Volunteers Make it Happen

TIME-SENSITIVE (Scroll down for ongoing opportunities):

Native Creek Restoration - Suchumumu Cultural Center (16915 CA-108, Jamestown, CA 95327). January 18, 2025, 12:00-4:00pm. Join the Environmental & Sustainability Department at Chicken Ranch Rancheria - Me-Wuk Indians of California for a creek restoration project. Help us preserve indigenous lands and revitalize our waterways! We will be spending the day removing invasive species (yellow iris & blackberry), planting propagated willow tree cuttings, restoring trails, and more! Water and snacks will be provided, a reusable water bottle is recommended. Volunteers should bring comfortable, sturdy clothing (wear layers to adapt to changing weather), work gloves and working boots. We are keeping an eye on weather! Contact Chris Cruz (Tribal Monitor/Cultural Resource Specialist, Tribal Climate Fellow) at ccruz@crtribal.com for more information. Carpooling recommended.  

ONGOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

Outdoor Volunteer Days for Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy!  Help restore habitat that is important to threatened and endangered wildlife species! Activities may include weeding, planting, and/or watering. No experience needed! Most Saturdays and some Sundays, 9am – noon, in Rancho Palos Verdes or San Pedro. Learn more at www.pvplc.org/volunteer and register at https://vhub.at/NewEvents.

Find a Climate Volunteer Opportunity Near You! Under the Office of the Governor, the California Climate Action Corps empowers Californians to undertake climate service and action in their communities. To help Californians connect with local climate volunteer opportunities, we've created an online Volunteer Hub that puts opportunities from across the state into one place. Visit climateactioncorps.ca.gov today to join the climate movement and make a positive difference in your community!

Point Blue Conservation Science is proud to be a “boots on the ground” organization. We were founded with a commitment to innovative conservation science and with a contagious enthusiasm for applying our scientific knowledge to make life better for birds, other wildlife, and all of us who share the planet with them. Learn more about our work by following our blogs, reading our newsletters, and engaging with us on social media. You can help the environment and support our work in lots of ways: join an event, become a conservation volunteer, or give a gift to support our work. Explore current events via https://www.pointblue.org/engage-with-us/events/.

Stinson Beach - Stewardship at Martin Griffin Preserve! Join us in west Marin for an afternoon of stewardship! We will be focusing on invasive plant management, so this is a great activity for those who enjoy weeding in the garden. Please bring a lunch, clothes you would garden in, sturdy shoes, and a water bottle. We will provide gloves, snacks, and tools. All experience levels are welcome! Volunteer stewardship workdays run monthly on Saturdays from 11am-3pm. Public transportation to the meeting site is available via the West Marin Stagecoach route 61. Anyone is welcome, please RSVP so we know to expect you. Visit our Eventbrite page to find upcoming workday dates: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/volunteer-in-nature-stewardship-workday-at-martin-griffin-preserve-registration-298773819537.

The American River Parkway Needs Volunteers for Invasive Plant Patrols! With over 40 species of fish, hundreds of plant species and 220 species of mammals the American River Parkway is an important natural oasis in our growing metropolitan area. From iconic Valley Oaks to endangered Salmon the Parkway contains some of the last remnants of our Great Valley. One of the largest threats facing the park today is invasive plants. Since 2009, the American River Parkway Foundation has managed the invasive plant population on the entire American River Parkway. ARPF works with volunteers to locate and clear away invasive plant species from the Parkway. During these events, volunteers use specialized equipment to remove plants that decrease biodiversity, increase risk of fires, outcompete native plants and disrupt the natural food chain. Volunteers can get involved by attending a scheduled event or becoming a Plant Steward. ARPF provides all the essentials during organized events, including gloves, weed wrenches, waters and light snacks. Great for groups of less than 15. For more information, visit https://arpf.org/volunteer/.

Presidio Trust Weekly Volunteer Programs! Volunteer activities happen just about every day of the week in the Presidio. Whether you have three hours or 500 hours to give, weekly volunteer programs provide flexible opportunities that work with any schedule. A summary of programs can be found on our website and include: Habitat Restoration, Horticulture, Sustainability, Forestry, and Nursery opportunities. Our webite has the full calendar listing for more details: https://www.presidio.gov/events.

Volunteer in the Mt. Tam Watershed!  Volunteers play a critical role in maintaining the scenic beauty and biological richness of the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. From improving trails, restoring habitat, and protecting endangered species, Marin Water has a variety of volunteer opportunities available to match your skills, interests, and available time. Explore the opportunities in the drop-down menus at https://www.marinwater.org/volunteer.

Hands-on Restoration in East Bay! Friends of Five Creeks, a 24-year-old, all-volunteer group, has monthly weekend work parties and every-Tuesday "weed warriors" volunteer opportunities. We work at various sites from Berkeley to Richmond, from Bay to Hills. Check us out at http://fivecreeks.org/calendar.shtml or contact f5creeks@gmail.com for more information.

Starr King Open Space Call for Native Plant Restorationists and Land Stewards! Take Care of Starr King Open Space! Monthly Volunteer Days are on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30am – 12:00pm. Come out and meet your neighbors, be a community steward, enjoy the natural grassland habitat, see spectacular views, celebrate our beautiful neighborhood open space and help us keep it in great shape for all to enjoy. Visit https://starrkingopenspace.org/volunteer/ and let us know if you can help. And if you have other ideas and want to contribute in a different way, just tell us… the Board is looking to expand our volunteer program and there are a number of unique opportunities to employ your special talents and skills towards a good cause. Getting involved with the Open Space will deepen your appreciation for this neighborhood treasure, and help to protect and preserve it for future generations.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area Habitat Restoration Volunteering! Help restore and monitor critical natural areas and create wildlife corridors for threatened and endangered species. Activities include invasive plant removal, winter planting, litter removal, seed collection, fence construction, trail maintenance, and plant monitoring. For more information, visit https://www.parksconservancy.org/volunteer/habitat-restoration-volunteering. 

Volunteer with Audubon Canyon Ranch Stewards! Over the past six decades, volunteers have shared their love of nature with generations of schoolchildren, cleared trails, removed invasive plants, become field observers, and maintained trail cameras, Join us today and start connecting with the beauty of our preserves, make new friends, and know you are helping protect the wildlands and wildlife of Marin and Sonoma counties. To learn more about volunteering at Audubon Canyon Ranch please visit our website at https://www.egret.org/volunteer/.

Literacy for Environmental Justice (LEJ)! This urban environmental education and youth empowerment organization was created specifically to address the unique ecological and social concerns of Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco, and the surrounding communities of Mission, Potrero Hill, Visitacion Valley, and Excelsior. If you have a group, sign up to come on out to Candlestick and join us for seed cleaning, transplanting, and plant care at LEJ’s Native Plant Nursery in Candlestick Point State Park. You’ll help grow the plants that restore our parks for people and wildlife in Southeast San Francisco! You can also help restore and steward Candlestick Point State Park. Email leeandrea.morton@lejyouth.org with questions and to sign up.  You can also come and hang out with California State Park Foundation and LEJ as we work on restoring the native ecology within Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (CPSRA). Activities include planting native plants, prepping areas for planting, and removing invasive species. Learn more about both opportunities at https://www.lejyouth.org/index.php/upcoming-events/.

Point Reyes Habitat Restoration Volunteer Program! At Point Reyes, volunteers restore critical habitat by collecting and planting native grass seed, protecting riparian habitat, and locating, identifying and removing exotic, invasive plants; monitor wildlife, such as coho salmon and steelhead trout, harbor seals, snowy plovers; and maintain and repair trails. For more information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.nps.gov/pore/getinvolved/volunteer.htm#:~:text=At%20Point%20Reyes%2C%20volunteers%3A,Maintain%20and%20repair%20trails.

Bolsa Chica Land Trust Stewards Restoration Project! The Stewards meet twice each month — on the first Sunday and third Saturday, (rain or shine) — to restore native plant habitat at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (3842 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92649). We invite the community to join us at 9:00am (till noon). Please come dressed for mess with long pants, closed toe shoes and sunscreen — we provide everything else. This volunteer opportunity is open to the entire community, is great for families, school groups, scout groups, employee spirit days, church green-teams, etc. Great for all ages (little ones with parent/teacher please). For more information, visit https://bclandtrust.org/volunteer/.

Conservation Volunteer - America Conservation Experience (ACE)! ACE is a non-profit conservation corps offering unpaid, team-based, entry level crew member opportunities for both American and International citizens ages 18-40 to take part in challenging outdoor projects in many of the most beautiful National Parks, National Forests and wilderness areas in the Western U.S. We often offer living stipend positions and as well as education awards through our AmeriCorps affiliation. Please ask us for more information on these seasonal positions and monthly start dates. ACE is dedicated to providing professional development and service learning opportunities for emerging land managers, environmental stewards, and conservation-minded corps members in culturally diverse and naturally inspiring settings. ACE members embody an ethic of environmental stewardship, learn practical conservation skills, and explore career options while accomplishing vital conservation projects in many of America's most spectacular open spaces. Potential applicants interested in meeting people from different countries while improving many of the most beautiful areas in the American West are strongly encouraged to apply! ACE accepts applications throughout the year. All positions are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis due to limited capacity and high demand for this program. Apply by completing our online registration at http://www.usaconservation.org/programs/conservation-volunteers/ and submitting a motivational statement stating your goals, background, and reasons for wanting to participate in our program.