Rotary Nature Center and Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge

If you’ve ever considered becoming a California Naturalist, I can’t recommend this course highly enough…. Time to apply

California Naturalist – Sagehen Creek Field Station University of California Cooperative Extension developed California Naturalist to foster a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and citizen scientists trained and ready to take an active role in natural resource conservation, education, and restoration. Sagehen was an early beta-tester, and we c...

Join Rotary Nature Center staff and community volunteers for a fun day of service to beautify our nature area at the Rotary Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge for our MLK Day of Service. Volunteers will assist with weeding, planting, litter and debris pickup, and beautification projects.

Event time: 10AM - 1PM (final event wrap-up 1PM-2PM)

Location: Rotary Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge, 600 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610

To join us for our day of service all volunteers must:

- Be over the age of 18 or have a legal guardian present if 17 and under on the day of the event.
- Pre-registered through Perfect Mind- Sign up here:
https://cityofoakland.perfectmind.com/Contacts/BookMe4LandingPages/CoursesLandingPage?widgetId=15f6af07-39c5-473e-b053-96653f77a406&redirectedFromEmbededMode=False&courseId=21282523-99b3-48ce-be8e-f1e5a8532aac
- Must sign all Oakland Public Works and Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development waivers *Minors must have their legal guardian sign City of Oakland Waivers. Youth chaperons can not sign City of Oakland waivers on behalf of a legal guardian. For youth groups, please email us at [email protected] for a complete waiver packet and event information.
- Registration for this event ends Wednesday, January 10th, 2024 at 5:00 PM. Note: This event may be canceled due to weather and other unforeseeable events that would impact the quality and safety of this event.

https://oaklandside.org/2023/11/20/oakland-rotary-nature-center-lake-merritt/

‘Oakland’s gift to itself’: The storied history—and uncertain future—of the Rotary Nature Center A recent fire damaging Lake Merritt’s legendary educational institution is only the latest setback.

September 17th, approximately 20 firefighters responded to a fire at the Rotary Nature Center on Bellevue Ave along Lake Merritt.
Fire crews successfully contained the fire to between 10-15% of the rear exterior wall closest to the lake and the adjoining roof area. Thankfully, the interior of the facility was largely spared from impact, aside from some minor smoke and water damage.
The fire was placed under control at 7:45 PM. There were no reports of any injuries and the Rotary Nature Center was not housing any animals.
While there are verified reports of homelessness activity in the immediate area of the fire’s origin, the exact cause of this fire is still under investigation.
Programs are temporarily suspended. Please check back for updates.

Thanks to Oakland Fire Dept for their quick response to the fire at the Rotary Nature Center. Most damage was limited to the exterior and a portion of the roof. Staff is working to evaluate the damage to the building and collection. Taxidermy will be evaluated and treated by an expert to mitigate any smoke or water damage once the site is secured. You can follow for updates here or at Community for Lake Merritt - the fiscal sponsor nonprofit which supports the center. Donations to help with the work can be made at https://communityforlakemerritt.org/

Sad to report…

Install of Measure DD Lake Merritt Interpretative Sign Project takes place this week. The signs connect people to the place and the wildlife that live at Lake Merritt and encourage stewardship. The six signs feature information on the Lake Merritt watershed, wildlife refuge history, birds of Lake Merritt, wildlife habitat, rain gardens, and the tidal lagoon ecosystem. To see images of the six interpretive signs and the map, visit: City of Oakland | Lake Merritt Interpretive Signs (oaklandca.gov)

Monarchs and More – Biodiversity on a Milkweed Plant
Cosponsored by Rotary Nature Center, Pollinator Posse, and Community for Lake Merritt

Saturday March 25th
10 -11:30 am
Rotary Nature Center – 600 Bellevue Avenue - Oakland

To complement the current exhibit at the Rotary Nature Center, Terry Smith, co-founder of the local grass roots non-profit, The Pollinator Posse, will share the biology, behavior, status, and future outlook for Monarchs and their neighbors in the complex ecosystem that can thrive on a milkweed plant. Although the beloved Monarch butterfly has been in the news recently due to dramatic fluctuations in population and behavior - particularly in the Bay Area - they’re not the only creatures who deserve our attention. Ecosystems need biodiverse populations and we’ll share ways to support them through beneficial gardening practices, and becoming part of the observation process. Bring your pollinator and milkweed related questions. Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSee9ymgw1PkWSeXSix94-wVBqETG140fe2pvn8LrpWd7XFqxg/viewform