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.

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.

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. Attend SC City Council and/or County Board of Supervisors meetings on June 9. Get info and sign up to keep informed HERE.

You’re invited to join community members, growers, local agencies, and others for a conversation about the future of farmland, groundwater, habitat, and community interests in the Pajaro Valley. Groundwater sustainability is critical to protecting the PV’s farming economy from seawater intrusion. The Pajaro Valley Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (PV MLRP) is a regional collaboration focused on how land use transitions on portions of least viable irrigated ag lands can advance groundwater sustainability, support farming, restore habitat, reduce flood risk, and benefit local communities. At Raíces y Cariño, 7 Hangar Way #B, Watsonville. Your input will help shape the plan to use future grant/state funding. Info and RSVP.

Come and have fun helping at the Cycle Fair! We will need volunteers for various event tasks: Set-up, Breakdown, Tabling and Bike Valet. Please review the available slots and sign up HERE. Thank you in advance for your help!! At the Bicycle Trip. For questions contact us at events@bikesantacruzcounty.org

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.

This is a great chance to gain hands-on experience working with children in a beautiful outdoor setting and helping out with activities to make camp happen! Volunteers can assist with: Teaching activities; Behind-the-scenes tasks, such as setting up stations, restocking supplies; Leading food tastings and/or games; Gain valuable experience working with children in an outdoor setting and build your resumé! Multiple sessions are available from June 22-July 31, with flexible scheduling options. Info 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.

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. We urge everyone who is concerned about this threat to our coast, our environment and our way of life to submit your thoughts to cityplan@santacruzca.gov.

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.

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.