Discover ocean volunteer opportunities and citizen science projects this spring, from beach cleanups and marine debris removal to coral reef restoration and whale reporting
April is a time to celebrate the many ways people can make a difference, from Earth Month and Citizen Science Month to National Volunteer Month.
Across the National Marine Sanctuary System,in helping protect America's underwater parks through hands-on stewardship, community science, and public engagement. Every year, people across the country give their time, curiosity, and skills to help care for America's underwater parks. In 2025 alone,to projects that help answer real-world scientific questions. Whether you want to join a one-day event, contribute sightings from your phone, or get involved in an ongoing restoration effort, there are many ways to make a difference.
Explore some currently available opportunities across different regions of the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System below! Celebrate Earth Day by joining in the Washington Coast Cleanup on Saturday, April 25, 2026, along with other opportunities throughout the year! Volunteer to help keep our beaches clean and beautiful by removing marine and shoreline debris at various locations along the Pacific Coast and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sign up for a beach with Washington CoastSavers.
The sanctuary also supports the Hobuck cleanup on the Makah Reservation every April. The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team is a citizen science program based at the University of Washington that trains volunteers to survey local beaches for signs of seabirds, marine debris, and other coastal changes. Participants choose a favorite beach and conduct, helping build long-term datasets that support marine ecosystem monitoring in the northeast Pacific.project, volunteers help track invasive marine species along California's coast.
By reporting observations, participants contribute valuable information that helps scientists better understand how invasive species spread and affect sanctuary ecosystems. , Snapshot Day is a one-day volunteer event in which community members help collect water quality data from rivers and streams that flow into Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It's a hands-on way to support long-term watershed and ocean health monitoring.
, Wanted Alive: Finding Hal invites divers and ocean users to report sightings that can support white abalone recovery efforts in and around Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. It's a unique way for the public to help scientists track and protect a rare marine species.opportunities for volunteers to support coral reef restoration in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Participants can tour a coral nursery and help monitor coral health in active restoration areas while contributing to the long-term recovery of these iconic ecosystems. See the calendar of events for a full list of upcoming signup opportunities with participating dive operators on the Mission: Iconic Reefs website. Volunteer divers observe corals in a nursery during a passive coral nursery experience with Iconic Reef Guardians.
Photo: Jay Cluemarine debris removal program gives volunteers a chance to help keep sanctuary waters cleaner and healthier. Through Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys, participants support efforts to remove trash from coastal and marine environments and protect wildlife and habitats.in partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory, BleachWatch trains community members to monitor corals for signs of bleaching and disease. Volunteer observations help provide timely information about reef conditions in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary is in need of visitor services specialists to help out at the new Ocean Discovery Center in downtown Savannah, Georgia. Visitor services specialists serve as representatives of the Ocean Discovery Center, curating visitor experiences in the space. They welcome and orient guests, answer questions, and assist with various visitor needs. Those interested in this opportunity should complete the form on the sanctuary's website.
, this citizen science effort invites volunteers to help monitor bacteria and water quality conditions in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. The project supports broader efforts to better understand and protect this important tidal river ecosystem.on whale watch vessels, citizen scientist volunteers collect seabird data to help with research and monitoring of populations. This is the only dedicated seabird survey that exists in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Data is used to compare relative abundance of seabirds over time to better understand wildlife populations in the sanctuary. Interested volunteers should fill out the form on the S4 webpage. The State of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Kure Atoll Conservancy are seeking Habitat Restoration Volunteers for work at Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands/Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary.
Field seasons are six to eight months in a remote location, and volunteers can expect to work 40 hours per week.opportunity for boaters and ocean users to report whale sightings through a free app. These reports help raise awareness of whale presence and support efforts to reduce vessel strikes in waters used by whales along the U.S. coasts. There are many opportunities to help your national marine sanctuaries by spotting wildlife, such as reporting whale sightings.
Photo: Brent Grossman, you can organize your own cleanup at a beach, shoreline, or waterway near a national marine sanctuary. Ocean Conservancy's"Start a Cleanup" guide offers tips for choosing a site, gathering supplies, recruiting volunteers, and using the Clean Swell® app to document the debris you collect, helping turn local cleanup efforts into useful marine debris data.
Explore more citizen science and volunteer opportunities across the National Marine Sanctuary System and meet some of our featured sanctuary stewards on theThe Value of Volunteerism in Your National Marine Sanctuaries
Ocean Volunteer Opportunities Marine Conservation Volunteer Opportunities Beach Cleanup Volunteer Opportunities Coral Reef Restoration Volunteer Marine Debris Cleanup Volunteer Ocean Conservation Citizen Science Projects For Adults Earth Month Volunteer Opportunities Wildlife Reporting App Citizen Science Month Activities
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