019 -- GLOBE water testing. The Rotary Nature Center is a G.L.O.B.E. Hydrology Station
SUMMER 2019 ---
SUMMER 2019 ---
-- May-Aug 2019 -- Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study of Aquatic Life, Plankton
-- May-Aug 2019 -- Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study of Aquatic Life, Plankton
-- May-Sept 2019 -- Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory Expeditions
-- May-Sept 2019 -- Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory Expeditions
-- May-Sept 2019 -- Water-testing with local schools and programs
-- May-Sept 2019 -- Water-testing with local schools and programs
-- July 2019 -- The Great Secchi DipIN
-- July 2019 -- The Great Secchi DipIN
-- August-September 2019 -- E.P.A. Citizen Monitoring for E. coli
-- August-September 2019 -- E.P.A. Citizen Monitoring for E. coli
-- May-September 2019 -- GLOBE water testing
-- May-September 2019 -- GLOBE water testing
-- May 8 2019 -- ACE Mentoring Final Project presentations mock designs for Rotary Nature Center upgrade.
-- May 8 2019 -- ACE Mentoring Final Project presentations mock designs for Rotary Nature Center upgrade.
-- May 1 2019 -- Water-testing with Growing Justice interns (Rose Foundation)
-- May 1 2019 -- Water-testing with Growing Justice interns (Rose Foundation)
-- April 30 2019 -- Mutual Air Bell youth interview about global warming and climate change.
-- April 30 2019 -- Mutual Air Bell youth interview about global warming and climate change.
--April 27 2019 -- Lake Merritt April 2019 BioBlitz
--April 27 2019 -- Lake Merritt April 2019 BioBlitz
-- February 16 2019 -- "Lake Merritt From the Bottom Up" Nature Exploration at the Grand Re-Opening of the Rotary Nature Center
-- February 16 2019 -- "Lake Merritt From the Bottom Up" Nature Exploration at the Grand Re-Opening of the Rotary Nature Center
-- February 2 2019 -- Ocean Sciences Bowl at Cal State Monterey Bay (2 school teams)
-- February 2 2019 -- Ocean Sciences Bowl at Cal State Monterey Bay (2 school teams)
-- Monthly Water Quality Testing
-- Monthly Water Quality Testing
-- G.L.OB.E. Participation
-- G.L.OB.E. Participation
-- Monitoring Plankton
-- Monitoring Plankton
-- Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study of Aquatic Life
-- Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study of Aquatic Life
-- Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory Expeditions
-- Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory Expeditions
SUMMER/FALL EVENTS of 2018 - See photo gallery and links to results below.
SUMMER/FALL EVENTS of 2018 - See photo gallery and links to results below.
July - September 2018 -- E.P.A. Citizen Monitoring for Bacteria in Surface Water
July - September 2018 -- E.P.A. Citizen Monitoring for Bacteria in Surface Water
September - December 2018 -- Rotary Nature Center G.L.O.B.E. Hydrology Station G.L.O.B.E. Lakes Project
September - December 2018 -- Rotary Nature Center G.L.O.B.E. Hydrology Station G.L.O.B.E. Lakes Project
August -- Pollinator plant garden and water testing - Green Team.
August -- Pollinator plant garden and water testing - Green Team.
October 17th 2018 -- Presentations and Visit to Watershed Conference
October 17th 2018 -- Presentations and Visit to Watershed Conference
December 2018 - Planning for science partnership with Sister City, Fukuoka Japan
December 2018 - Planning for science partnership with Sister City, Fukuoka Japan
STEM4LM IN ACTION
STEM4LM IN ACTION
"LAKE MERRITT FROM THE BOTTOM UP"
"LAKE MERRITT FROM THE BOTTOM UP"
An exploration table at the Grand Re-Opening of the Nature Center
An exploration table at the Grand Re-Opening of the Nature Center
SEA LION BOWL at California State University at MONTEREY BAY-2/2/2019
SEA LION BOWL at California State University at MONTEREY BAY-2/2/2019
Top left: Oakland School for the Arts
Top left: Oakland School for the Arts
Bottom left: Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy
Bottom left: Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy
Right: Both Teams, Coaches and CSUMB Mascot!
Right: Both Teams, Coaches and CSUMB Mascot!
LAKE MERRITT UNDERWATER OBSERVATORY - 1/27/2019 - Thank you to OpenROV in Berkeley CA
LAKE MERRITT UNDERWATER OBSERVATORY - 1/27/2019 - Thank you to OpenROV in Berkeley CA
Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory - R.O.V.
Lake Merritt Underwater Observatory - R.O.V.
The Great Secchi DipIn
The Great Secchi DipIn
E.P.A. Citizen Monitoring for Bacteria in the Lake
E.P.A. Citizen Monitoring for Bacteria in the Lake
Visit to the Exploratorium for Buoy Day - Monitoring Aquatic Life
Visit to the Exploratorium for Buoy Day - Monitoring Aquatic Life
ROTARY NATURE CENTER G.L.O.B.E. Hydrology Station
ROTARY NATURE CENTER G.L.O.B.E. Hydrology Station
Pollinator Plant Garden
Pollinator Plant Garden
**
with OPW's Green Team
with OPW's Green Team
POSTER PRESENTATIONS AT MEETINGS:
POSTER PRESENTATIONS AT MEETINGS:
MONITORING AQUATIC LIFE (iNaturalist Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study)
MONITORING AQUATIC LIFE (iNaturalist Lake Merritt Citizen Monitoring Study)
FUKUOKA JAPAN SISTER CITY STUDENT CITIZEN SCIENCE COLLABORATIONS
FUKUOKA JAPAN SISTER CITY STUDENT CITIZEN SCIENCE COLLABORATIONS
(planned for 2019-2020)
(planned for 2019-2020)
Marine Biologist Jim Carlton on the importance of Lake Merritt to science and community in 2016.
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