Ways to Help

Alabama iNaturalist Projects (opens in a new tab)

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Statewide · Alabama

Photograph gopher tortoises, eastern spotted skunks and other wildlife in Alabama and add your iNaturalist observations to the projects the state conservation department has created or joins, which are open to everyone.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

iNaturalist accounts require age 13+ (younger users with an adult)

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Alabama iNaturalist Projects

Alabama Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Statewide · Alabama

Work through a self-paced online course on Alabama's natural world, attend two field days, then log volunteer hours with approved partners such as Alabama State Parks to earn certification.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Adults who live or work in Alabama for at least part of the year

Cost

$135 course fee, plus two required books

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Alabama Master Naturalist Program

Report an Invasive Species (opens in a new tab)

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Statewide · Alaska

If you spot a plant or animal that seems out of place in Alaska, photograph it with something for scale, note the exact spot, and report it online, by email or through the state's invasive species hotline.

• Report a sighting
• Invasive species
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Report an Invasive Species

AZGFD Volunteer Program (opens in a new tab)

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Statewide · Arizona

Sign up through the state wildlife agency's volunteer portal to restore habitat, count and observe wildlife, haul water to wildlife catchments, help at outreach events, or teach outdoor skills classes.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Arizona Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

Arizona Master Naturalist Association

Statewide · Arizona

Join a local chapter's 18-week course of weekly classes and field outings on Arizona's natural and cultural history, then give at least 60 volunteer hours a year in education, stewardship and community science with approved partner organizations.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

Course fee on a sliding scale; contact your chapter

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Arkansas Master Naturalists (opens in a new tab)

Statewide · Arkansas

Join one of six regional chapters, finish your first-year naturalist training (at least 40 hours in class and in the field), then keep volunteering on projects like stream monitoring, native plant work and trail cleanups.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$165 first year (includes up to $135 training fee); $30 yearly dues after

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Volunteer with AGFC (opens in a new tab)

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Statewide · Arkansas

Help Arkansas Game and Fish staff with conservation education programs, trail building and wildlife management area upkeep, or take the training and background check to teach hunter, boater, bowhunter or youth shooting sports courses.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer with AGFC

CNDDB Online Field Survey Form (opens in a new tab)

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Statewide · California

If you find a rare plant or animal in California, such as a frog, salamander, turtle or snake on the state's Special Animals List, set up an account and send the location and details through the CNDDB's online field survey form, which has a mapping tool.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Reptiles & amphibians
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with CNDDB Online Field Survey Form

Report an Invasive Species Sighting (opens in a new tab)

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Statewide · California

Photograph a suspected invasive animal (including nonnative reptiles, amphibians and fish) or marine plant in California, note where you saw it, and send the details to the state's Invasive Species Program by email or phone.

• Report a sighting
• Invasive species
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Report an Invasive Species Sighting

California Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

UC Environmental Stewards

Statewide · California

Take a 40-plus-hour course from a local partner organization that combines classroom and field learning with community service, then volunteer in education, stewardship and community science.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Courses are designed for adults

Cost

Course fee set by each partner; see site

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Volunteer Opportunities (opens in a new tab)

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Statewide · California

Volunteer with the state wildlife agency by leading tours and helping with surveys at wildlife areas and reserves, or apply to the Natural Resource Volunteer Program to assist wardens and biologists with outreach and public lands monitoring.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer Opportunities

Report a Sighting (opens in a new tab)

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Statewide · Colorado

If you see a lynx, wolverine, wolf, river otter or grizzly bear in Colorado, report it on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's sighting forms (otters go through its Otter Y.E.A.R. project on iNaturalist); CPW says public sightings help inform wildlife management.

• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Report a Sighting

Volunteer with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (opens in a new tab)

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Statewide · Colorado

Create an account on the state wildlife agency's volunteer portal and sign up for habitat and trail work, wildlife projects, community science, education events or camp hosting at state parks and wildlife areas.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer with Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Contribute Data to the NDDB (opens in a new tab)

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Statewide · Connecticut

If you find a state-listed plant or animal in Connecticut, such as a rare turtle, snake, frog or salamander, send photos and the exact location through the Natural Diversity Data Base's online form or by email.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Reptiles & amphibians
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Wildlife Division Community Science/Volunteer Opportunities (opens in a new tab)

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division

Statewide · Connecticut

Pick a state wildlife project to help with: post photos to the Discover Outdoor Connecticut iNaturalist project, report bobcat, fisher and bat sightings, count turkey broods in summer, or watch bald eagle nests.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Birds
• Other wildlife
• Family-friendly with an adult

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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James L. Goodwin Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Connecticut Forest & Park Association

Statewide · Connecticut

Spend a year meeting one Saturday a month at a different Connecticut habitat plus one evening online, learning plants, animals, fungi and conservation issues, then complete a project and volunteer outreach.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

Fee not stated; see site

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with James L. Goodwin Master Naturalist Program

Master Wildlife Conservationist Program (opens in a new tab)

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division

Statewide · Connecticut

Sign up to hear when the next free training opens: about 40 hours of weeknight classes and weekend field sessions on Connecticut wildlife, mostly at Sessions Woods in Burlington, followed by 40 volunteer hours of public outreach and help on Wildlife Division projects.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Adults only
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Program is for adults

Cost

Free

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Master Wildlife Conservationist Program

Delaware Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension

Statewide · Delaware

Sign on with a local partner organization, attend evening Zoom lectures from January and at least four field trips, keep a field journal, and give 40 hours of volunteer service in education, stewardship or citizen science.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$350 registration (includes the Delaware Naturalist Handbook); financial assistance available

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Delaware Master Naturalist Program

Volunteer with DNREC (opens in a new tab)

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Statewide · Delaware

Choose from state research and stewardship projects such as counting spawning horseshoe crabs, monitoring osprey nests, kestrel boxes and bat roosts, helping shorebird banding, planting beach grass, or joining the coastal cleanup.

• Citizen science
• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Family-friendly with an adult

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer with DNREC

DC Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

University of the District of Columbia

Statewide · District of Columbia

Apply for a 10-week evening course at UDC's Van Ness campus on urban ecology, native plants, wildlife and watersheds, then give at least 40 hours within a year to approved conservation and education projects around the District.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

DC residents 18 and older

Cost

$250 training fee; financial aid available

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with DC Master Naturalist Program

Florida Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)

Statewide · Florida

Take one or more 40-hour courses (Freshwater, Coastal or Upland Systems) taught by local instructors around Florida, mixing classroom sessions and field trips, and use what you learn to volunteer and lead nature programs.

• Training
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

Adults 18 and older

Cost

$350 per core course with PDF manual ($425 with printed manual); scholarships available

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Florida Master Naturalist Program

Report Sightings of Nonnative Species (opens in a new tab)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Statewide · Florida

Photograph a nonnative animal such as a tegu, iguana, monitor lizard or nonnative snake, note where and when you saw it, and report it through the free IveGot1 app or website; FWC asks that all nonnative snakes, monitors and tegus be called in to its invasive species hotline.

• Report a sighting
• Invasive species
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Report Sightings of Nonnative Species

Report Species Sightings (opens in a new tab)

Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division

Statewide · Georgia

Help Georgia DNR learn where rare and little-known animals live by adding eastern spotted skunk and red squirrel sightings (trail-camera photos count) to the iNaturalist projects the page links, or by reporting hellbenders, mudpuppies and waterdogs you find.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

Accounts are for ages 13 and up unless a parent gives permission (iNaturalist Terms of Use).

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Report Species Sightings

Georgia Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and UGA Cooperative Extension

Statewide · Georgia

Take a Georgia Master Naturalist course where one is offered, usually weekly classes totaling 48 hours of lectures and field study on local habitats, water and wildlife, run through county Extension offices and partner nature centers, then share what you learn by volunteering at schools or nature centers.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Seasonal

Ages

Designed as an adult course

Cost

$300 to $600, set by each host

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643pest.org (opens in a new tab)

Hawaii Invasive Species Council

Statewide · Hawaii

Report a new or suspected invasive plant, insect or animal in Hawaiʻi with photos and a map pin on the state's online form, or by calling 643-PEST; snakes should be reported to 911 right away.

• Report a sighting
• Invasive species
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with 643pest.org

Volunteer (opens in a new tab)

Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources

Statewide · Hawaii

Find a DLNR volunteer event on its iVolunteer page, such as native tree planting, invasive plant removal, trail work or nighttime coqui frog control, and complete the waiver packet before you go.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Invasive species
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)
• Family-friendly with an adult

When

Year-round

Commitment

One time

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer

Field Volunteers (opens in a new tab)

Hawai'i Marine Animal Response

Honolulu County, HI; Kalawao County, HI; Maui County, HI

If you live on Oʻahu or Molokaʻi and can commit to at least a year, apply to be a field volunteer who responds when monk seals, seabirds or sea turtles are reported on the shore, sets up perimeters around resting seals and talks with beachgoers; you need a smartphone with data and a camera.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

18+; field volunteers must live on Oʻahu or Molokaʻi for at least a year

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Field Volunteers

Idaho Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Idaho Fish and Game

Statewide · Idaho

Join one of about ten local chapters around Idaho, attend 40 hours of classes on the state's wildlife, plants and ecology, and give 40 hours of volunteer service on citizen science, habitat and education projects.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Chapters describe the program as for adults

Cost

Varies by chapter (for example, High Desert Chapter: $80 at registration, $20 refunded on completion)

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Idaho Master Naturalist Program

Share your animal observations with us (opens in a new tab)

Idaho Fish and Game

Statewide · Idaho

Submit any wildlife sighting in Idaho, including frogs, toads, salamanders, lizards, snakes and turtles, directly to Fish and Game's Species Diversity Team through its web form or Survey123 phone app, with photos and location.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Share your animal observations with us

Volunteer for Idaho's Wildlife (opens in a new tab)

Idaho Fish and Game

Statewide · Idaho

Call your regional Fish and Game volunteer coordinator to improve habitat for fish and wildlife, help biologists with surveys, teach fishing and hunter safety, or help out at the MK Nature Center in Boise.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer for Idaho's Wildlife

Illinois Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Illinois Extension

Statewide · Illinois

Apply through your county Extension office, take a 10 to 12 week course (usually one day a week) led by regional experts on Illinois ecosystems, then volunteer on local stewardship, restoration and education projects.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

18 or older

Cost

Course fee set by county (for example, $150 in Macon County in 2026); fee waivers available

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Illinois Master Naturalist Program

Voluntary Fish & Wildlife Monitoring (opens in a new tab)

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife

Statewide · Indiana

Report wildlife you see while paddling (including turtles), bowhunting or at home: count bats leaving a summer roost, log turkey broods, or send in osprey, eagle and heron nest locations to help Indiana's wildlife biologists.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Birds
• Other wildlife

When

Year-round

Commitment

Seasonal

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Voluntary Fish & Wildlife Monitoring

Indiana Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks

Statewide · Indiana

Sign up for a local course of at least eight three-hour sessions on Indiana's geology, water, plants and wildlife, hosted by parks, libraries and conservation groups around the state, and volunteer with a natural resources partner as part of the class.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Family-friendly with an adult

When

Year-round

Commitment

Seasonal

Ages

Open to ages 9 and up; separate Teen and Junior versions exist

Cost

Fee set by each host; see site

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Indiana Master Naturalist Program

Volunteer Opportunities (opens in a new tab)

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Statewide · Iowa

Help at Iowa state parks and forests (the fall Statewide Volunteer Day includes invasive plant removal, trail work and litter pickup), or train to monitor water quality or wildlife with the DNR.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)
• Family-friendly with an adult

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Program (opens in a new tab)

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Statewide · Iowa

Train with Iowa DNR to monitor bald eagle, osprey or peregrine falcon nests, drive a bat acoustic survey route, or join its frog and toad call survey; anyone can also report a bald eagle nest through the page at any time.

• Citizen science
• Training
• Birds
• Insects & pollinators
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians

When

Year-round

Commitment

Seasonal

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Program

Master Conservationist Program (opens in a new tab)

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Statewide · Iowa

Take a course run by your county Extension office that pairs about 12 hours of online lessons from Iowa State University with local classes taught by conservation experts, covering Iowa's prairies, forests and waters and how to share conservation with others.

• Training
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

Dates vary; check the site

Commitment

Seasonal

Cost

Course fee set by county (for example, $75 in Guthrie/Adair counties in 2026)

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Master Conservationist Program

Extension Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

K-State Research and Extension

Johnson County, KS; Reno County, KS

Take about 40 hours of classroom and field training in Kansas ecology, plants, birds, insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians through a participating county Extension program, then give volunteer service on local stewardship and education projects.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

18+ (Johnson County program)

Cost

Set by county (Johnson County $150; scholarships available)

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Kentucky Master Naturalist Volunteer Program (opens in a new tab)

University of Kentucky

Statewide · Kentucky

Take 20 two-hour online classes on Kentucky's natural resources (live on Friday mornings or recorded), join optional field trainings, and complete 40 hours of conservation volunteer work in the same year to become certified.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$200; scholarships available

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Kentucky Master Naturalist Volunteer Program

Audubon Aquarium Rescue (opens in a new tab)

Audubon Nature Institute

Statewide · Louisiana

If you find a sick, injured, stranded, or dead sea turtle, dolphin, or manatee in Louisiana, call Audubon Aquarium Rescue at (877) 942-5343 with the location, a description, and photos if you can.

• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Audubon Aquarium Rescue

Louisiana Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

Louisiana Master Naturalist Association

Statewide · Louisiana

Join a regional chapter, complete a 40 to 60 hour course of workshops and field trips on Louisiana's habitats, plants and wildlife, then volunteer to teach others and help conservation programs, keeping up yearly continuing education.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Open to adults in Louisiana

Cost

Modest dues; other requirements set by each chapter; see site

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Louisiana Master Naturalist

Nonnative Louisiana (opens in a new tab)

Community project on iNaturalist

Statewide · Louisiana

Post photos of introduced plants and animals you find in Louisiana to iNaturalist; this project gathers them automatically to help resource and land managers around the state keep track of nonnative species.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Invasive species
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

Accounts are for ages 13 and up unless a parent gives permission (iNaturalist Terms of Use).

Cost

Free

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Nonnative Louisiana

Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program (opens in a new tab)

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Statewide · Louisiana

Train with the state wildlife agency to become a volunteer instructor who teaches kids and adults about fish identification, pond ecology, invasive species, marine debris and fishing skills, using free loaner kits and lesson plans.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• Invasive species
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

18 and up

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program

LOS Meetings and Field Trips (opens in a new tab)

Louisiana Ornithological Society

Statewide · Louisiana

Join the Louisiana Ornithological Society, then sign up by email for its small, leader-guided birding field trips around the state or register for its fall meeting, which includes its own field trips.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Birds

When

Year-round

Commitment

One time

Cost

Membership from $20 per year ($10 students over 16); fall meeting registration $25 ($5 students)

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with LOS Meetings and Field Trips

Louisiana Bird Observatory (opens in a new tab)

Baton Rouge Audubon Society

Statewide · Louisiana

Join the mailing list to help at bird-banding sessions at stations such as Bluebonnet Swamp and Burden in Baton Rouge and Woodlands Conservancy in Belle Chasse, assisting licensed banders as they catch, measure, and release birds.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• Birds

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Louisiana Bird Observatory

Louisiana Certified Habitat Program (opens in a new tab)

Louisiana Native Plant Society

Statewide · Louisiana

Grow native plants in your yard, school grounds, or other property, then apply with your plant list and a fee to be certified at bronze, silver, or gold level by how many natives you have; usually someone visits to walk the property with you.

• Wildlife-friendly yard or space
• Plants & habitat
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Cost

$45 application fee (includes a metal yard sign) through the regional partners

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Louisiana Certified Habitat Program

Love Our Waterways (opens in a new tab)

Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Statewide · Louisiana

Each September, find a litter cleanup on a bayou, river, lake, shoreline, or drainage canal in your parish during Keep Louisiana Beautiful's month-long waterway cleanup and sign up to help, or register one of your own.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

September

Commitment

One time

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Love Our Waterways

Love the Boot Week (opens in a new tab)

Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Statewide · Louisiana

During one spring week each year, join or organize a litter cleanup or beautification project anywhere in Louisiana.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

April

Commitment

One time

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Love the Boot Week

Report a Whooping Crane Sighting or Violation (opens in a new tab)

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Statewide · Louisiana

If you spot a whooping crane in Louisiana, keep your distance, note any colored leg bands, and report the sighting on LDWF's online form to help biologists track the cranes; share locations publicly only at the parish level.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Birds

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Report a Whooping Crane Sighting or Violation

Volunteer (opens in a new tab)

Louisiana Native Plant Society

Statewide · Louisiana

Fill out the Louisiana Native Plant Society's volunteer form with your skills and the kind of help you'd like to give, and the society will look for a role that suits you.

• Volunteer in person
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Volunteer with CRCL (opens in a new tab)

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

Statewide · Louisiana

Sign up for a coastal restoration workday: plant trees or marsh grasses and ride an airboat through the swamp, help deploy an oyster reef or install a living shoreline, or shovel oyster shell into bags for reef building.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

One time

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer with CRCL

Audubon Volunteer Program (opens in a new tab)

Audubon Nature Institute

Orleans Parish, LA

Apply to volunteer at the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, Insectarium, or Nature Center in New Orleans, helping with animal care, gardening, education stations, and special events. Adults give at least 50 hours a year; teens 14 to 17 have a separate program.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

14 and up

Cost

$55 one-time onboarding fee for adults; waivers available on request

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Audubon Volunteer Program

BioBlitz (opens in a new tab)

BREC

East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Join a 24-hour species survey in an East Baton Rouge Parish park: walk the trails with the free iNaturalist app photographing plants and animals, or sign up for a guided hike with local scientists.

• Citizen science
• Events & bioblitzes
• General conservation
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)
• Family-friendly with an adult
• Free

When

March and April

Commitment

One time

Cost

Free

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with BioBlitz

Biodiversity of the Kisatchie Natl Forest (opens in a new tab)

Community project on iNaturalist

Rapides Parish, LA; Vernon Parish, LA; Claiborne Parish, LA and 4 more

Photograph plants, animals, and fungi on Kisatchie National Forest and join this iNaturalist project so your records count toward documenting the forest's biodiversity.

• Citizen science
• General conservation
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

Accounts are for ages 13 and up unless a parent gives permission (iNaturalist Terms of Use).

Cost

Free

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Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Ouachita Parish, LA

Contact the refuge to volunteer, from caring for animals in the Conservation Learning Center to helping with education programs and gardening; open to local residents, students, and traveling volunteers.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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City Nature Challenge: BR Region (opens in a new tab)

Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge

Ascension Parish, LA; Assumption Parish, LA; East Baton Rouge Parish, LA and 24 more

During the four-day City Nature Challenge each spring (April 30 to May 3 in 2027), photograph wild plants and animals anywhere in Southeast Louisiana and upload them to iNaturalist to add to the Baton Rouge region's count.

• Citizen science
• Events & bioblitzes
• General conservation
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)
• Free

When

April and May

Commitment

One time

Ages

Accounts are for ages 13 and up unless a parent gives permission (iNaturalist Terms of Use).

Cost

Free

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Farm Fridays (opens in a new tab)

Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program

Lafourche Parish, LA

On each month's first Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, help at BTNEP's native plant nursery in Thibodaux by separating and potting up plants and weeding; the plants go into coastal restoration projects. It is free, but email ahead to register.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, Inc. (opens in a new tab)

St. Tammany Parish, LA

Become a member and volunteer at the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges visitor center in Lacombe, help with environmental education, or work a day at refuge events such as Wild Things.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Guided Bird Walks (opens in a new tab)

Baton Rouge Audubon Society

East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Meet experienced birders at 7 a.m. on each month's first Saturday for a guided bird walk at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center in Baton Rouge. No registration is needed; bring binoculars and the $3 park admission.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Birds
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

One time

Cost

$3 park admission

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OAS Birding Field Trips (opens in a new tab)

Orleans Audubon Society

Local, Louisiana

Join an Orleans Audubon Society birding field trip led by local birders, such as a day at Grand Isle or a morning at Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, or come to an evening program talk in New Orleans.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Birds
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

One time

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with OAS Birding Field Trips

Volunteer at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge (opens in a new tab)

Friends of Black Bayou, Inc.

Ouachita Parish, LA

Volunteer at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Monroe: staff the visitor center in four-hour shifts, lead nature walks, help with school groups, or do grounds and garden work; training is provided free.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

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Volunteer at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park (opens in a new tab)

National Park Service

Jefferson Parish, LA; Orleans Parish, LA; St. Bernard Parish, LA and 3 more

Email the park to volunteer at one of Jean Lafitte's six south Louisiana sites, from staffing a visitor center or representing the park at festivals to removing harmful plants and cleaning headstones at Chalmette National Cemetery; short Project Days need little training.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Volunteer at Woodlands Conservancy (opens in a new tab)

Woodlands Conservancy

Plaquemines Parish, LA

Help reforest Woodlands Preserve in Belle Chasse by planting trees from November through March, weeding and watering young saplings in the warmer months, clearing plots before planting season, or keeping its 11 miles of trails open. Office and remote help is also needed.

• Volunteer in person
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Volunteer BREC (opens in a new tab)

BREC

East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Apply to volunteer with East Baton Rouge Parish's park system, including conservation workdays such as pulling invasive privet and BREC Green Force volunteer trainings, alongside event and program help.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Invasive species
• Plants & habitat
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer BREC

Volunteering (opens in a new tab)

Baton Rouge Green

East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Sign up for Baton Rouge Green's volunteer email list to hear when help is needed, from office work and special events to picking citrus for its winter Pick Event, which donates the fruit to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Volunteer Opportunities (opens in a new tab)

Pontchartrain Conservancy

Local, Louisiana

Plant trees on coastal ridges and swamps, garden or guide visitors at the New Canal Lighthouse, or help at community events around Lake Pontchartrain.

• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

One time

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Maine Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Statewide · Maine

Take a ten-month course on Maine's plants, animals, geology and ecosystems, with classroom and field sessions plus nature journaling homework, then spend at least 20 hours the following year teaching nature programs for Maine organizations.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

Tuition $700 (2026 courses; reduced rate for some northern counties); financial assistance available

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Maine Master Naturalist Program

Reporting Locations of Rare Species (opens in a new tab)

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service

Statewide · Maryland

If you find a rare plant or animal in Maryland, such as a bog turtle or other listed herp, check the state's rare species lists, then submit the precise location on the online Rare Species Reporting Form.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Reptiles & amphibians
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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How You Can Help (opens in a new tab)

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service

Statewide · Maryland

Contact the Wildlife and Heritage Service's volunteer coordinator to help at outreach events, with office tasks or in the field.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Maryland Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

University of Maryland Extension

Statewide · Maryland

Apply through a host site in your region (nature centers, parks and arboretums), complete 60 hours of classes and field trips on Maryland's plants, animals and ecology, pass a final exam, and volunteer 40 hours a year.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

18 or older

Cost

$250 materials fee

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Field Naturalist Certificate Program (opens in a new tab)

Mass Audubon

Statewide · Massachusetts

Take Mass Audubon's 12-week course of Wednesday evening online talks and six Saturday field days at wildlife sanctuaries, learning Massachusetts ecology and field research methods, then complete a volunteer service project to be certified.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

March to June and September to November

Commitment

Seasonal

Cost

$1,895 (Spring 2027); Mass Audubon membership required

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Report rare species & vernal pool observations (opens in a new tab)

MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program

Statewide · Massachusetts

Report sightings of state-listed rare animals and plants, or document a vernal pool (a seasonal pool where many amphibians breed) for official certification, through MassWildlife's online Heritage Hub or by mailing a form with a map.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Plants & habitat
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Report rare species & vernal pool observations

Michigan Conservation Stewards Program (opens in a new tab)

MSU Extension

Statewide · Michigan

Join an 8-week fall course that mixes weekly online lessons, in-person classes and field days in your region on Michigan's ecosystems and conservation, then complete a hands-on capstone project with a local conservation group.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

August to October

Commitment

Seasonal

Ages

Adults 18+ only

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Volunteer Stewardship Program (opens in a new tab)

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Statewide · Michigan

Join public workdays in southern Michigan state parks to pull invasive plants and collect native seed, or take on independent projects such as photomonitoring, invasive species mapping and seed collection with DNR gear and guidance; the program also does bird monitoring.

• Citizen science
• Events & bioblitzes
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• Invasive species
• Plants & habitat
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Minnesota Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

University of Minnesota

Statewide · Minnesota

Take a 40-hour course on one of Minnesota's three biomes (Big Woods Big Rivers, North Woods Great Lakes, or Prairies and Potholes) with lectures, hands-on activities and field trips, then give 40 volunteer hours and 8 hours of advanced training each year.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Adults 18+

Cost

$295 per biome course; scholarships available

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Requests for Sightings (opens in a new tab)

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Biological Survey

Statewide · Minnesota

Report sightings of racers, western hog-nosed snakes, smooth greensnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, mudpuppies and several rare mammals through the DNR's online form, especially snakes seen in early spring or late fall near winter dens.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Volunteer with DNR (opens in a new tab)

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Statewide · Minnesota

Sign up as a Minnesota DNR volunteer to help in state parks, forests and wildlife areas, from collecting prairie seed and pulling invasive plants to monitoring bluebird houses, lake levels and fish populations.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• General conservation
• Invasive species
• Plants & habitat
• Drop-in (no ongoing commitment)

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Mississippi Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Mississippi State University Extension

Statewide · Mississippi

Register for a 40-hour basic course of classroom and field instruction near you on Mississippi's fish, wildlife and ecosystems, then give 40 volunteer hours and 8 hours of advanced training each year on projects like bird, amphibian and terrapin surveys.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Program describes participants as adults

Cost

$300 (Coastal course)

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Missouri Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Missouri Department of Conservation and University of Missouri Extension

Statewide · Missouri

Take the Missouri Master Naturalist training through a local chapter, then volunteer on habitat projects, research support and nature education in your area.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

Core training fee set by chapter; see site

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Volunteering (opens in a new tab)

Missouri Department of Conservation

Statewide · Missouri

After training, volunteer at a Missouri Department of Conservation nature center, shooting range or fishing program, leading hikes, greeting visitors, helping with animal care or teaching outdoor skills, usually 8 to 10 hours monthly.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

18 or older

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Citizen Science in Montana (opens in a new tab)

Montana Natural Heritage Program

Statewide · Montana

Photograph plants, animals and fungi in Montana and add them to the Montana Natural Heritage Observations project on iNaturalist, which feeds the state's species databases, or join another listed effort such as the bumble bee atlas or citizen botany.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• General conservation
• Insects & pollinators
• Plants & habitat
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

Accounts are for ages 13 and up unless a parent gives permission (iNaturalist Terms of Use).

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Montana Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Montana Natural History Center

Statewide · Montana

Take a Master Naturalist certification course with 40 or more hours of lectures, labs and field trips, offered by the Montana Natural History Center (a spring course or five-day summer intensive in Missoula, or a mostly online fall course) or by partner groups around the state, then log your volunteer hours.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Cost

$425 MNHC members / $450 non-members (Missoula summer course); scholarships available

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Nebraska Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Nebraska Master Naturalist

Statewide · Nebraska

After an application, interview and background check, finish 60 hours of classroom and field training on Nebraska's ecology and conservation, volunteer at least 20 hours within a year of finishing, and take 8 hours of continuing education each year.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Applicants must be at least 19

Cost

Training fee; see site

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Get Involved (opens in a new tab)

Nevada Department of Wildlife

Statewide · Nevada

Sign up as a Nevada Department of Wildlife volunteer to help with fish sampling, nesting surveys, building and repairing wildlife water guzzlers, and outdoor education classes such as fishing clinics and hunter education.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Volunteering With NH Fish and Game (opens in a new tab)

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

Statewide · New Hampshire

Choose from New Hampshire Fish and Game volunteer roles such as counting bats at summer roosts, monitoring piping plovers on Hampton and Seabrook beaches, reporting turkeys, watching fish ladders, or teaching outdoor skills.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• Insects & pollinators
• Other wildlife
• Water, wetlands & coasts
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

Volunteers must be 18 or older

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Natural Resources Stewards (opens in a new tab)

UNH Extension

Statewide · New Hampshire

Take UNH Extension's hybrid course (weekly online lessons plus 11 Friday field days) on New Hampshire's forests, soils, water, wildlife and invasive species, then plan and lead stewardship projects in your community as a volunteer.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

September to November

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$445; limited scholarships

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Rutgers Environmental Stewards (opens in a new tab)

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Statewide · New Jersey

Take a 17-week class (weekly Tuesday evening sessions online from January, plus about five in-person field sessions in your region) on New Jersey's environmental and climate issues, then complete a 60-hour community project, such as pine snake protection, stream monitoring or habitat restoration, to be certified.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

January to May

Commitment

Seasonal

Ages

16 and up

Cost

$325; limited discounts available

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Wildlife Conservation Volunteer (opens in a new tab)

New Mexico Department of Wildlife

Statewide · New Mexico

Sign up as a volunteer with New Mexico's wildlife agency to help with conservation, fisheries and outreach work; you first get a free customer ID number, then complete an application and background check.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Bernalillo County Open Space

Bernalillo County, NM

Attend free Thursday evening classes and Saturday field outings in summer on Bernalillo County's ecosystems, including herpetology, then finish a 40-hour service project on county open space or at a partner site.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Free

When

June to August

Commitment

Seasonal

Cost

Free

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Northern New Mexico Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Local, New Mexico

Attend a 13-week fall course of Tuesday evening classes and five weekend field trips around Santa Fe on northern New Mexico's ecology, then volunteer 30 or more hours with a partner organization within a year.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

August to November

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$370 ($100 with scholarship; $60 more for printed materials)

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New York Master Naturalist Volunteer Program (opens in a new tab)

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Statewide · New York

Attend Cornell's weekend Naturalist Trainee course at the Arnot Forest, add 14 hours of approved classes or webinars, and give 30 hours of volunteer work in conservation monitoring, habitat projects or nature outreach.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

September

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Designed for adults

Cost

Course fee; see site

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Volunteers (opens in a new tab)

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Statewide · New York

Pick from DEC volunteer roles such as trail work on state land, wildlife and furbearer surveys, American eel and blue crab research, lake and stream water-quality monitoring, amphibian migration counts, and helping at environmental education centers.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteers

Snapshot NY (opens in a new tab)

Statewide · New York

Choose a grid cell, set up a trail camera (yours or a loaner) on land you can use there, log the setup in the Snapshot NY phone app and upload the photos on the website for at least two months to help track New York's mammals.

• Citizen science
• Other wildlife
• App needed

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Snapshot NY

NC Wildlife Community Science (opens in a new tab)

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Statewide · North Carolina

Fill out the interest form to hear about NC Wildlife Resources Commission volunteer surveys, such as listening for frog and toad calls, kayaking routes to count terrapins, the Box Turtle Connection, bat driving routes and watching coastal waterbird nesting areas.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• Birds
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Central Carolinas Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation

Local, North Carolina

Take a 12-class course (half classroom, half field) that runs from January to December and includes herpetology, then give at least 40 volunteer hours and 8 hours of advanced training in the Charlotte area each year.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Must be 18 or older; background check required

Cost

$425 course fee; scholarships available

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Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

Piedmont Land Conservancy and NC Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center

Alamance County, NC; Caswell County, NC; Davidson County, NC and 8 more

Join a September-to-June course of about ten field classes at parks and preserves such as Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks, with Zoom sessions in between, then volunteer with partner organizations in the region.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

September to June

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Over 18; open to residents of 11 northwest Piedmont counties

Cost

$300

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Volunteer (opens in a new tab)

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

Statewide · North Dakota

Train as a volunteer instructor with North Dakota Game and Fish and teach hunter education, fur harvester education, Hooked on Fishing classes or boat and water safety in your community.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Several instructor roles require age 18 or older; background screening required

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Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

OSU Extension, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University

Statewide · Ohio

Take a 40-hour course through a local park, nature center or county Extension host (topics include reptiles and amphibians), then give 40 hours of volunteer service or continuing education with an Ohio nonprofit or agency.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

Varies by host; typically $50 to $350

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist

Wildlife Reporting System (opens in a new tab)

Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife

Statewide · Ohio

Report wildlife sightings, including places where turtles, snakes, salamanders, frogs and toads often cross roads (live animals or roadkill), through ODNR's online Wildlife Reporting System or the HuntFish OH app, adding photos and coordinates if you can.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Wildlife Reporting System

Oregon Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

OSU Extension Service

Statewide · Oregon

Finish Oregon State University's self-paced online natural history course and one regional field course, then give 40 volunteer hours a year to a natural resources group or project to earn and keep Certified Oregon Naturalist status.

• Online from anywhere
• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$325 online course plus $350 ecoregion field course; payment assistance available

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Oregon Wildlife Conservation (opens in a new tab)

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Statewide · Oregon

Photograph or record the wild mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles you see in Oregon and add your iNaturalist observations to ODFW's Oregon Wildlife Conservation project so biologists can use them, including exact locations of sensitive species.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Birds
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Ages

Accounts are for ages 13 and up unless a parent gives permission (iNaturalist Terms of Use).

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Oregon Wildlife Conservation

Volunteer with ODFW (opens in a new tab)

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Statewide · Oregon

Sign up for an ODFW volunteer role such as habitat work on state wildlife areas, helping at salmon and trout hatcheries and fish traps, supporting field studies, or teaching hunter and angler education.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer with ODFW

Pennsylvania Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

Statewide · Pennsylvania

Take a 50-hour course of weeknight classes and Saturday field sessions hosted by a local conservation group, then give at least 30 hours of local volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training to become certified.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

18 or older

Cost

$425 tuition ($75 early-application discount)

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Pennsylvania Master Naturalist

Wildlife Surveys (opens in a new tab)

Pennsylvania Game Commission

Statewide · Pennsylvania

Report wildlife to the Pennsylvania Game Commission through its public surveys, such as turkey sightings, bald eagle and osprey nests and heron colonies, or volunteer for the Appalachian Bat Count, sandhill crane or marsh bird surveys.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Birds
• Other wildlife

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Wildlife Surveys

South Carolina Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Clemson Cooperative Extension

Statewide · South Carolina

Join a 12-week, field-based class that meets one full day a week at one of six host sites around South Carolina, then volunteer on natural resource projects and complete 8 hours of advanced training each year.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$600 at the host sites checked

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with South Carolina Master Naturalist Program

Volunteer with Us (opens in a new tab)

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

Statewide · South Dakota

Apply to volunteer in South Dakota state parks as a campground host, trail or landscape volunteer, program and events helper, or on group projects such as habitat restoration and invasive plant removal.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat

When

April to September

Commitment

Seasonal

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Volunteer with Us

Tennessee Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Statewide · Tennessee

Take ten 4-hour classes with classroom and field time, including one on Tennessee reptiles and amphibians, through one of 15 chapters based at state parks, city parks and nature centers, then log 40 volunteer hours within two years to earn certification.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Program is for adults

Cost

$400 core course; financial assistance available

Checked September 2026 Report a problem with Tennessee Naturalist Program

Texas Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Statewide · Texas

Find one of the 49 local chapters, take its 40-hour classroom and field training (usually spring or fall), then give 40 volunteer hours and 8 hours of advanced training each year to stay certified.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Must be 18 or older, a Texas resident, and pass a background check

Cost

Varies by chapter ($150 to $225 among the first 2027 classes listed)

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Utah Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

USU Extension

Statewide · Utah

Take one or more 40-hour Utah Master Naturalist courses (online lessons plus three field days) on watersheds, deserts, mountains or dark skies, and use what you learn volunteering with partner groups such as state parks, nature centers and the Hogle Zoo.

• Online from anywhere
• Training
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

Cost

$250 per course (online portion and field days)

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Volunteer for the DWR (opens in a new tab)

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Statewide · Utah

Apply to volunteer with Utah's wildlife agency on habitat improvement and wildlife research field projects, at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center, at community fisheries events or as a hunter education instructor.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Citizen Reporting (opens in a new tab)

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

Statewide · Vermont

Report wildlife to Vermont Fish and Wildlife, including rare animal sightings on its rare animal form, bat colonies and sick bats, summer turkey broods and vernal pools, or host a flying squirrel nest box.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Birds
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Vermont Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

Vermont Master Naturalist Program

Statewide · Vermont

Join a small regional cohort for a months-long program of field days that reads the local landscape from bedrock to birds, covering geology, wildlife ecology, botany and natural communities, then take on hands-on volunteer projects in your community.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Family-friendly with an adult

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Participants ages 16 to 80

Cost

Course fee varies by program; see application

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Virginia Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

Virginia Master Naturalist Program

Statewide · Virginia

Apply through a local chapter for its 40 to 60 hour basic training of classroom and field time, then volunteer in your community on stewardship, citizen science and nature education projects.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

Course fee set by chapter; see site

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Volunteer Opportunities (opens in a new tab)

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Statewide · Virginia

Create a volunteer profile with Virginia DWR and help with wildlife surveys, habitat and invasive species management, fish stocking, outreach events, or hunter, archery, boating and fishing education, giving at least 15 hours a year.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Invasive species
• Other wildlife
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Volunteers must be 18 or older

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Report wildlife observations (opens in a new tab)

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Statewide · Washington

Use WDFW's online forms to report sightings of at-risk Washington wildlife, including the northwestern pond turtle, or animals that look sick, injured or dead, so biologists can track where species occur and their health.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• From home

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Volunteer opportunities (opens in a new tab)

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Statewide · Washington

Browse WDFW's volunteer project catalog and sign up for habitat restoration on wildlife and water access areas, science projects, outreach events or hunter education instruction.

• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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Washington State Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Washington State University Extension and the WSU School of the Environment

Statewide · Washington

Work through online modules on Washington ecosystems plus 20 hours of field learning, then volunteer at least 20 hours in education, stewardship or community science with one of the program's partner organizations.

• Online from anywhere
• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Plants & habitat
• Water, wetlands & coasts

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

$425 tuition ($325 online plus $100 field fee); limited scholarships

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Surveys & Citizen Science (opens in a new tab)

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Statewide · West Virginia

Join WVDNR's public wildlife surveys, such as reporting Blue Ghost fireflies in May and June or eastern newts year-round, and add iNaturalist sightings to West Virginia Natural Heritage Program projects.

• Citizen science
• Report a sighting
• Insects & pollinators
• Other wildlife
• Reptiles & amphibians
• Free

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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West Virginia Master Naturalist Program (opens in a new tab)

Master Naturalists of West Virginia

Statewide · West Virginia

Complete 62 hours of classes, both indoors and in the field, through a local chapter, including a core class on amphibians and reptiles, then 30 hours of approved volunteering to earn certification.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Cost

Course fee set by chapter; see site

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Wisconsin Master Naturalist (opens in a new tab)

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension

Statewide · Wisconsin

Take a 40-hour series of field and classroom sessions on Wisconsin's natural history and conservation at one of 10 to 15 host sites, then log 40 volunteer hours and 8 hours of further training every year to stay certified.

• Training
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat
• Adults only

When

Year-round

Commitment

Ongoing

Ages

Open to adults over 18

Cost

$300 registration; reduced fees for financial hardship

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Volunteer (opens in a new tab)

Wyoming Game & Fish Department

Statewide · Wyoming

Browse Wyoming Game and Fish's online volunteer project catalog and join its general volunteer interest list to hear when projects come up; ongoing fish hatchery help at Clark's Fork is listed now, and the catalog sorts projects into education, fish, habitat and wildlife categories.

• Citizen science
• Volunteer in person
• General conservation
• Other wildlife
• Plants & habitat

When

Year-round

Commitment

Flexible

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