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	Back to Natives Restoration is dedicated to the restoration and conservation of Orange County and California wildlands, through education and restoration programs featuring native plants as a centralizing theme. Occasionally Back to Natives needs volunteers to assist with habitat restoration projects (removing non-native plants, and planting native plants). If you are interested in learning about these volunteer community service opportunities:   Send an email to volunteer(@)backtonatives.org, and be added to our email list.  We will inform you about upcoming volunteer opportunities. Keep an eye on our events page for event information. During the year ending June 30th, 2008 there were over 3,000 program participants, 9,000 instructional hours, over 200 student volunteers and over 150 adult volunteers totaling over 2,500 volunteer hours! Email volunteer(@)backtonatives.org for more information on how to volunteer for BTN or get involved in a restoration project near you. Our Director of Education (a part time volunteer) will respond to all volunteer inquiries as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding. 2009-2010 Schedule Please RSVP to Back to Natives for any event that you wish to attend. Also, bring a completed volunteer waiver with you when you attend the event. Habitat Restoration - the Heritage Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana    *New Location!* Join Back to Natives in assisting the Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana to restore their 4.5 acre Nature Center. We meet at the Center once a month to monitor the habitat, remove weeds, and plant native plants. Bring gloves, sunscreen, water, snacks, hat, and closed toed shoes. For more information or to RSVP: 949-509-4787 or volunteer(@)backtonatives.org. All times are 9AM-Noon  (Full denotes no volunteers needed) 01/17/2010 02/21/2010 03/21/2010  FULL 04/18/2010   Habitat Restoration - Mason Regional Park, Irvine Come assist Back to Natives in restoring Coastal Sage Scrub to 3.5 acres of habitat in Mason Regional Park in Irvine! We meet at the park once a month to monitor the habitat, remove weeds, plant native plants, and seed with native plant seed. Bring gloves, sunscreen, water, snacks, hat, and closed toed shoes. For more information or to RSVP: 949-509-4787 or volunteer(@)backtonatives.org.      All times are 9AM-Noon  (Full denotes no volunteers needed) 06/21/2009 - Seed Collection Hike 07/12/2009 - Seed Collection Hike 07/26/2009 - Seed Collection Hike 08/09/2009 - Seed Collection Hike 09/19/2009 - Coastal Cleanup Day 10/04/2009 11/01/2009 12/06/2009 01/03/2010 02/07/2010 03/07/2010  FULL 04/11/2010  FULL 05/02/2010  FULL 06/06/2010 Habitat Restoration - Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano Come assist Back to Natives in restoring Oak Savannah habitat in Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano.   We meet at the park once a month to monitor the habitat, remove weeds, and seed with native plant seed. Everyone is invited - children below high school should be accompanied by a parent. Bring gloves, sunscreen, water, snacks, hat, and closed toed shoes. For more information or to RSVP: 949-509-4787 or volunteer(@)backtonatives.org. 10/03/2009       All times are 11/07/2009       9AM-Noon 12/05/2009 01/02/2010 02/06/2010  (On hold 03/06/2010   due to 04/03/2010   funding) 05/01/2010 Habitat Restoration - Jeronimo Creek Open Space, Mission Viejo Come assist Back to Natives in restoring habitat in Jeronimo Creek Open Space in Mission Viejo.  We meet at the location to monitor the habitat, and remove weeds to assist the native plantings and seeding to thrive.   Everyone is invited - children high school and below should be accompanied by a parent.  Bring gloves, sunscreen, water, snacks, hat, and closed toed shoes. For more information or to RSVP: 949-509-4787 or volunteer(@)backtonatives.org. All times are 9AM-Noon  (Full denotes no volunteers needed) 05/30/2009 09/27/2009 10/25/2009 11/29/2009 12/27/2009 01/24/2010 02/28/2010  FULL 03/28/2010 04/25/2010 05/23/2010 See also - USFS and BTN Restoration Volunteer Training Program schedule	Volunteers of the Year for 2008-2009 These nine individuals were honored by Back to Natives as Volunteers of the year for 2008-9!  They assisted with various projects and general office support, the BTN & USFS Restoration Training Program, San Juan Elementary habitat garden maintenance, volunteer restoration events and much more. Scott Breeden Nicholas Durant John Kaiser Alex kis Leigh Phan Mark Sugars Ed Steiner Joan Steiner David C. Taylor From our volunteers: "I have enjoyed working at Back to Natives this past season. It has given me many unique experiences to work within a non-profit organization as well as to learn more about the environment and how I can further educate and encourage others to live with their environmental influence in mind." - Back to Natives Intern "My experiences at Back to Natives have given me my first experience with an environmental group and opportunities to gain knowledge that will help me in my future pursuits and challenges. Back to Natives staff’s leadership and hard work has shown me the passion and dedication that is needed in any endeavor, which I will remember in my career goals." - Back to Natives Intern Earn Credits for Volunteering! University of California Irvine offers assistance and support for students looking for volunteer opportunities to explore possible career choices. Visit the website for UCI and the Center for Service and Action at: http://www.volunteer.uci.edu/units/index.php Disabled and physically challenged Back to Natives encourages the passion of all individuals and groups to help conserve, preserve and restore wild areas and habitat. Be aware that there are some locations that are more difficult to traverse than others, and in the wild smooth surfaces are rare. If you or your group are up to the challenge, we look forward to you volunteering your time to help us save habitat. Developmentally Disabled Citizens Back to Natives appreciates the aid of all individuals interested in helping to conserve, preserve and restore natural areas and habitat. Direct contact with nature, along with completion of a project that has results the individual can visit and appreciate for years to come has appreciable impact and facilitates physical interaction with the natural worlds. Back to Natives provides community service opportunities to one and all, including... High School Students. Some people WANT to do community service, and some people HAVE to. Community service hours are often required of students wishing to graduate from high school. This community service requirement provides immediate and practical experience working with others in real settings within the community. Internship Program. Back to Natives is seeking quality individuals to serve as Interns. Interns help with research, community outreach, and on site restoration. Having community service hours documented on your transcript is very beneficial when searching for employment, or seeking entrance to college or graduate school. At this time, interns are not paid. BTN is an equal opportunity employer.