Carmel Magazine

Carmel Magazine, spring 2018

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"When I told a ranger what I had seen," Woodward remembers, "he dropped every- thing and said, 'I want you to sit down with this pen and paper and write out what you watched. No one here has ever seen a sea otter being born.'" Today, Woodward is one of three individuals from that first Point Lobos docent class still vol- unteering at the reserve—and, he's one of approximately 225 Point Lobos Foundation guides who regularly donates time to the organ- ization. Founded in 1978 as the Point Lobos Natural History Association, the 40-year-old nonprofit supports interpretive programs, edu- cational outreach and preservation projects at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. In its early years, the organization concentrat- ed primarily on training docents and creating visitor materials in various languages. Since hiring its first full-time staff member in 2013, the Point Lobos Foundation has taken on a bigger role. "We've become a more comprehensive partner for California State Parks. We're building accessible trails, completing restoration projects and researching the natural resources inside Point Lobos, so that they can be best protected over the long term," says Anna Patterson, the foundation's executive director. While the group has approximately 750 members, more than 2,500 individuals support 194 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 8 Newly hatched goslings nestle together, soaking in warmth on a sunny rock. A black oystercatcher takes a respite from braving the choppy waters in search of food. A mother harbor seal nuzzles her pup on one of the reserve's many secluded beaches. Photo: Chuck Bancroft Photo: Don McDougall Photo: Paul Reps

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