Volunteer!

Many ocean conservation and environmental protection efforts depend on volunteers, yet in 2005 less than two percent of Americans reported giving any time to this cause.  Every minute you give can make a real difference for our ocean planet!

Think global with your local conservation organization!  You can donate your time to a variety of organizations, from neighborhood groups to national and international associations. Click here for a guide to conservation organizations across the U.S. and Canada. If you want to get outdoors, volunteers are needed to restore wetlands, waterways, and ocean habitats. Or, if you'd prefer to stay inside, volunteers are often needed to handle all sorts of tasks and projects, both in their offices and sometimes from your own home.

Show me the manatees! Zoos, aquariums, museums, and nature centers often depend on volunteers to help care for the amazing animals in their collections and help convey information to visitors. 

Get clean! Help organize a cleanup in your community for World Ocean Day month in June and for the International Coastal Cleanup in September. By working with others to plan now, you will be able to accomplish a lot!  Even if you live far from the coast, you can help organize a community cleanup at your nearby stream, river, or lake.

Be generous for future generations! Conservation groups by their nature are doing work that will help protect our ocean planet, both now and in the future. Most are not-for-profit, and rely on donations from people just like you.  Contact one and ask how you can contribute to an important project that is also meaningful to you. 

Inspire your family and friends. Share your interests, concerns and actions with friends and family.  Inspire them to join you on projects to conserve in your community. Each person you stir to action magnifies your positive impact!

Teach the children. Volunteer your enthusiasm and wisdom at a local school, library, or after school center to begin creating a new generation of citizens who will really know what it means to value and protect the earth. Volunteer to run a recycling program; chaperone a trip to a local zoo, aquarium, or museum; or just teach children about the wonders of our ocean planet.

Something blue, something new!
If you feel the need to help our ocean but can't find an existing group that is aligned with your intentions, why not start your own?  Recruit some like-minded friends, print out a few fliers, and in no time at all, you'll be on your way.  Your organization can be as simple as a group that agrees to meet once per month to clean up a local park or river. The important thing is taking that first step! Real change really can start with you!