I’m a volunteeR at the California Wildlife Center. Most of my shifts have been in the NICU, where I get to help treat and care for a variety of species and work with some of the kindest and most dedicated I’ve people I’ve met.
This page will have photos and videos from outreach events and from my select moments during my shifts where it’s ok to take a quick photo.
Need a sense of purpose and a new group of friends, and franz? Become a volunteer and help us save all the critters! If you can’t donate time you can still donate supplies and funds!
CWC @ West Hollywood Pride Parade, 2024
The CWC outreach team brought some hospital staff and volunteers to West Hollywood Pride Parade on June 2nd 2024, and I’m so glad I got to march with everyone and capture some fun photos and video. So much love and happiness and art and free expression, up and down every street for blocks and blocks.
My main intent was to get some great still images of the event and experience, but figured why not capture some iPhone video clips since all the motion and colors were so fun. Though this was all shot on an older iphone with a cracked lens cover, a really scratched lens cover, and missing lens cover with a scratched lens underneath, I ignored the crunchiness of the footage and just let the people and the music blend together.
I can’t say enough good things about CWC, the mission, and the volunteer work itself. I’m very grateful to be small part of a great team of people who are so dedicated to each patient that comes in and so welcoming to volunteers from all walks of life.
CWC and Parks Project: Wildlife Wednesdays Happy Hour
The CWC outreach team, lead by the brilliant Outreach Manager Cambria Wells, teamed up with dedicated folks at Parks Project to host ‘Wildlife Wednesdays Happy Hour’. The Parks Project shop/community event space in Santa Monica provided a great chance for the public to learn more about CWC and Parks Project’s missions; rehab wildlife and the environment! Hope you’ll join us at the next outreach event!
volunteer shifts and patient releases
The Neonatal ICU at The California Wildlife Center is a challenging and rewarding environment. I try to keep phone usage and picture taking to bare minimum, since the patients have so many scheduled needs. There is never nothing to do, there are often multiple feeding timers going off at the same time, and half day shift go by in a blink.
The volunteers and staff I work alongside are all just really great human beings. Felix is our leader and the seasonal tech who masterfully balances a handful of volunteers, dozens of patients, and 100s of small tasks. The whole team really cares about our patients and each other! I’m so lucky the volunteer coordinator put me with this group of strong and brilliant women and non-binary folks. I often need direction and ask too many questions sometimes but everyone is super patient with me and all really good teachers! Felix is for sure my favorite ‘boss’ ever.
