Volunteer Creates Energy, and Positive Environmental Change

Have you ever wondered how some of the nonprofit sailing organizations get things done? Volunteers play a big part in handling the jobs needed to run the Sausalito-based nonprofit Call of the Sea. The payoff for the volunteers is usually the satisfaction of knowing their efforts are making a positive difference. But every so often, they get the additional rewards of recognition from areas outside of their immediate beneficiaries.

In this instance, we’re referring to Call of the Sea (COTS) volunteer Mike Wing, who was recently named Heart of Marin Volunteer of the Year by the Center for Volunteer Nonprofit Leadership. Mike has been an active volunteer at COTS since April 2021. He is an author, scientist, and full-time high school classroom science teacher. He holds a PhD, and is the author of the book Passion Projects for Smart People. On top of all that, he dedicates his days off to the sailing education organization, amassing more than 285 hours in 2023. He’s been involved in projects from school sails to community sails, to maintenance, and training new volunteers.

In addition to the regularly required duties, Mike took the initiative of organizing a much-needed and valued Naturalist Kit for use aboard the Seaward and Matthew Turner, and then sprang into action teaching students and the crew about the marine life in the S.F. Bay Area.

But wait, there’s more. While taking part in the onboard manta trawls (basically a net for plastic particles) in 2021 and 2022, Mike noticed the prevalence of little blue bits of Styrofoam that break away from the billets that support floating docks. Together with COTS crew member Amy Green, Mike spearheaded a project that impacted environmental change within the city of Sausalito. After presenting their findings on the issue of the Styrofoam to the Sausalito City Council, they succeeded in creating a positive change for the environment.

“Amy and I presented the issue to the Sausalito City Council and suggested some slightly more expensive alternatives that do not slough off plastic particles into the ocean,” Call of the Sea wrote on their website. “Sausalito said yes to a ban on unencapsulated blue foam flotation!”

We love stories about people sailing, but we also love stories about people who give of themselves to help others get the most out of their time on the water. And in this case, we also love hearing about Mike’s contribution to kids’ marine education, and the improvement of our waterways. Well done, Mike Wing!

You can read more about Mike and the work he does at Call of the Sea here. If you would like to add your time, knowledge or skills to the team at COTS, you can volunteer here.