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Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center First Year
Highlights
| The mission statement of the center is "To promote and
support the protection and preservation of California Coastal Wetlands through
environmental education". Since the birth of the Center in October of 2000 much has
been accomplished by the staff and volunteers of the bay to fulfill this mission. In
our first year: * Approximately 20,000 people have come to visit the center and
interact with the exhibits.
* Over 60 new volunteers have completed training.
* We have grown from a staff of 2 to a staff of 7.
* Several grassland and coastal sage scrub restoration projects were initiated.
* A butterfly garden was planted with the help of several visitors at the Open House
event.
* Funds have been raised through generous corporate and private donations to support the
future of the center.
* The center has hosted meetings, workshops and conferences that promoted the protection
and preservation of California native habitats.
* A series of summer family programs was introduced to the community.
* Many additions were made to the classroom including a children's nature reading corner,
touch table, coloring table, tracks and scat table. Some very popular live additions were
also made including two gopher snakes, a rosy boa snake, a California king snake, two
western fence lizards, and two red-eared slider turtles.
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Though lists and numbers look good they can only tell us half the story. The
purpose of an interpretive center is not only to educate but also to spark interest and
inspire questions. Environmental interpretation involves the translation of the technical
language of the natural sciences into relationships and ideas that are fun and easy to
understand. Firsthand
experiences, original objects and illustrative media are incorporated into the exhibits
and activities at the Center to help reveal meanings, ideas, and relationships about the
natural world. So, another way to gauge our success is by tracking the interest and
understanding of the bay through the questions visitors ask. |
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The questions we hear as visitors interact with the exhibits have elevated to a new level
of inquiry. "What is the difference between an estuary and a wetland?"
"What kinds of birds do you have here, where do they come from and what do they
eat?" " How does increased flow of sediments affect the
bay?" Comments made by visitors also show newly sparked interest.
"Wow, I never knew that!" - a comment heard often when visitors learn that there
are almost 200 species of birds at the bay or when they learn that one square food of mud
at the bay can have up to 1,000 tasty worms for the birds to
feast on. Another favorite comment heard often at the center is "Look
mom!" as a child points to the magnified plankton swimming on a monitor in the
"Who eats What?" exhibit or they discover a cool snake slithering across the
sand in his glass tank in the classroom.
So what does the future bring? There are many things to accomplish in the years to
come as we continue to spark interest and inspire questions from the thousands of people
visiting the bay every year. We hope to encourage the inquisitive minds of our
visitors and continue to broaden their
understanding and appreciation of the bay. With this increased sense of stewardship,
the protection and preservation of wetlands doesn't seem like such an unattainable idea
after all.
Grace Yick
Senior Park Ranger
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
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