Volunteer Opportunities
Marin CNPS is 100% volunteer run and can use your talents. Volunteering is a great way to learn about the unique ecology of Marin and meet fellow plant lovers while contributing to the overall health of our planet.
Volunteer Now! See something appealing on this list? Email marinCNPSvolunteers@gmail.com today!
Like hands-on work?
- Restore habitat with Marin CNPS.
- Help care for our demonstration gardens.
- Plant milkweed for monarchs.
- Pack orders for chapter plant sales.
- Map and monitor rare plants.
- Sell posters at events and plant sales.
Like talking with people?
- Speak up for biodiversity and native plants at public meetings; talking points provided.
- Lead field trips to your favorite places; plant experts provided.
- Join our Gardening With Natives Committee. Spread the word about growing natives.
- Join the host team for CNPS events.
- Welcome new members and connect them to their interests.
Prefer working behind the scenes?
- Boost our social media presence; content provided.
- Shoot engaging and educational videos for posting (at field trips, events, natural areas).
- Contribute photos, articles, poetry to our monthly newsletter.
- Promote our chapter events in your community.
- Advocate! Join our Conservation Committee. Track and analyze proposed local projects.
- Join our board. Attend a meeting and see where you fit in.
Check the CNPS Marin event calendar for upcoming Stewardship/Volunteer Events.
Habitat Restoration with Marin Audubon Society
Marin Audubon Society (MAS) works to conserve and restore natural ecosystems to benefit birds and other wildlife. To further this work, Marin Audubon has acquired over 500 acres of land, largely wetlands and associated uplands along San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, to provide wildlife habitat. Restoration projects focus on recreating tidal marsh, transition zone, and upland habitats. Volunteers are essential for all phases of habitat improvement projects, including planting local native plants and controlling invasive non-native plants. MAS has several volunteer opportunities in different areas of Marin.
One Tam Volunteer Activities
One Tam is a collaboration between our county, state and national parks, and the Marin Municipal Water district, all of whom own land on Mt. Tamalpais. Marin Municipal Water District offers a variety of volunteer activities. Learn more here, or contact volunteerprogram@marinwater.org for more information.
Volunteer with Broom Service
Each week Broom Service volunteers work in different locations around San Geronimo Valley to remove invasive broom plants. There are several species of broom, such as French broom (Genista monspessulana) and Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) which are highly invasive in California, forming dense thickets which drastically alter native ecosystems and pose a high fire risk. Removing broom allows diverse native plants and wildlife to return.
Marin County Parks
Marin County Parks hosts volunteer workdays in their parks and open spaces on a regular basis, including weed clearing, pulling broom, planting new seedlings, and beach and creek cleanups. All ages and abilities are welcome, including beginners, children, and seniors. The work varies in physical demand, but for most events they provide a variety of activities suitable for all ages and abilities.
Bay Model Pollinator Garden
This garden is now well established since we started planting in June 2018. In every season, new plants go into bud and some old favorites need to be pruned or pulled—it’s always changing. Regular maintenance, which our chapter’s “Gardening with Natives” chair oversees on a regular seasonal basis, incudes workdays to do light pruning, divide herbaceous plants, sow seeds, plant wildflower seedlings, and pull weeds. The garden is of a very manageable size, tools and materials are provided, and there is much to learn in the company of friends!
SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
Come out and help SPAWN volunteers at our very own Native Plant Nursery! We cultivate beautiful plants destined for restoration sites throughout the valley—everything from native blackberries and grasses to majestic redwoods. Be a part of transforming creekside habitat from the ground up!
Join us as we plant native plants from our nursery and remove invasive species from our riparian restoration project sites. Our work helps to improve endangered central coast coho habitat throughout the Lagunitas Creek watershed. Volunteering with SPAWN provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about salmon, native plants, and how to create a healthy ecosystem
Point Reyes National Seashore Association Volunteer Activities
Point Reyes National Seashore Association partners with the National Park Service to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Point Reyes National Seashore. Volunteers are essential in maintaining and growing park projects – through park stewardship, restoring habitat, monitoring species, and educating visitors. Volunteering is also a great way to learn about the Seashore by going behind the scenes and connecting with others who care for this extraordinary park.
Volunteer Articles
Habitat Restoration with Marin Audubon Society
Marin Audubon Society (MAS) works to conserve and restore natural ecosystems to benefit birds and other wildlife. To further this work, Marin Audubon has acquired over 500 acres of land, largely wetlands and associated uplands along San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, to provide wildlife habitat. Restoration projects focus on recreating tidal marsh, transition zone, and upland habitats. Volunteers are essential for all phases of habitat improvement projects, including planting local native plants and controlling invasive non-native plants. MAS has several volunteer opportunities in different areas of Marin.
One Tam Volunteer Activities
One Tam is a collaboration between our county, state and national parks, and the Marin Municipal Water district, all of whom own land on Mt. Tamalpais. Marin Municipal Water District offers a variety of volunteer activities. Learn more here, or contact volunteerprogram@marinwater.org for more information.
Volunteer with Broom Service
Each week Broom Service volunteers work in different locations around San Geronimo Valley to remove invasive broom plants. There are several species of broom, such as French broom (Genista monspessulana) and Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) which are highly invasive in California, forming dense thickets which drastically alter native ecosystems and pose a high fire risk. Removing broom allows diverse native plants and wildlife to return.
Marin County Parks
Marin County Parks hosts volunteer workdays in their parks and open spaces on a regular basis, including weed clearing, pulling broom, planting new seedlings, and beach and creek cleanups. All ages and abilities are welcome, including beginners, children, and seniors. The work varies in physical demand, but for most events they provide a variety of activities suitable for all ages and abilities.
Bay Model Pollinator Garden
This garden is now well established since we started planting in June 2018. In every season, new plants go into bud and some old favorites need to be pruned or pulled—it’s always changing. Regular maintenance, which our chapter’s “Gardening with Natives” chair oversees on a regular seasonal basis, incudes workdays to do light pruning, divide herbaceous plants, sow seeds, plant wildflower seedlings, and pull weeds. The garden is of a very manageable size, tools and materials are provided, and there is much to learn in the company of friends!
SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
Come out and help SPAWN volunteers at our very own Native Plant Nursery! We cultivate beautiful plants destined for restoration sites throughout the valley—everything from native blackberries and grasses to majestic redwoods. Be a part of transforming creekside habitat from the ground up!
Join us as we plant native plants from our nursery and remove invasive species from our riparian restoration project sites. Our work helps to improve endangered central coast coho habitat throughout the Lagunitas Creek watershed. Volunteering with SPAWN provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about salmon, native plants, and how to create a healthy ecosystem
Point Reyes National Seashore Association Volunteer Activities
Point Reyes National Seashore Association partners with the National Park Service to create opportunities for all people to experience, enhance, and preserve Point Reyes National Seashore. Volunteers are essential in maintaining and growing park projects – through park stewardship, restoring habitat, monitoring species, and educating visitors. Volunteering is also a great way to learn about the Seashore by going behind the scenes and connecting with others who care for this extraordinary park.