The perks of lending the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center a helping hand can appeal to folks from pretty much all walks of life, Outreach Coordinator Saule Baipsys explained.
“There is really a place for everyone if you are willing to learn and grow,” Baipsys told the Sun via email.
Just dune it
To get involved at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center as a volunteer or join as a member, visit dunescenter.org or call (805) 343-2455. The current membership drive runs through February and includes chances to win prizes.
For example, the prerequisites to apply for a volunteer hike docent role—responsible for leading community group hikes and walks on a regular basis—are simply to enjoy hiking and be “ready to learn,” Baipsys said.
Having knowledge in local native flora and fauna and natural history can help land the role but isn’t required.
“We train all our docents from the very beginning, so everyone is welcome to join,” Baipsys said. “We currently have eight trained volunteer docents that lead these types of trips, either for private groups or even for school field trips.
“If hiking isn’t for you, we also train docents to give tours at our museum, help in the classroom, or tend to our native plant garden,” Baipsys added.
While helping out in the Dunes Center’s garden comes with an extra incentive for animal lovers—as the garden’s inhabitants include two resident cats, Grumpy and Tiger—other rewarding experiences await the winners of an ongoing raffle in conjunction with the nonprofit’s 2026 membership drive.
The program kicked off on Jan. 12 and encourages the public to commit to monthly recurring donations that support the Dunes Center. New members who sign up before Feb. 28 are automatically entered into a raffle with gift certificates up to $1,000 in value.
Those who register to donate $10 a month will be eligible to win a $100 gift card from one of five participating restaurants, while donors who commit to the $20 per month plan have a chance at winning gift cards that range between $500 and $1,000 from the Hitching Post, Presqu’ile Winery, or SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel.
Outside of the ongoing membership drive, the Dunes Center welcomes new donors year-round, as well as applicants to join the nonprofit either as volunteers or paid staffers.
“All our staff are also fully trained and love to step into the docent roles when the opportunity arises,” Baipsys said.
As for longtime volunteers with the Dunes Center who have consistently donated their time and energy over the years, Baipsys said that three individuals come to mind: Ray Segovia and Carole and Fred Schroader.
“Ray leads most of our community hikes and … has this infectious love for the land and the people who’ve inhabited it,” Baipsys said. “Carole and her husband, Fred, manage our gorgeous native plant garden. … This includes the pond we have as well as our resident cats who live in the garden.”
The nonprofit is currently seeking additional volunteer support to help with the garden’s upkeep.
“Maintaining this native plant garden is truly a labor of love. … We currently have around four volunteers who help in some capacity with the native plant garden, but the lead is Carole, who oversees the general management,” Baipsys said.
“There are no prerequisites for helping in this way, and we are always looking for more people who have a special interest in native plants who can help with the day-to-day management.
“This garden isn’t just ornamental,” Baipsys added. “[It’s] used for science programming to discuss botany, pollination, and habitats.”
Highlights
• The American Legion Auxiliary Post 534 in Orcutt is set to host its next pancake breakfast on Sunday, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is $15, which includes all-you-can-eat pancakes. Proceeds benefit local veterans, active military, and their families. The post is located at 145 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
• In mid-January, Lompoc Police Department Sgt. Sergio Arias graduated from an eight-month Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute program in Del Mar. Originally implemented in 1988, the program’s curriculum was designed for law enforcement front-line supervisors seeking to enhance their management, planning, and leadership skills.
Reach Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in January 29 – February 5, 2026.