Volunteer Opportunities & Resources

Please e-mail your volunteer announcements to for posting at this site.

Volunteer Resources

  • Many of our partners offer opportunities to volunteer. Please check their websites for more information.
  • The Bay Area Early Detection Network frequently needs help removing and reporting on invasive species.
  • Bay Area High School Environmental Network--Earthteam is a collaborative network connecting Bay Area teenagers, teachers and youth leaders with numerous environmental, educational, and government organizations.
  • BayIt: Bay Interpretive Training Program: Volunteers needed for an extensive training program covering many Bay and habitat topics with special emphasis on how to teach. Program accepts applicants any time but season starts October 18 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. For more information, email BayIT@cityofberkeley.info. call Patty Donald at 510-981-6720 or email pdonald@cityofberkeley.info.
  • Berkeley Partners for Parks is an umbrella group for neighborhood and other Berkeley groups carrying out projects in local parks. Opportunities: Varied and changing volunteer opportunities including gardening, construction, and research. Contact www.bpfp.org for list of current opportunities.
  • Berkeley Marina Experience Program, Shorebird Park/Strawbale Nature Center, 160 University Ave. (Berkeley Marina). Opportunities: training for docents who lead school groups learning Bay ecology; summer volunteering opportunities including boating classes, organizing Coastal Cleanup. Hosts groups in shoreline cleanups, etc. Contact Patty Donald at 510-981-6720 or pdonald@cityofberkeley.info.
  • Berkeley Path Wanderers Assn. seeks to restore and enhance Berkeley's pedestrian path network. Opportunities: Work parties for groups of 10 or more, installing simple steps, improving drainage, etc. on hill paths. Occasional work parties for general public, opportunities to lead walks, build and restore paths. See their Volunteer page for more information.
  • California Native Plant Society East Bay: The Restoration Team seeks to control invasive non-native weeds, and meets the first Saturday of every month to combat invasive non-native plants in a variety of locations. Contact Delia Taylor, Volunteer Coordinator, and see their Participate page for more information.
  • East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park showcases California native plants. Volunteers lead tours as a docent, propagate native plants, collect seed in the garden, help "Friends" organization with projects and special events, and assist the gardeners. Use the links on their Opportunities page to find contacts for more information in your area of interest.
  • Friends of Five Creeks seeks to protect and restore the creeks and watersheds of North Berkeley, Albany, Kensington, and south El Cerrito and Richmond. Opportunities: Monthly restoration work parties; work parties organized for groups of 10 or more; water-quality monitoring including automated data loggers, testing for sewage pollution; frog-calling survey in late winter; staffing fairs, festivals, parades; thesis and other research opportunities and ideas. Contact 510 848 9358 or f5creeks@aol.com.
  • Friends of Strawberry Creek seeks to protect and restore Strawberry Creek and its watershed. Opportunities: Periodic work parties, advocacy, can arrange some work parties for large groups. Contact info@strawberrycreek.org or 510 848 4008.
  • Golden Gate National Recreation Area Volunteer Opportunities and Internships
  • Heron's Head Park Volunteer Opportunity every 2nd Saturday of the month 9 am- 12 pm, Cargo Way & Jenning St, SF CA 94124. Contact: Raynelle Rino 415.282.6840.
  • One Brick is a community volunteer organization that brings a social/networking element to volunteering, providing a fun and rewarding way to give back to the community. Through our volunteer projects, we provide Bay Area non-profit organizations with the much-needed labor to carry out their visions. At the same time we also foster an environment in which to meet people, both socially and professionally. And after each event, we gather at a local bar or restaurant for food, drinks and additional conversation and networking.
  • Lange’s Metalmark Butterfly Counting at the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. 2011 Dates: August 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 18, 24, 25, 31, and September  1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29.
  • PRBO Conservation Science is looking for qualified individuals for many internship positions
  • Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary focuses on environmental education, stewardship and conservation to connect people with nature.  Numerous volunteer opportunities are described on our website, as well as various youth internships.
  • San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge has opportunities for volunteers to help with monthly shorebird surveys in 2012.  Please contact Kerry Wilcox (Richardson Bay Audubon Center) at 415-388-2524, or email kwilcox@audubon.org.
  • Save The Bay's Community-Based Restoration program partners with resource agencies to involve local schools, corporate groups, non-profit organizations, and community volunteers in restoring wetland, creek, and island habitats at five sites around San Francisco Bay.  Student and community volunteers assist with invasive species removal, native seed collection and propagation, native species plantings for revegetation projects, creek and shoreline clean-ups, and restoration site monitoring.  The activities are easy to learn and help us make a positive impact on the health of these Bay habitats. No experience necessary. Gloves, tools and instruction are provided. Each event is led by Save The Bay staff certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid and all site projects have been planned to ensure safety. Due to the sensitive nature of the restoration site, space is limited and RSVP is requested. If you have filled out a form on one of our partner websites it does not mean that you will be included in our event. You must fill out the online registration form at www.saveSFbay.org/volunteer to register yourself or a group of 10 people or less.  More information about our programs is on our website at http://www.savesfbay.org/community-based-restoration.  There are also opportunities to volunteer as a group or for Save The Bay's Speakers Bureau, tabling events, and in the office. Please contact Natalie LaVan to find a way for you to get involved!
  • The Salmon Protection And Watershed Network (SPAWN) works to protect endangered salmon in the Lagunitas Creek Watershed and surrounding environment. SPAWN uses a multi-faceted approach to accomplish our mission including grassroots action, habitat restoration, policy development, research and monitoring, citizen training, environmental education, strategic litigation, and collaboration with other organizations, land-owners, and agencies. With the help of volunteers and students, SPAWN actively protects and restores the Lagunitas Creek watershed of Marin Co. Opportunities: Weekly restoration work parties; work parties organized for groups of all ages and sizes. Contact 415 663-8590 x 118 or jonathan@tirn.net. Use the links on our Upcoming Events page to find contacts for more information in your area of interest.
  • Volunteer Match sets up volunteers with volunteer opportunities.Volunteers enter their ZIP code on the VolunteerMatch web site to find volunteer opportunities posted by nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.