Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is taking place this year on Saturday, September 19 from 9am-12pm! We hope you will join the thousands of volunteers worldwide that will be participating by signing up to lead a cleanup location near you. Registration is now live for you to sign up as the site captain of your favorite local beach, river, or park. Site captain registration is first come first serve, so take a moment to complete this site captain registration form to reserve your spot now before it goes live to the general public. Info & signup HERE or contact Krista Rogers, Krista@saveourshores.org

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.

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.

Don't miss this educational community favorite activity! Public Tours of the Resource Recovery Facility will be offered every Friday at 10 AM from June 12th through August 14th, 2026. A single Saturday will also be offered on July 25th, so please only sign up on Saturday if Fridays are not an option for you. Discover the journey your recycling and food scraps take—and see firsthand how your actions make a difference! Visitors will see what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzians place into their blue recycle bins every single day. We will also learn why it is important to “recycle right” avoid “wish-cycling" and why we can't relay on a triangle and a blue bin anymore. More Info and signup HERE.

Join us for a fun-filled day of community and nature at our 4th Saturday Restoration Event at the end of Clearwater Lane (500 Clearwater Lane, off of Beach Road). Help restore the habitat along the Pajaro River by removing invasive plants, learn about the amazing birds and wildlife that call these habitats home, and enjoy an educational wetland talk for all ages. With snacks and all materials provided, it’s the perfect family-friendly way to give back to the environment while having fun outdoors. Any questions? Please email outreach@watsonvillewetlandswatch.org.

Join our collective endeavor to restore Lompico Pond, enhancing the native habitat for diverse flora, fauna, and insects. Let's establish a captivating wildlife sanctuary, providing the community with a cherished space to revel in nature's wonders. Our work includes removing storm debris, reducing fuels, and removing invasive plants. 4th Saturday of every month through October. Tools and supplies provided! No need to bring your own equipment. Gloves are essential. Bring your pair or use our extras. Please walk to the pond if possible; parking is limited. More info HERE.

Bike Valet volunteering at our event involves: Setting up and breaking down canopies, bike racks and other event materials; Greeting customers; Providing a great customer service experience with a positive and welcoming demeanor; Coordinating intake and return of bicycles; Wheeling bikes to/from bike racks; Lifting bicycles onto/off of bike racks; Monitoring bikes during event; Any questions or concerns email :events@bikesantacruzcounty.org . 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.

Offshore drilling leases and deep-sea mining are once again being proposed along the California coast, despite the major risks these industries pose to marine ecosystems and coastal communities. While these activities would occur in federal waters, local governments still have powerful tools to push back through ordinances that regulate onshore support facilities within their jurisdictions. Save Our Shores is partnering with local governments to strengthen California’s historic “Blue Wall” by updating existing ordinances to include protections against facilities supporting both offshore oil drilling and deep-sea mining. Your voice matters and representatives need to hear from you. Get info and sign up to keep informed HERE.

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden relies on 100+ volunteers year-round to keep this place growing! By volunteering you become part of a community that directly supports the Arboretum’s overall mission to connect people with plants. No matter what group you work with, you will learn by working side by side with home gardeners, experienced and amateur naturalists, active and retired professionals as well as people who are just beginning to explore the world of plants. To become a volunteer at the Arboretum, prospective volunteers review available volunteer opportunities then fill out an online application form. More info HERE.

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.