Service & Stewardship

There are many opportunities for students to volunteer in Northern California. Tools and training are provided for the programs listed below. No experience is necessary to participate in these programs. Select region for volunteer opportunities in your area:

• North Bay
• San Francisco
• East Bay
• South Bay 
• Central Valley
• Additional Sources

 
North Bay-San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Marin County

Wild Care: Students age 12 - 17 are welcome.

• Wildlife rehabilitation and nature education
• Winter season commitment
• Work side by side with an adult

        Contact: Alison Hermance, Volunteer Manager
        (415) 453-1000 x 21  
        volunteer@wildcarebayarea.org
        76 Albert Park Lane, San Rafael, CA 94901

Marin Municipal Water District—Mt. Tamalpais Watershed Habitat Restoration: Students age 8 and up are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

• Watershed stewards restore habitat while taking out invasive weeds along Mt. Tamalpais lakeshores
• Schools are equally encouraged to schedule special habitat restoration events with MMWD

        Contact: Volunteer Coordinator
        (415) 945-1128       
        volunteerprogram@marinwater.org
        Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD)
        220 Nellen Avenue, Corte Madera, CA 94925 

Point Reyes National Seashore: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Help protect endangered species (Snowy Plovers and several native plant species) by taking out invasive plant species

        Contact: Volunteer Coordinator/Habitat Restoration Program
        (415) 464-5145
        POREEcovolunteers@nps.gov
        Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

Marin Headlands Native Plant Nursery: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult. 

• Help grow plants, collect seeds, and maintain the nursery facilities
• Outside, fun, hands-on
• Snacks provided

        Contact: Nursery Manager
        (415) 332-5193
        Marin Headlands
        Bldg. 1301, Sausalito, CA 94965

San Francisco

Golden Gate Audubon: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Quail habitat restoration
• Weeding and planting in the Presidio

        Contact: Nursery Manager
        (415) 332-5193
        Marin Headlands
        Bldg. 1301, Sausalito, CA 94965

San Francisco Friends of the Urban Forest: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Tree planting and tree care
• Through "Tree planter" and "Tree care team player" programs

        Contact: Ellyn Shea, Volunteer Assistant
        (415) 561-6890 x 103
        Presidio of San Francisco, Bldg. 1007

Parks Conservancy—Mission Blue Butterfly Habitat Restoration: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult. 

• Remove non-native invasive plants
• Cleanup beach
• Learn about wildlife/vegetation monitoring

        Contact: Denise Shea, Mission Blue Butterfly Team
        (415) 561-4451
        fortbakervolunteeres@yahoo.com
        Fort Baker, CA

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy—Site Stewardship Project: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Learn more about California's native plants and how to restore our public lands
• Volunteer in National Park sites throughout the bay area

      
        (415)561-3073
        volunteer@parksconservancy.org
        Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
        Bldg. 201, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123

East Bay- Berkeley, Oakland, Walnut Creek

Golden Gate Audubon Society—Education Office: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Habitat restoration at Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Park and the Alameda Wildlife Refuge

        Contact: Amiko Mayeno, Education Director
        (510) 635-5533
        7770 Pardee Lane, Suite 241, Oakland, CA 94621

Youth Action Council—Walnut Creek: Students age 13 - 17 are welcome.

• Student run council which selects, plans, promotes, and participates in volunteer projects
• Ability to support over 30 agencies
• Projects include cleaning creeks, helping sort goods at local food bank, and painting vases for cancer patients

        Contact: Joan Tomasini, Program Director
        (925) 472-5773
        jtomasini@helpnow.org
        2401 Shadelands Drive, Ste. 112, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Save the Bay: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Wetland restoration projects—collect native plant seeds, grow plants in their nursery, check water quality, and monitor the health of wildlife populations
• Hands-on restoration of San Francisco Bay wetlands near you

        Contact: Jocelyn Grety, Community Programs Coordinator
        (510) 452-9261 x 109
        jgretz@savesfbay.org
        350 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Ste. 900, Oakland, CA 94612

South Bay- San Kose, Cupertino, Palo Alto

Our City Forest: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Tree planting and care
• Understand, plant, care, and appreciate the urban forest, educate others by doing community outreach

        Contact: Ruben Solorio
        (408) 998-733
        7595 Park Avenue, Ste. 100, San Jose, CA 95110

Magic—Planting for the Second Hundred Years: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Help plant, protect, and study oaks and other native plants on lands around Stanford
• Learn about local ecology
• Enjoy working outdoors

        Contact: Hillary Hug
        (650) 323-7333
        PO Box 15894, Stanford, CA 94309

Central Valley-Sacramento
 

Great American River Parkway Foundation: Students under 18 welcome with parental consent and when accompanied by an adult.

• Invasive plant removal
• Tree planting
• Litter cleanup

        Contact: Volunteer Coordinator
        (916) 456-7423
        PO Box 188437, Sacramento, CA 95818

City of Sacramento—Department of Parks and Recreation: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Plant trees and mulch planter beds

• Enjoy seasonal gardening projects

        Contact: Julie Mier
        (916) 433-2285
        jmier@cityofsacramento.org
        915 I Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, Ca 95814

City of Sacramento Stormwater Management Program: Students welcome when accompanied by an adult.

• Stencil storm drains to protect water quality and aquatic habitat, city wide

        Contact: Stormwater Information Line
        (916) 433-6369
        City of Sacramento, Department of Utilities
        1395 35th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822

Additional Sources for Service Learning Opportunities

• www.idealist.org

• www.volunteermatch.org

• www.eelink.net

• Individual non-profits

• The Kid's Guide to Service Projects by Barbara A. Lewis Free Spirit