Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for volunteer opportunities? There are many organizations in Connecticut and New York that need your help protecting Long Island Sound!

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CONNECTICUT

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Audubon CT

Throughout CT — Help Audubon CT with bird surveys, mailings, science programs, and other projects. Find volunteer opportunities with the National Audubon Society,  Audubon Connecticut and at nature centers throughout the state. Click above for more info.

Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc.

Old Mystic, CT — Volunteers help in all aspects of our operations including trail work, property stewardship, beach clean-ups,  fund-raising, special events, clerical and computer support. If you are looking for a one-time, short-term or long-term volunteer opportunity, they can find something that suits your skills and schedule.  Visit the Avalonia website or call (860) 884-3500.

Bruce Museum Seaside Center

Old Greenwich, CT – Volunteers staff the center’s touch tank, educate visitors about the ecology of Long Island Sound, collect animals for marine tanks, conduct water quality tests and biodiversity research, and assist with weekly activities for the public including nature walks, crafts, squid dissections, and seining.  The Museum also offers internships! For more information visit the Bruce Museum website or call (203) 413-6746.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Throughout CT — CCE’s primary goal is to empower individual citizens to have a stronger voice and greater influence in the development and implementation of public policies affecting our water, land, and air in the Connecticut region. Visit the Citizens Campaign for the Environment website for more info.

Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) Program

Throughout CT — Volunteers participate in a free training day and then teach Family Fishing courses in their hometowns. Courses are usually run in partnership with town/city recreation departments and the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection provides all the equipment necessary. Our Water, Fish and Fishing curriculum is supported by fishing tackle, fish pictures, display materials, and student booklets. Visit the Fish with CARE – Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education website or call (860) 424-FISH (3474).

Connecticut Audubon Society

Throughout CT — Help the Connecticut Audubon Society by taking part in their Osprey Nation citizen science project. Visit the Osprey Nation website for more information.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Throughout CT — Help the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) by volunteering at state parks, conducting wildlife surveys throughout Connecticut, and much more. Visit the CT DEEP website for more information.

CT DEEP Land and Water Resources Division

Throughout CT — Assist with Long Island Sound initiatives based on interest and available projects. Examples of topics for past projects include the impact of climate change on ecosystems, dredging, coastal permitting, and coastal hazards. Visit the CT DEEP website for the internship form or call 860-424-3019 to learn more.

CT DEEP Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species

Throughout CT – Volunteers will monitor local boat launches for the presence of invasive plants and animals, such as zebra mussels. The training will educate volunteers on how to identify and detect invasive species and also to instruct boaters on how to do the same. For more information or to volunteer, contact Gwendolynn of the CT DEEP at 860-447-4339. More here.

CT DEEP Volunteer Water Monitoring Program

Throughout CT – The CT DEEP Volunteer Water Monitoring Program supports citizen-based water quality monitoring efforts throughout Connecticut.  The program offers support to watershed groups, lake associations, conservation commissions, and other organized environmental groups wishing to conduct monitoring on lakes/ponds, rivers/streams, and/or coastal/marine waters in the State. Data collected by volunteers are used by CT DEEP to make formal water quality assessments. Visit the DEEP Volunteer Water Monitoring Program website, email DEEP.VolunteerWaterMonitoring@ct.gov or call 860-424-3061 to learn more.

Connecticut Forest & Park Association

Rockfall, CT — Volunteers cut brush, build water bars, blaze, and maintain the 825 mile long Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System with other CFPA volunteers, or join our volunteer special events committee. Visit the Connecticut Forest & Park Association website or call (860) 346-2372.

Connecticut River Conservancy

Connecticut River Watershed —  CRC recruits volunteers to help with water quality monitoring, river herring surveys, water chestnut pulls, tree plantings, and sea lamprey nest surveys. For more information, visit the CRC Get Involved page, email CRC@ctriver.org, or call 413-772-2020.

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

Mystic, CT — Volunteers help in all facets of our operations including education, clerical, special events, animal care, and maintenance. If you are looking for a one-time, short-term or long-term volunteer arrangement, you may find volunteering at DPNC is a rewarding experience. Visit the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center website or call (860) 536-1216.

Earthplace—The Nature Discovery Center

Westport, CT — Assist Earthplace staff members with their Harbor Watch water quality monitoring program. Visit the Earthplace website or call (203) 557-4400.

Farmington River Watershed Association, Inc.

Northcentral CT —  Help protect, conserve, and restore the Farmington River watershed and its precious natural resources. Volunteer opportunities include river and tributary clean-ups, invasive plant removals, buffer plantings and restorations, rain garden installations, and annual water quality monitoring. For more information, visit the Farmington River Watershed Association website or call (860) 658-4442.

Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust

Woodbury, CT — Become a volunteer and join a unique group of people dedicated to improving the quality of life through education, recreation, preservation, and participation! Visit the Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust website or call (203) 263-3711 ext. 10.

Friends of Outer Island

Stony Creek, CT — This volunteer organization is dedicated to preserving and maintaining Outer Island, a Unit of the US Fish and Wildlife McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. Volunteers are needed to act as docents for visitors to the refuge and also to help clean up and monitor the island. Visit the Friends of Outer Island website for more information.

Groundwork Bridgeport

Throughout CT — Join our Stewardship Network or Friends of the Waterfront group and participate with other volunteers in cleanups and habitat restoration projects throughout Bridgeport and the rest of the state. Visit the Groundwork Bridgeport website or call (203) 203-335-6126 to learn more and sign up.

Housatonic Valley Association (HVA)

Throughout the Housatonic River Watershed – HVA depends on the help of volunteers to carry out various land and water protection projects in the 2000-square-mile Housatonic Valley.  Volunteers are needed to assist staff with fieldwork (e.g. conducting stream surveys, water quality monitoring, or habitat assessments), in our office, and at our many special events throughout the year. Visit HVA website or call (800) TEAM-HVA.

The Last Green Valley

Thames River Watershed, Eastern CT — The Last Green Valley Water Quality Monitoring Program is seeking volunteers to assist with collecting water quality information through a variety of programs, from stream walks and riffle bioassessments to cyanobacteria monitoring. Training is free and all equipment is provided! Visit The Last Green Valley website for more information.

The Lost Ladybug Project

Throughout CT — Volunteers are needed to provide scientists with detailed information on the nine spotted ladybug and all other ladybug species in North America. You will look for ladybugs and send pictures of them so scientists can document what they need. This is the ultimate summer science project for kids and adults! You can learn, have fun outdoors, and help save these important species. Visit the Lost Ladybug website for more information.

Maritime Aquarium

Norwalk, CT — Volunteers work at Aquarium exhibits, interpreting displays, and welcoming, orienting and educating visitors. Volunteers also staff the seal pool, Touch Tank, Ray Touch Pool, and Open Ocean exhibit. Unpaid internships for college students are available in Husbandry and Education Programs. Visit the Maritime Aquarium website for more information.

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic, CT — After initial training, volunteers assist with exhibit education, classroom assistance, the stranding team, and husbandry in animal care areas. Visit the Mystic Aquarium website or call (860) 572-5955.

Northwest Park and Nature Center

Windsor, CT — This nature center needs volunteers to assist with programs, help to maintain trails, gardening, beekeeping, and much more! Visit the Northwest Park and Nature Center website or call (860) 285-1886.

Norwalk River Watershed Association

Throughout CT — Volunteers are needed for trail maintenance and mapping, invasive removal, spring cleanups, board positions, hike and program leaders, teaching elementary school children in a river study program, River Rangers, writers and graphic designers for publications, and more. Visit the Norwalk River Watershed Association website or call (877) NRWA-INFO.

Phytoplankton Monitoring Network

Throughout CT – The Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) was established as an outreach program for monitoring marine phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms (HABs). As part of this program, you collect valuable information about phytoplankton populations in your area! Visit PMN’s website to learn more.

Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (PRWC)

Southbury, Woodbury, Bethlehem, CT – Volunteers are the life-blood of the PRWC.  Volunteers are needed to assist staff with fieldwork (e.g. conducting stream surveys, water quality monitoring, or habitat assessments), conducting research, preparing outreach materials (e.g. props for education programs, articles for the newsletter, or exhibits for local fairs), in our office, and at many special events throughout the year. Volunteers are also often the source of ideas for initiatives carried out by the PRWC.  For more information, visit the PRWC website or call (203) 267-1700.

Project Limulus

Throughout CT — Sample and tag horseshoe crabs along the northern coast of Long Island Sound during May and June spawning season. Visit the Project Limulus website for more information or email info@projectlimulus.org.

Save the Sound

Throughout CT — Join other volunteers in beach cleanups and habitat restoration projects in the Long Island Sound region. Save the Sound is a program of the Connecticut Fund for the Environment. Visit the Save the Sound website or call (203) 787-0646.

SoundWaters

Stamford, CT — Interested in working at a community event?  Want to work on an environmental clean-up project?  Need to fulfill your community service requirement?  SoundWaters would love to have your help.  Visit the SoundWaters volunteer page to learn more about our opportunities. This group also has internship opportunities for high school students interested in environmental stewardship.

Still River Alliance

The Still River Watershed (Danbury, Bethel, New Milford, and Brookfield, CT) – The Still River Alliance is a partnership of individuals, organizations, and public agencies dedicated to the stewardship of the Still River and the river’s greenway system, and to the continued improvement of the environment of the surrounding watershed.  Volunteers are needed to help monitor the river’s health (e.g. water quality sampling), maintain the greenway (e.g. cleanup events), and conduct educational and outreach events. For more information visit the Still River Alliance volunteer page or emailstillriveralliance@gmail.com.

The Nature Conservancy

Throughout CT — The Nature Conservancy offers many volunteer opportunities throughout Connecticut! Monitor stream health, help remove invasive plant species, or with office work. Visit The Nature Conservancy website for more information.

White Memorial Conservation

Litchfield, CT — Volunteer to lead nature walks, teach programs on pond critters, or help care for the animals, or participate in wildlife research. Visit the White Memorial Conservation website or call (860) 567-0857.

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NEW YORK

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Audubon New York

Throughout NY — Audubon New York, a state office of the National Audubon Society, offers volunteer opportunities at the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center and at Coast Program sites across Long Island. Volunteers are needed to help with bird monitoring, coastal stewardship, habitat restoration, outreach, animal care, and education. For more information, email NYcoast@audubon.org or call (516) 922-3200.

Audubon Chapters

Throughout NY — Help your local Audubon Chapter monitor birds, restore habitat, conduct education and outreach, and lead bird walks and other public programs. Volunteer with New York City Bird Alliance, Bronx River – Sound Shore Audubon Society, Central Westchester Audubon Society, Bedford Audubon Society, or one of the seven Long Island Audubon chapters: North Shore Audubon Society, South Shore Audubon Society, Huntington – Oyster Bay Audubon Society, Four Harbors Audubon Society, Eastern Long Island Audubon Society, and North Fork Audubon Society.

Alley Pond Environmental Center

Oakland Gardens, NY — Help with the Center’s animal care, outside work, educational programs, and special events. Field Biology internships are also available for high school students! Visit the Alley Pond Environmental Center website or call (718) 229-4000.

American Littoral Society

Throughout NY — Come clean the beaches of Long Island Sound during the Annual International Beach Clean-up Day in September. They also have a fish tagging program—you can tag fish for their survey! Visit the American Littoral Society website for more information.

Bayside Anglers Group Ltd.

Bayside, NY — Every spring Bayside Anglers Group host the “Little Neck Bay Beach Clean-up” a shoreline clean-up of the Bayside, NY waterfront. We encourage everyone from every community to pitch in and help us keep the Long Island Sound as clean as possible. Visit the Bayside Anglers Group Ltd. website or call (917) 439-3022.

Bronx River Alliance

Bronx, NY – Bronx River Alliance works with the Bronx community to restore and revitalize the health of the Bronx River. Their stewardship efforts extend to plantings, rubbish removal, and helping to rebuild connections to the river through tours, cycling, paddling and kayaking events along the river. Visit their website for opportunities and events to join us and volunteer, or email volunteer@bronxriver.org to find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Caumsett Foundation

Lloyd Harbor, NY – The Caumsett Foundation’s mission is to support and enhance Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve as a unique and historic environment on Long Island’s north shore. Volunteers are needed to help increase biodiversity within the Park by concentrating on removing invasive plants and replacing them with seed and native plants. Visit their website to learn more about their volunteer opportunities and contact Sue Feustel at suzyfeustel@icloud.com to sign up.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Throughout NY — CCE’s primary goal is to empower individual citizens to have a stronger voice and greater influence in the development and implementation of public policies affecting our water, land, and air in the New York and Connecticut region. Visit the Citizens Campaign for the Environment website for more information.

Coastal Steward Long Island

Port Jefferson, NY —  Volunteers can participate in a wide range of activities that help with the mission of CSLI. Get involved with beach cleanups, oyster restoration, outdoor educational programs, marketing and social media, and event coordination! Visit the Coastal Steward Long Island website or contact us at (631) 941-6528 or info@coastalsteward.org.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium

Cold Spring Harbor, NY — Volunteers can assist with animal care or help with fishing and other special events. Visit the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium website or call (516) 692-6768.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Huntington, NY — Volunteers assist with water quality monitoring in the Huntington-Northport Bay Complex for the Unified Water Study. All volunteers must attend a free training on water quality monitoring and monitoring techniques in order to participate in Water Logging. Visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County website or call (631) 546-5977.

Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI)

West Sayville, NY — Volunteers are trained to assist with whale watch trips to spot animals and record data. Volunteers also help with seal observation trips, such as seal walks and cruises. Visit the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island website or call (631) 319-6003 .

Friends of the Bay

Oyster Bay, NY —  Volunteer for projects to help preserve, protect and restore the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary and surrounding watershed! Opportunities include cleanups, research, help with streams and outfalls testing and water quality monitoring. Volunteers can also help with data entry, filing, fundraising and staffing a table at events. Visit the Friends of the Bay website or email or call (516) 922-6666.

Friends of Rye Nature Center

Rye, NY —  Volunteers assist Center staff with programs, grounds maintenance, administrative tasks, and special events. The Center also provides internships and community service opportunities for students from local schools. Visit the Rye Nature Center website or call (914) 967-5150.

Garvies Point Museum and Preserve

Glen Cove, NY — Volunteers help with the preserve’s outdoor education program, invasive plant removal, maintaining the butterfly gardens, or with other work around the preserve. Visit the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve website or call (516)571-8011.

Greenburgh Nature Center

Greenburgh, NY — Volunteers can help care for the live animals and maintain the museum or greenhouse. Visit the Greenburgh Nature Center website or call (914) 723-3470.

Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey

Throughout NY — Sample and tag horseshoe crabs along New York’s coast during spring spawning surveys. Visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension website for programs throughout NY or visit the Project Limulus Website for programs in the north shore of Long Island, coastal Westchester county, and CT.

iMapInvasives Citizen Science App

The iMapInvasives group relies on volunteers to help them map out the location and distribution of invasive species throughout New York. Participating is easy and only requires the use of your phone! Visit their website for more information on how to participate.

The Lost Ladybug Project

Throughout NY —  Volunteers are needed to provide scientists with detailed location information on the nine spotted and all ladybug species across North America. You will look for ladybugs and send pictures of them so scientists can document they need. This is the ultimate summer science project for kids and adults! You can learn, have fun outdoors, and help save these important species. Volunteers can also support nine-spotted ladybug reintroduction efforts by purchasing and releasing larvae and/or adults of this species.  Visit the Lost Ladybug website for more information and educational activities.

Long Island Native Grass Initiative

Riverhead, NY — Volunteer opportunities vary from wildland seed collection, plant identification, plant propagation, seed cleaning, database management, mailing assistance, and participating in the Native Plant Symposium and Annual Native plant Sale in June.  By joining the LINGI mailing list, volunteer opportunities will be announced as they occur. Visit the website or call (631) 727 -2315 x3.

Long Island Regional Envirothon, Ltd.

Long Island, NY – The LI Envirothon is an annual outdoor environmental studies competition for high schools students in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Our volunteer opportunities included supervising students during the event, assisting at a subject area station, judging oral presentations, and various operational jobs such as passing out tee shirts, signing in teams, and running tests.  We need approximately 100 volunteers for the event which is held in April each year. Visit the LI Environthon’s website or call (516) 364-5860.

Long Island Seaport & Eco Center (LISEC)

Port Jefferson, NY — LISEC needs volunteers to do beach clean-ups, shellfish restoration, and to help with marine education and geology programs. We also need people with carpentry skills to work with our wooden boat building program. Visit the Long Island Seaport & Eco Center website or call (631) 474-4725.

Long Island Volunteer Center

Throughout NY — Volunteers can search this database to find hundreds of opportunities throughout Nassau & Suffolk counties. Visit the Long Island Volunteer Center website or call (516) 564-5482.

New York Marine Rescue Center

Riverhead, NY — Volunteers can teach the public about the Rescue Center’s work and what to do when they see a marine mammal or sea turtle in New York waters, assist with beach patrols to look for cold-stunned turtles, or join the rescue team to help injured marine life. Visit the NY Marine Rescue Center website or call (631) 369-9840.

New York Restoration Project

Throughout NYC – Join New York Restoration Project (NYRP) in planting and caring for trees, cleaning parks, planting flowers in community gardens – even helping out in their office. Visit the NY Restoration Project website to find volunteer opportunities near you!

North Shore Land Alliance

Oyster Bay, NY –  Volunteers are needed to help the North Shore Land Alliance protect and preserve, in perpetuity, the green spaces, farmlands, wetlands, groundwater and historical sites of Long Island’s north shore. Since 2003, the North Shore Land Alliance has been instrumental in the protection of more than 1,200 acres of land featuring a variety of habitats such as fields, forests, and wetlands. Volunteers can assist in invasive removal activities, cleanups, trail maintenance, plantings, wildlife monitoring, and at our Japanese Stroll Garden and Long Island Water Education field trips. Visit the North Shore Land Alliance website and contact info@northshorelandalliance.org or call at (516) 922-1028.

Phytoplankton Monitoring Network

Throughout NY – The Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) was established as an outreach program for monitoring marine phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms (HABs). As part of this program, you collect valuable information about phytoplankton populations in your area! Visit PMN’s website to learn more.

Save the Sound

Westchester, Queens, and Nassau Counties, NY and Greenwich, CT — Learn how to track bacteria pollution in your favorite stream or harbor and become a citizen scientist for Save the Sound. Many training dates and times are available. We can accommodate many schedules. Volunteers only need to make a small commitment, 1 morning a week needed during summer. Communities include Port Chester, Rye, Scarsdale, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Pelham, Mount Vernon, and Greenwich. Additionally, we are expanding onto Long Island where we will be monitoring Manhasset Bay and Little Neck Bay. Email pollution@savethesound.org to ask questions or express interest.

Seatuck Environmental Association

Islip, NY – The Seatuck Environmental Association is a member-supported 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to conserving Long Island wildlife and the environment. The organization pursues its mission by employing a multi-pronged approach to various wildlife conservation projects and offering high-quality environmental education opportunities for Long Islanders of all ages. One of the ways volunteers can get involved is through our growing number of citizen science programs which aim to learn more about Long Island wildlife and the habitats they utilize, including Diamondback Terrapins which are found in the Long Island Sound. Visit the Seatuck Environmental Association website to learn more about these programs and other ways you can join the team.

Sheldrake Environmental Center, Inc.

Larchmont, NY — Join Sheldrake Environmental Center’s Volunteer Environmental Educator Training Program and learn to lead hands-on ecology programs, including school field trips to Dog Beach on the Long Island Sound.  You will gain natural history knowledge and teaching techniques, meet other nature enthusiasts, enjoy continuing education, social gatherings and trips and make a huge contribution to the community. Visit the Center’s website or call (914) 834-1443 to speak with Mary, Environmental Program Director.

Sierra Club of Long Island

Nassau and Suffolk Counties NY —  Volunteers needed to lobby; track and influence legislation; write articles; create educational materials; create and execute cleanups; lead outdoor hikes, bike rides or kayaks; table educational materials at various public events; do educational presentations; be committee members or chair a committee; join the board; and many more things. Visit the Sierra Club’s Long IslandGroup website or call (631) 689-1568

Southold Protection in Aquaculture Training (SPAT)

Southold, NY — Volunteers help to maintain their shellfish hatchery and gardens, with boatbuilding, and assist at the aquaculture facility which grows clams oysters and scallops. Visit the Southold Protection in Aquaculture Training website or call (631) 852-8660, extension 34.

Sweetbriar Nature Center

Smithtown, NY — Assist with the Nature Center’s summer camp, animal care, butterfly house, wildlife rehabilitation, and special events. Visit the Sweetbriar Nature Center website or call (631) 979-6344.

The Nature Conservancy

Throughout NY — The Nature Conservancy offers many volunteer opportunities throughout New York! Help remove invasive plant species, monitor the endangered piping plover, or with office work. Visit The Nature Conservancy website for more information.

Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center

Oyster Bay, NY — Volunteer opportunities range from scientific research (bird banding, dragonfly census, and plant identification) to teaching environmental programs about Long Island Sound. Stewardship of sensitive areas is also needed to further protect wildlife and their habitats. Visit the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center website or call (516) 922-3200.

Wildlife Center of Long Island

Locust Valley, NY —  Volunteers have the opportunity to help care for injured native wildlife in the rehabilitation hospital or help with the care of wildlife ambassadors and assisting the education department with events and education programs. Visit the Volunteers Wildlife Center of Long Island website or call  (516) 674-0982.

Wildlife Conservation Society

Throughout NYC — Volunteer at the Bronx, Central Park, Queens, or Prospect Park Zoos or the NY Aquarium. Visit the Wildlife Conservation Society website or call (718) 220-5100.

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Upper Basin States

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Connecticut River Conservancy (formerly Connecticut River Watershed Council)

Along the CT River, NH, VT, CT, and MA Tributaries – Want to get involved to help our rivers? Become a CRC Community Science Volunteer. Opportunities include tree planting, invasive plant removal, wildlife surveys, water sampling, river cleanup, and more. Learn more at the CRC website and sign up for emails to hear about upcoming volunteer needs. For questions or more info contact volunteer@ctriver.org.

The Last Green Valley

Upper Thames River Watershed, MA– The Last Green Valley Water Quality Monitoring Program is seeking volunteers to assist with collecting water quality information through a variety of programs including the use of multi-parameter probes and bacteria monitoring.  Training is free and all equipment is provided! Visit the Last Green Valley website or call (860) 774-3300.