Do you love hands-on science and getting out in nature? Watsonville Wetlands Watch partners with the City of Watsonville and County of Santa Cruz to regularly collect water quality data at a number of sites throughout the Watsonville Slough System. Join our water quality testing team and help us monitor the health of our sloughs in Watsonville! You'll receive basic training in water quality testing methods. We provide volunteers free snacks on the day of our monthly water quality data collection. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to hike on rugged or muddy terrain. For more info, or to sign up, email Geniva HERE.

The objectives of these workshops are to build neighborhood connections and increase community confidence, preparedness, and resiliency towards climate disasters while informing community members of resources that support sustainable and resilient habits. Our flexible, interactive workshop model aims to accommodate a wide range of formats, from small gatherings (6+ participants) to larger community events. If you are interested in hosting or participating in a workshop, click HERE.

We are a volunteer group working to restore native habitat in the parks and protected lands in Santa Cruz County. Our program provides an opportunity for people to learn about the natural systems that surround them while helping to restore special and wild places. No prior work experience is necessary, just show up at the park. Wear comfortable layered clothing, bring something to drink, and lots of enthusiasm! We work rain or shine, but if things get particularly unpleasant, we call it a day. Tools provided; bring gloves. Meet in the gravel parking lot on the left side of the entrance road. Program Leader, Linda Brodman 831.334.3858, email: redwdrn@pacbell.net

Celebrate Arbor Day in action! Join the City of Santa Cruz Parks & Rec at University Terrace Park for planting 60 trees, meeting friends, and enjoying fun, family-friendly activities! Whether you want to volunteer or just hang out, there’s something for everyone. Bring your friends and family, get your hands dirty, and help make our community greener and happier. No experience needed; all tools, materials, and snacks are provided. Sign up HERE.

To prevent drilling in Central California it is crucial to strengthen our local ordinances… in three ways: to integrate updated science to support the findings for why these uses are harmful to our community; to require voter approval for any onshore zoning changes needed to facilitate either offshore oil and gas drilling or deep-sea mining; and to explicitly prohibit any on-shore industrial activities that facilitate offshore oil and gas drilling or deep-sea mining, such as refining or trucking facilities, in industrially zoned areas. The first step in enacting this revised ordinance starts May 7 at the City’s Planning Commission meeting. We urge everyone who is concerned about this threat to our coast, our environment and our way of life to show up in support (809 Center St) or to submit your thoughts to cityplan@santacruzca.gov.

This event is an opportunity to host your own cleanup!.  We are giving back to your community, protecting wildlife and keeping litter from entering our watersheds, the Monterey Bay and our oceans beyond. Together we can make Santa Cruz the cleanest County in the State! Please sign up with your email, approximate number of participants at your cleanup event, location, and date and meet up time. (Some folks are doing cleanups before or after May 9th)   We will post this to our website, so others may join. Check HERE for more info, and go HERE for signup

Please join the Land Trust and the Watershed Stewardship Program for a day of improving salmon habitat at Antonelli pond to support our local watersheds! Free coffee/snacks, safety gear, water, and an epic time! Bring: Closed-toed shoes, water bottle, long pants, sun/rain protection. Park anywhere on Delaware Ave between Swanton Bivd and Shafer Rd. Follow the signs posted at the Anontelli Pond trailhead to find us! Info & signup HERE.

Come volunteer at our planting day and help beautify our campus! Be prepared to spend a day outside in the dirt with friends. This is a collaborative event with Ecology Action and the All County Clean Up hosted by Pitch In Santa Cruz. We will be planting native pollinator gardens and cleaning up our campus to protect our environment. All are welcome! SLV High School. Info and signup HERE.

Our natural resources staff have begun a large-scale project across Año Nuevo State Park. The project’s primary objective is to convert 30+ acres of invasive grassland back to a native coastal scrub habitat with the help of public, student, and docent volunteers. State parks staff lead weekly on-going workdays, with volunteer expectations varying dependent on season. Dry season months will primarily involve brush cutting work, sheet mulching efforts, and invasive removal, whereas the wet season months will prioritize native planting and propagation into the areas prepared during the dry season. To receive updates and workday info about all upcoming projects and to sign up go HERE.

Come join your local community in coastal restoration at Seabright Beach. Help make our coast a better place and learn about coastal ecology. Together we are making an impact and have now restored over 1/2 mile of coastal dune, strand and bluff habitat. Click HERE for project background. Go HERE to sign up.

Spend a morning working at the UCSC Farm in the Community Herb Garden, a BIPOC-centered garden space committed to uplifting knowledge of herbal medicine, with fellow volunteers and Center for Agroecology student staff. Tasks may include pruning, mulching, weeding, or hand tilling. Please come prepared with adequate shoes, water, and sun protection. We will provide all the necessary tools, but request that volunteers bring their own work gloves. Free parking is available in UCSC Lots 168 (the Village), 115, and 116. Please do not park in the dirt lot at the farm's back gate. Biking, carpooling, and busing are encouraged. RSVP HERE.

Enjoy an engaging day of toes in the sand with family, friends and new acquaintances, raising awareness about litter and plastic pollution. Our local beaches are stewarded by volunteers just like you! We welcome you to an engaging day of toes in the sand with family, friends and new acquaintances, raising awareness about litter and plastic pollution. By taking practical action to protect the environment, your collection efforts allow Surfrider to use data to influence laws and reduce waste at the source! Info and signup HERE.

On the farm, you will meet the crew, learn more about the farm, and join that day's activities which may include: weeding, harvesting, planting, building compost and more. Projects are weather dependent and defined by the day's priorities. We often can't tell you exactly what project you'll be working on in advance. Arrive any time to join our crew for a day on the farm, working on a variety of tasks. Sign up for reminders and additional information or feel free to just drop in! At Natural Bridges Farm. Far West-side. INFO.

Rights of Nature is a growing legal and cultural movement that recognizes ecosystems — like rivers, forests, and oceans — as living entities with inherent rights to exist, thrive, and regenerate. Instead of treating nature solely as property, this framework gives communities a legal tool to defend the natural world when it’s threatened. We are a grassroots working group pursuing a ballot initiative to grant local ecological entities legal rights to exist and evolve. We're currently researching which ecosystem or species — such as the San Lorenzo River, salmon, or wildlife corridors — should be the focus of the policy. We need researchers now, and will need help with communications and signature collection as we move forward. We hope you will join us. Please visit our website HERE.