Volunteers Needed to Help Protect Long Island Sound

“We need the tonic of wildness... At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and un-explorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, un-surveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods

Long Island Sound is 110 miles of both freshwater from tributaries and saltwater from the ocean. If you feel a particular affinity to the ocean and are seeking volunteer opportunities, the following organizations are in need of help.

Local Volunteer Efforts

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.

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 field work (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

Northeast CT — The Last Green Valley Water Quality Monitoring Program is seeking volunteers to assist with collecting water quality information through Stream Walk visual assessment and Rapid Bioassessment protocols in our local streams. Training is free and all equipment is provided! Visit The Last Green Valley website or call (860) 928-4948.

Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (PRWC)

Southbury, Woodbury, Bethlehem, CT – Volunteers are the life-blood of the PRWC. Volunteers are needed to assist staff with field work (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.

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, emailstillriveralliance@gmail.com.

White Memorial Conservation

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

Volunteer Opportunities Throughout Connecticut

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.

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 Resourced 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 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 Connecticut Aquatic Resourced Education (CARE) Program website or call (860) 424-FISH.

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 (CTDEEP) by volunteering at state parks, conducting wildlife surveys throughout Connecticut, and much more. Visit the CTDEEP website for more information.

CT DEEP Office of Long Island Sound Programs

Throughout CT — Assist with Long Island Sound initiatives based on interest and available projects. Examples of past projects include impact of climate change on ecosystems, climate change impacts and adaptation, dredging, coastal permitting, coastal hazards. Visit the CTDEEP website for internship form.

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 CTDEEP at 860-447-4339. More here.

The Lost Ladybug Project

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

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.

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.

Project Limulus

Throughout CT — Sample and tag horseshoe crabs along New York’s coast during spring spawning surveys. Visit the Project Limulus website for more information.

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, Ext. 113.

The Search for Megalops

Throughout CT – The Sound School is asking blue crabbers from NY and CT to send reports about their crabbing experiences and observations of habitat and fishing success. If you are interested in participating, call (203) 946-6875 or email at susan.weber@new-haven.k12.ct.us and data protocol will be sent to you.

Click here to view the full list of volunteer opportunities relating to Long Island Sound.

Photo of Long Island Sound by mclcbooks, via flickr creative commons