Who We Are

A 501(c)3 non-profit organization:
Friends of the Dunes has been actively involving the community in the conservation of dunes systems since 1982. Originally a volunteer arm of the local chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Dunes became incorporated as a separate non-profit 501(c)3 organization in 1996. The Friends of the Dunes office is located in Manila California and is supported by individual memberships, donations, grants and contracts. Friends of the Dunes is a unique and knowledgeable resource for coastal dune education, restoration and land conservation and serves as a catalyst for public involvement in dune conservation.

Mission Statement

Friends of the Dunes is dedicated to conserving the natural diversity of coastal environments through community supported education and stewardship programs.

Goals

Provide community education that instills understanding, appreciation and inspires conservation of coastal environments.
Build community-based restoration programs that serve to maintain and enhance the natural diversity of coastal environments.
Serve as a land trust, conserving coastal dune properties through conservation easements and land acquisition to ensure that land use is consistent with the ecological values of native coastal dune systems.
Create an effective and efficient organization capable of conserving coastal environments in perpetuity.
Build a broad base of financial resources to insure the long-term sustainability of Friends of the Dunes programs and general operations.

Major Programs and Activities

Education

Volunteer Docent program offering free weekly guided walks at various locations throughout Humboldt County
Bay to Dunes Education program offering pre-trip classroom visits followed by day-long field trips exploring bay and dune habitats for over 1500 Humboldt County students annually. Supported by the Humboldt Area Foundation, McLean Foundation, National Fish Wildlife Foundation and the California Coastal Commission.
Maintain informational website at: friendsofthedunes.org with activities calendar, volunteer opportunities, educational material.
Interpretive educational media provided to the public including; development of text and layout for interpretive kiosks, brochures, interpretive signs, exhibits and trails. Current projects include the Manila Community Services District Signing Project, Humboldt Beaches and Dunes Map and guide, a Field guide to the Plants and Animals of the Dunes and quarterly newsletter.

Coastal Dune Restoration

Coordinate and implement the restoration of coastal dune habitats by removing invasive, non-native plant species.
Recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteer restorationists conducting restoration at dune locations throughout Humboldt County. Funding provided from the Humboldt Area Foundation, Rose Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and area business sponsors.
Management of restoration contracts.

Land Stewardship

Friends of the Dunes serves as a land trust, able to receive donations of coastal properties and conservation easements in order to assure that land use is consistent with the ecological values of coastal dune systems.
Member of the California Council of Land Trusts, consortium of land trusts throughout the state that work together to foster the advancement of land trust policy and funding.
Member of the Land Trust Alliance, a national organization that promotes voluntary land conservation and strengthens the land trust movement by providing the leadership, information, skills and resources that land trusts need to conserve land for the benefit of communities and natural systems.
Current subcontractor on HWR Science and Engineering consulting team developing a Public Access Plan for the Ma-le'l Dunes Cooperative Management Area.
Trail development and planning.
Provide technical assistance for development of public access and implementation plans for coastal lands.

Staffing

Carol Vander Meer, Executive Director

Carol has a B.A. in Biology from Iowa State University, an M.S. in Biology from the University of Nebraska, and a secondary science teaching credential from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Carol has extensive experience in natural resource interpretation and worked with local nonprofits developing fundraising plans, writing grants and facilitating strategic planning.

Maggie Stoudnour, Education Coordinator

Maggie has a B.A. in Human Ecology from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and an M.A. in Social Science in the Environment and Community program at Humboldt State University. She has 8 years experience working in the field of environmental education and has been involved with the Bay to Dunes program for 4 years. She has been our Education Coordinator since June of 2005.

Emily Walter, Restoration Coordinator

Emily has a B.S. in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation from Humboldt State University and 4 years experience coordinating of the Dune Ecosystem Restoration Program. Emily is currently enrolled in the graduate program in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation.

Pamela Bell, Bookkeeper

Pamela is a self-employed bookkeeper with over four years of bookkeeping and financial management experience with businesses and non profits. Experienced in QuickBooks, Excel and Microsoft Word.

Cathy Larripa, Capital Campaign Manager

Cathy has a B.A. in Biology from Cal State Bakersfield, an M.S. in Natural Resources from Humboldt State University, and multiple and single subject teaching credentials in science and math from Cal State Hayward. She has 20 years of classroom experience and has been involved with the Capital Campaign since November of 2007.

Board of Directors
Bill Weaver, PhD President	Owner/Geologist, Pacific Watershed Associates Inc
Mike Wilson,P.E Vice President	Project Manager/Ecological Engineer, HWR Engineering and Science
Larry Oteker Treasurer	Deputy Director, Arcata Community Development Agency
Michelle Forys Merchandise , Restoration Chair	Biologist, California State Parks
John St. Marie Restoration Committee	Educator, Peninsula Union Elementary School
Ron Kuhnel Fundraising Committee	Information Technology, Retired
Rose Patenaude, P.E. Education Committee	Hydrologic Engineer, Jeff Anderson & Associates
Tamara Gedik	Biologist, Gedik Biological Associates
Dave Weinstein Restoration Committee	Assistant Vice President, VANTREO Insurance Brokerage
Nancy Ihara Education Committee Chair	Coordinator, Healthy Moms Program
Marjorie Fay Education Committee	Retired Teacher, Eureka City Schools
Matt Johnson	Associate Professor of Wildlife, Humboldt State University
Mike Seeber	Operations Director, Arcata Community Recycling Center
Roxana Taylor	Project Coordinator, Northcoast Environmental Center
Jacqueline Debets	Community Development Director, Humboldt County