FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Claudia Figueroa

There are two sides to Winter Bonnin: The woman who is weary about the

current state of Southern California’s coastal environment, and the

confident marine life advocate who teaches people how to preserve tide

pools.

Step inside her office, a trailer at Crystal Cove State Park, south of

Corona del Mar. Inside, the 36-year-old smiles when she points to her

desk in a separate room. It’s cluttered with stacks of papers containing

proposals and upcoming plans for the park.

In a nearby corner, there are shelves supporting a dozen or so boxes

filled with colorful sea life models, mammal puppets and other props.

Bonnin, an interpretive specialist at the park, is enthusiastic about her

work.

As a result, her seasonal programs are giving beachgoers a personalized

view of marine life. Her topics range from gray whale migration and

marine mammals to the hazards of trash in the ocean.

Other programs Bonnin started include native plant restoration, astronomy

nights, wildflower hikes, and full moon mountain bike rides.

One program, “Parks for Classes,” is an informative tour and lecture for

students in preschool up to college.

Bonnin spends her afternoons at the beach, explaining marine animals’

defense mechanisms, feeding strategies and how to protect tide pools,

pinnipeds and other endangered species.

“Everybody should be aware of how they treat their surroundings, and it’s

my job to let people know how important it is to protect and preserve our

resources,” said Bonnin, a Laguna Beach resident who began her career as

a field naturalist/interpreter seven years ago on the Virgin Islands.

Bonnin’s fascination with the ocean began at an early age, when her

family visited the beach during the summer months.

For some kids, their greatest childhood memories are holidays. But for

Bonnin, her favorite memories are summertime visits to the ocean,

spending hours in the water, building sandcastles with paper cups and

collecting sea shells.

Getting people to think about the changes in the environment is on

Bonnin’s “to do” list now.

“Most of our ecosystem is being depleted and sea life is disappearing,”

she said. “Thirty years ago, you could find sea stars. They were the king

of the tide pool. Now they’re hard to find.”

Bonnin’s beach-cleaning program is a testament to her determination to

make a difference.

“Sewage spills and development are part of our ecological problems,” she

said. “It’s making it impossible for mountain lions, coyotes, snakes,

rabbits and other indigenous animals to survive in the area. As a result,

these animals are getting pushed out of the county.

“Whatever topic I teach -- be it tide pools, marine debris, wetlands or

marine mammals -- I always preach conservation. I always explain the

importance of protecting and preserving the resources of the park.”

Several years ago, Bonnin held a seasonal position on the Channel

Islands, where she worked for two and a half years leading whale-watching

tours and guided hikes on the park’s five remote islands.

Bonnin also worked as a part-time employee at San Clemente State Park

during the summer of 1997, before transferring to Crystal Cove, where she

has worked for the past two years.

Bonnin’s other passion is making films. She’s currently producing a video

about the human impact on Orange County’s tide pools, called “Between a

Rock and a Hard Place.” It’s a joint project -- for the park and working

toward her degree.

“Since many of my visitors are schoolchildren, they are the primary

audience this video is being made for. It will serve as a prelude to

visiting the tide pools,” Bonnin said.

She said the film, which she expects to finish by next fall, will show

how increasing populations in Orange County affect marine life.

“Crystal Cove is a little jewel in the sea of development, and the impact

is not a positive one,” Bonnin said. “There’s a balance somewhere in

between all of these changes and I’m working on trying to find it.”