I have served this organization for 20 years as a teaching docent and board member. It is the best-run non-profit I have worked with, both from the perspective of a volunteer and from the perspective of the quality of services it provides. Teachers come back year after year for EV services, and the EV has taken the lead in coordinating with other science education groups for maximum impact in the schools. EV docents share the marvels of science and nature with students - a much-needed service that kids love.
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The trained volunteer docents of the Environmental Volunteers have been delivering hands-on science education in the classroom and on field trips since 1972, reaching about 11,000 students a year. I have worked with a number of community organizations, and this one continues to impress me. The EV delivers a high-quality product for the kids, for the teachers, and for the volunteers. Many children spend most of their non-school time in front of electronic devices or in organized activities, and they have little time to explore and discover the natural world on their own. The EV's programs let kids discover the natural world, and reveals to them the interdependencies of living and non-living things. These are important lessons for our future leaders! Teachers come back year after year to sign up for EV services. Many volunteers stay with the organization for decades - several have been serving as docents for over 35 years! This loyalty among clients and "staff" testifies to the EV's solid organizational governance.
As I board member, I saw the amazing passion and energy of the organization from both the strategic and day-to-day aspects. I was always impressed by the culture of delivering the best experience for the kids and the goals to make sure the 30+ year tradition continues while evolving through changing times and the ebbs and flows of the economy. That focus is woven into all aspects of the organization.
I got to know Environmental Volunteers in 2007 through the training program for school volunteers. It was fun and highly informative about the natural world in the Bay area. I was eager for more people to know about the EV. I joined the board in 2009 to help with outreach. I love that the board is regularly engaged with the organization. And helping kids learn about science and nature is a terrific investment in our future.
Environmental Volunteers, a registered 501-c-3 founded in 1972, raises funds for innovative hands-on environmental education programs in the classroom and on field trips. Topics range from "all about birds" to "energy and natural resources." This 37-year-old nonprofit trains volunteers to make a difference for children at a critical stage that can help instill a love of nature and environmental stewardship. Environmental Volunteers is renovating a beloved local landmark in a local nature preserve into a new headquarters called the EcoCenter. www.EVols.org
