Sharon Clark

Watsonville Wetlands Watch

Sharon manages the birding station and particularly enjoys how the students “light up” as they learn to use binoculars for the first time and “really see” a bird.

Sharon Clark helps a student discover the world of birds.
Photo courtesy of Watsonville Wetlands Watch

Sharon serves as a docent at the Wetlands through an educational program called Wetland Wonders. It’s one of the many environmental restoration programs offered through the Watsonville Wetlands Watch. This organization advocates for wetlands issues, educates elementary, middle, and high school students, restores ruined habitats, preserves what remains whole, and teaches gratitude and stewardship for the life of the wetlands.

For most students, the field trip is their first visit to the beautiful Watsonville Wetlands. After they arrive and gather around “stump circle” for an orientation, they are divided into groups of ten, and each group is led by a docent as well as a professional Wetlands worker. Next, they gather up their supplies (water, orange slices, binoculars, books, scoopers, water testers) and walk for ten to fifteen minutes over fairly rugged terrain, to reach deep into the heart of the Wetlands. Here, they focus on learning about water quality, plant and bird populations and overall environmental stewardship.

Sharon manages the birding station and particularly enjoys how the students “light up” as they learn to use binoculars for the first time and “really see” a bird. The numerous birds that migrate to the Wetlands are diverse in species as well — there are nearly 450 types, including such rare majestic creatures as the Bald Eagle.

After spotting a particular bird, Sharon works with guidebooks as well, to help the students identify and learn more about it. Through this kind of hands-on education, students become inspired to notice and take care of their natural world, hopefully becoming teachers for others, and also learn the value of research through using books.

A resident of the nearby city of Capitola, Sharon has been a financial supporter of and volunteer docent for the Watsonville Wetlands Watch for the past eight years. In addition to her docent service, she contributes by routinely going to the Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center to feed mice to the two resident gopher snakes; she also dishes up meal worms to the turtle.

As Sharon encourages others to join in the fun and volunteer at Watsonville Wetlands Watch, she says, “You don’t have to be smart or well-educated to be a docent; you just have to be a little smarter than the average 4th grader.” However, these days, that’s saying a lot!