Niels in the Community
Community is a vital part of my life. I love getting together with friends and family and actively contribute to the community I live in. In my home town of Carpinteria I have found some great committees, organizations and boards in which I happily spend a significant amount of time each week.
City of Carpinteria
Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Member of Business Advocacy Round Table 2008-2010
- Facilitator of Board Retreat Meeting 2009
Carpinteria School District
Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs
The original purpose of the Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs was to secure Public acquisition of the Carpinteria Bluffs. Our group consists of many enthusiastic, dedicated, credible individuals with a long and proven commitment to preserving the Bluffs.
Santa Barbara Foundation
The Santa Barbara Foundation is a community foundation established in 1928 to enrich the lives of the people of Santa Barbara County through philanthropy:
Carpinteria Valley Art Council
- Board member
The Carpinteria Valley Arts Council is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the arts. their mission is to: foster community involvement; nurture the creative process and its appreciation; provide education; establish a center for the arts an enhance and enrich the quality of life in the Carpinteria Valley.
Working with Wildlife: "My time with the Birds"
One of my biggest passions in life is wildlife and environmental education and preservation. Ever since I was a little kid I wrote passionate letters to the Dutch senate and its Queen on wildlife management in the Netherlands. In the greater Santa Barbara area there are many fantastic causes which I can align myself with. When it comes to fueling my "environmental" passion I spend many hours "volunteering" at the Ojai Raptor Center, with Santa Barbara Audubon and its Education Program "Eyes in the Sky," and the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. I happily clean cages, handle rehabilitate and feed hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures and owls, and participate in education programs for school kids and other community members.
Santa Barbara Audubon Society
- Board member and Science Chair
The mission of Santa Barbara Audubon Society is to help conserve and restore the earth's natural ecosystems and improve its biological diversity, principally in the Santa Barbara area, and to connect people with birds and nature through education, science-based projects and advocacy.
Ojai Raptor Center
- Rehabilitation volunteer, handler and environmental educator
ORC is dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of orphaned and injured birds of prey and to providing education programs to teach about raptors and our shared environment, reduce common hazards to wildlife and decrease the number of raptors that require assistance.
Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network
- Active volunteer and environmental educator
Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (SBWCN) is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured wild birds and small mammals in Santa Barbara County, California.
Fee free to connect with Niels for more information about his coaching and his community work.