While many visitors admire the scenic beauty of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh, few realize that some of its most popular educational and stewardship programs are powered almost entirely by the volunteers of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Docent Program. Every Saturday morning, volunteer docents welcome residents and visitors alike for free guided tours of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh, sharing the area’s remarkable geology, wildlife and history. On the first Saturday of most months, another dedicated group — the Carpinteria Weed Warriors — heads into the marsh to remove invasive plants and help restore habitat for native species. According to longtime volunteer and program coordinator Andrea Adams-Morden, both programs have one simple goal: helping people understand why the marsh matters.