Volunteer with us
Do you have a passion for the Salish Sea? Are you interested in learning more about this unique estuary and the animals that call it home? If so, then you are a perfect candidate to be a Harbor WildWatch volunteer!
Looking for information about our paid internships?
Volunteer Information
Volunteering with Harbor WildWatch is fun and rewarding! We hold interpretive educational programs year-round and need volunteers to help spread our message of stewardship.
No experience is necessary to become a volunteer ! We provide multiple training opportunities each year to prepare you for your volunteer experience. We ask in return that you commit to a minimum of 15 hours of service each year.
Whether you are a student looking to gain experience or retiree hoping to share your knowledge with the community – we have a place for you at Harbor WildWatch! Volunteer opportunities include:
- Naturalist guide at the beach, estuary & wetland
- Touch tank interpreter at community events
- Docent at the Skansie Visitor and Interpretive Center
- Marketing and administrative projects at our office
All volunteers must pay the registration fee of $30/annually to participate. This covers cost of training and includes a name badge, t-shirt, annual commemorative pin, and membership to the Steward Club. Additional clothing options are available for purchase. Because of the nature of our work, all volunteers are subject to a background check at no charge and we request that volunteers ages 5+ be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Questions? Contact Science Specialist, Stena Troyer, for more information.
How to Become a Volunteer:
- Complete all portions of the Volunteer Application below. A staff member will contact you with additional information.
- If you aren't already a Steward Club member, pay the volunteer membership fee of $30. This covers the cost of training, name badge, shirt, commemorative pin, and individual membership to the Steward Club. Volunteers may upgrade to a discounted family membership which covers up to 4 individuals.
- Sign-up for the next training opportunity based on your volunteer interests. Opportunities are available throughout the year, but our most popular training for beach naturalist takes place in May.
- Once training is complete, sign-up to volunteer through Sign-Up Genius. This will allow you to add your volunteer dates to your calendar and receive email reminders. You will recieve this link via an email from Harbor WildWatch staff.
- Order additional clothing if you wish. A short-sleeved shirt is included in your registration fee, but additional gear is available. This includes long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, and hats. Please note that clothing orders are placed in bulk quantities and may not be available immediately.
Even if you can’t make all (or any of the sessions), registering will help us update our active volunteer list. Plus you will be on our radar for connecting you with recordings of the volunteer training sessions for your future reference. Contact liz@harborwildwatch.org with any questions. See you at the beach!
Save the Date!
May 17th, 10:00-4:30pm. Starting at Rosedale Hall for a morning classroom session, with a transition to the DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve in the afternoon for a low tide training. Lunch will be provided.
Sign up with the “Apply now!” button above to register for training.