The summer provides a great opportunity for students to explore their interests and help out in the community. If your kids are looking to do something great for the planet, we have a list of awesome organizations around the Annapolis area looking for volunteers.
5 Minute Foundation
5minutefoundation.org
Volunteer Opportunity: Organize/ host a local beach clean-up
The 5 Minute Beach Cleanup Foundation (5MBCF) aims to eliminate plastic pollution in the world’s ocean by educating people and inspiring action. They offer several ways for volunteers to help out. Opportunities include company partnerships, local chapter establishments, beach cleanup hosting and an ambassador program.
Anne Arundel Water Stewards Academy
Aawsa.org
Volunteer Opportunity: Raise donations; help plant trees; work with local Watershed Stewards
WSA serves as the hub where anyone interested in working on water protection in Anne Arundel County can come together. By training Watershed Stewards, WSA has installed thousands of projects that help reduce pollution in local rivers and streams.
Arundel Rivers Federation
Arundelrivers.org
Volunteer Opportunity: Raise donations; Volunteer for field work or office work
With wet and messy volunteer opportunities or clean and dry volunteer opportunities, Arundel Rivers Federation will find a way to get you plugged into helping bring back healthy waters for our rivers.
C-StREAM Program
chesapeake.org/c-stream/
Volunteer Opportunity: Summer internships in the environmental field
C-StREAM is designed to create pathways for underrepresented* students to pursue careers in environmental research and management. C-StREAM is intended for any continuing undergraduate, at any level of study (including seniors pursuing graduate studies in the fall) who identifies as being one or both of the following: a person of color or a first-generation college student.
Capital SUP
CapitalSUP.com
Opportunity: Paddle ambassadors, camp coulselors
The folks at Capital SUP are dedicated to clean water and teaching others how to paddle. By promoting the culture and sport of paddling, they help people connect with the water and build a lifelong love for the environment.
Interdisciplinary Consortium for Applied Research in the Environment
icare.umbc.edu
Opportunity: 2-year interdisciplinary degree program
ICARE stands for “Interdisciplinary Consortium for Applied Research in the Environment.” Our NRT program is a cross-sector network of environmental scientists and engineers who are committed to increasing the diversity of the environmental workforce and engaging the community in local environmental research in and around Baltimore Harbor. The program is completed by students who are earning a master’s degree from UMBC.
Jug Bay
www.jugbay.org
Volunteer Opportunity: Field work, trash clean-ups, research, education, guides
The Sanctuary strives to maintain and foster a supportive and educational volunteer program in which volunteers learn about the natural world while contributing to the Sanctuary’s education, scientific understanding, and habitat protection goals.
Live Water
LiveWater.org
Volunteer Opportunity: Fundraising, volunteer paddler for veteran & underserved youth program, park cleanups
Established in 2017, Live Water Foundation expands the community give-back programs of Capital SUP. The foundation currently supports three initiatives within the Veteran community, underprivileged and disabled youth, and promoting clean waterways.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
dnr.maryland.gov
Volunteer Opportunity: Striped Bass Program, Land Steward Volunteer, Stream Waders Volunteers, Tree Planting, Garden work at Tawes Garden, and more
The DNR host many opportunities for citizens to volunteer to aid in environmental restoration. From submitting catch data for the Striped Bass Program to tree-planting to restore tree cover on public lands, volunteering with the DNR is a great way to improve Maryland’s outdoor spaces.
Minorities In Aquaculture
mianpo.org
Volunteer Opportunity: Fundraising
At Minorities in Aquaculture, our goal is to educate women of color on the environmental benefits of aquaculture and support them as they launch and sustain their careers in the field, growing the seafood industry and creating an empowering space for women along the way.
NOAA
fisheries.noaa.gov
Volunteer Opportunity: Summer Internship
NOAA internships are a great way for college students to explore careers in marine-, environmental-, and climate-related fields. Our summer interns work with NOAA experts for roughly 12 weeks during the summer. Although the application deadline for 2023 has passed, this is a great opportunity to keep in mind for the future.
SERC
serc.si.edu
Volunteer Opportunity: Chesapeake Water Watch volunteer
Partnering with Riverkeepers and individuals, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is collecting data to help monitor the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Using simple-to-use scientific equipment and applications on their smartphones, volunteers will collect measurements that will then be used to help “train” satellites to accurately monitor the Bay.
Spa Creek Conservancy
SpaCreek.net
Volunteer Opportunity: Water monitoring, clean-ups, invasive removal and fish seining, identification and counting
This all-volunteer organization works to make Spa Creek swimmable and fishable once again through education, preservation, mitigation and restoration.
Severn River Association
severnriver.org
Volunteer Opportunity: monitor water quality, grow oysters and other opportunities
The Severn River Association is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Severn River by educating the community and connecting people who live, work and playHere are some SRA initiatives where we could use your help.
Wild Kid Acres
wildkidacres.org
Volunteer Opportunity: volunteer on the farm or raise money to donate
Come learn about our growth and how our decision making process could impact your life and help lead your community. Help build our new barn, care for animals, work on the land and improve the environment.