F.O.A.M.

Welcome to FOAM! FOAM(Friends of the Arcata Marsh) is an organization located at the Interpretive Center at the Arcata marsh which strives to enhance visitors' understanding of what the marsh does for its surrounding commmunity and enviornment. FOAM accomplishes this by offering activities and information at the Interpretive Center, for and throughout the marsh. Information can be accessed at the Interpretive Center during open hours shown on the sign (Figure 1) at the G Street entrance of the marsh.

Sign-edited-.JPG Figure 1 Rules and regulations of Arcata Marsh. Photo taken by Robert Camacho

The Interpretive Center

Recreation

Arcata Marsh Bird Alert board located inside the Interpretive Center

BIRDING:A major attraction of the marsh is the opportunity to view a huge variety of Arcata Marsh Birds. FOAM aids this popular hobby by offering birding information and guidance. There is bird information available directly from local birders provided by a posting board at the Interpretive Center, called the Arcata Marsh Bird Alert. This is a place for birders to leave posts about birds they have found and where they saw them. The Arcata Marsh Bird Alert also includes listings for birding "hot spots" and The Bird of the Month. The Bird of the Month is usually an important bird found in the marsh, with useful facts about the bird's role in the marsh. There is also another tour lead by the Audubon Society , an organization dedicated to birds, conservation and nature, which begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays, also rain or shine. These tours are for the pure joy of birding so visitors should be sure to bring their binoculars.

GODWIT DAYS: FOAM also continues to promote bird enthusiasm through their tabling at the local migrant bird festival called Godwit Days. Many tours for Godwit days are put on by naturalists from FOAM. FOAM also has many other events at the festival which change from year to year.

ARTWORK Local photographers turn the Interpretive Center walls into an art venue every month. These walls feature a new artist's work. This artwork must comply with the request of FOAM, which is that the photos show birds, plants or other things related to the marsh. The photos can be artistic or realistic, depending on the artist's style and preference.

Education

TOURS: FOAM provides many activities that encourage and nuture visitors' interests in nature and wastewater treatment, no matter the level of knowledge. FOAM entertains and educates by offering guided nature walks at 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays that are free to the public and take place rain or shine. Depending on who guides the tour, visitors can expect to learn about birds, plants and history of the marsh. Tours on the last Saturday of the month are focused on waste water treatment and how the marsh assists this process. Personal tours can also be arranged two weeks in advance by calling the Interpretive Center.

Nature walks can be enjoyed by the whole family


EXHIBITS: All of the exhibits inside of the Interpretive Center are designed and/or funded by FOAM. These exhibits vary from policies on waste water treatment to actual treatment for waste water. Most of the exhibits are interactive, reinforcing concepts through puzzles and other gadgets. An example is an exhibit of the water cycle that presents information about each stage of the water cycle. To connect the information with a visual, this exhibit is designed show simulated water flow through the enviornment by turning a knob. The Interpretive Center also provides free literature (via brochures) with information on bird trails throughout Northern California as well as maps and information about the marsh.

WETLANDS ON WHEELS: This program is directed toward elementary education. Slideshows and plant clippings are tools that are used during FOAM presenations. At the end of a presenation, students are encouraged to participate in a skit put on by the students. These presentations are put on by voluntary instructors (usually students at Humboldt State University.)

AWARDS FOR EDUCATION FOAM awards one student for the best wetland-related project at the Humboldt County Science Fair. This award illustrates the students understanding of wetland processes. In addition FOAM has $1000 to award in grants for college students' research projects.

An exhibit about the water cycle, which actually rains when the nob in the lower left is turned.

Volunteer

The Interpretive Center activities and programs are run by volunteers. Volunteers may perform a ranging degree of work such as front desk help at the Interpretive Center, maintenance around the marsh, and education. Though a large majority of the maintenence is performed by the City of Arcata, FOAM organizes service days where people from the community can come volunteer their time at the marsh. An example of a service day is a beach clean-up. For educational work, such as taking visitors on tours of the marsh, docent trainings are required. Docent trainings are held twice a year. All inquiries about volunteer work should be directed to the Interpretive Center at (707)826-5143.

Donations

FOAM is entirley funded by donations and fundraisers. For those who donate often, FOAM has a membership program, allowing memebers to recieve the FOAM newsletter. Memebers are also allowed to vote for board members. The application for becoming a member can be found on the last page of FOAM's informational pamphlet.

Contact

All information on this page was from:

  • Denise Homer

Interpretive Naturalist

Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center

(707)822-8184

email: dhomer@arcatacityhall.org

Page created by:

  • Robert Camacho

email: rjc21@humboldt.edu

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