We lead and participate in a variety of interpretive and community science programs designed to stimulate and nurture passion for conservation. We offer free, in-depth training for each of our programs.
Unique to Friends of Otter Rock Marine Reserve, we offer paid internships to a college student to serve as a Coordinator and to high school students who have an interest in ocean related sciences. Made possible with support from the Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA), Oregon Coast STEM Hub, and Oregon State University’s Marine and Coastal Opportunities hub (MACO) this summer program allows students to gain valuable resume-building experience in the field.
Students deepen their marine science knowledge, build confidence in communication and leadership skills, and share passion for the ocean and ecosystems with thousands of visitors from around the world. In addition, all students have opportunities to participate in community science projects and surveys. Additional benefits are provided to the college internship.
Summer of 2023 Interns (photo credit: Marilyne Coblentz)
This part-time paid internship runs from mid-October to mid-June and provides two high school students who love the ocean and care about the environment with the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in ocean science, environmental conservation, and community outreach.
This program runs from June through Labor Day at the Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area, overlooking the Otter Rock Marine Reserve. Trained volunteers are stationed at the Punchbowl Overlook to connect with visitors from around the world. Volunteers share information about the ecology, wildlife, and natural history of the area while also helping to ensure visitor safety and minimize disturbance to nesting seabirds.
The Friends of Otter Rock Marine Reserve invites the public to participate in coast-wide community science projects.
Marine debris surveys are conducted at a designated segment of beach each month. This community science project aims to identify the quantity and types of marine debris that wash ashore to track movement and impacts of debris along U.S. coastlines.
Sea star surveys are part of the effort to monitor Sea Star Wasting Syndrome with the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network. Our Otter Rock Marine Reserve team surveys our local sea star populations for signs of wasting syndrome during each low tide cycle.
Program Coordinator sharing sea star identification. (photo credit: Marilyne Coblentz)
Each summer we participate in the Oregon Black Oystercatcher Project with Portland Audubon at the Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area. We monitor pairs of bird behavior and nesting success from May through August.
Black oystercatcher pair on nest with eggs. (photo credit: Marilyne Coblentz)
Overseen by the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, CoastWatch is a community science survey that tracks and documents natural- and human-caused changes or impacts on Oregon’s beaches and rocky nearshore. We participate in monthly data collection of any changes we observe on the beaches north and south of Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area.
Year round we conduct monthly surveys for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team’s (COASST’s) Beached Birds project. We count, measure, tag, and document beached birds found along the sand of Beverly Beach State Park. We upload this data to COASST to help track patterns in coastal bird mortality.
From November to January, we contribute to the Oregon King Tides Project. Co-coordinated by the Oregon Coastal Management Program and CoastWatch, this project aims to track the impact of king tides through photos taken along the coast. These photos are used to provide insight on sea-level rise mapping, king tide frequency, and how climate change is affecting Oregon’s shores.