Volunteer Projects

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Volunteer Projects


New York City’s natural areas are a vital resource for all New Yorkers. These park spaces capture rainwater, supply fresh air, and provide habitat for wildlife! In addition to the volunteer opportunities offered below, NYC Parks Stewardship provides communities with opportunities to care for our city’s forests, wetlands, salt marshes, and street trees throughout the year. Their volunteer events include planting trees and shrubs, removing invasive plants, plant protection, trail restoration, and street tree care that benefits all New Yorkers—animal and human alike.

Visit the NYC Parks Stewardship page to find out how you can volunteer for an event, or train to be an advanced volunteer!


Wednesdays, September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Team RIVER
Randall’s Island, Manhattan, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Volunteer with Team RIVER – Randall’s Island Volunteer Ecological Restorers- and help care for the many gardens, green streets, and meadows on the island. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the Randall’s Island Park Alliance. Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

 

Friday, September 4

Forest Fridays
Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help clear debris, fallen branches, and litter to open the forest floor for native wildflowers, oak seedlings, and other varieties of understory plants that support Van Cortlandt Park’s ecosystem and diverse wildlife population. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

Forest Restoration
Powell’s Cove Park, Queens, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help to protect and preserve the forested areas of Powell’s Cove Park. In addition to learning proper restoration techniques, volunteers will learn the importance of species diversity and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.



Tuesday, September 8

Coastal Cleanup
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Help steward Brooklyn’s coastline by counting, categorizing, and removing debris to support the health of marine wildlife and the overall ecosystem. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Rockaway Refresh – Post Labor Day Weekend Cleanup!
Rockaway Beach Park, Queens, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Drop-in to help steward Queens’ coastline by removing debris from the shoreline to support the health of shorebird and marine wildlife communities, as well as give back to the beach that so many New Yorkers enjoy throughout the whole year. Program is hosted by Jamaica Bay – Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Please visit their website for more information.

 

 

Friday, September 11

September Project WASTE
Muskrat Cove Park, Bronx, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Partake in hands-on freshwater habitat remediation by counting, assessing, and removing trash from the Muskrat Cove trash boom to categorize floatable trash into distinct categories to ensure clean waterways for people and wildlife alike. This work will help inform communities, business, and municipal officials on the health of the Bronx River. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by Bronx River Alliance. Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

 

Saturday, September 12

PlacePartner Opportunity: The Bird Sanctuary
Riverside Park, Manhattan, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Help to steward the forest and meadowlands between 116th St. and 125th St. – a designated Forever Wild Nature Preserve – that support a diverse bird community. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by Riverside Park Conservancy. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Beach Clean-Up
Lemon Creek, Staten Island, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Join community members and organizations for a shoreline cleanup of Lemon Creek to prevent litter from entering New York’s waterways and to support the park’s ecosystem health and wildlife. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYCH2O. Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

Forest Restoration
Marine Park, Brooklyn, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help to protect and preserve the forested areas of Marine Park. In addition to learning proper restoration techniques, volunteers will learn the importance of species diversity and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Microplastics Workshop with New York Sea Grant
Soundview Park, Bronx, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help to protect and restore the coastal areas of Soundview Park. Volunteers will help to remove plastic and debris from the shoreline, creating a healthier ecosystem. With the help of NY Sea Grant, participants will also examine microplastics in sediment and water and learn how they impact wildlife and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

Forest Restoration
Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Help to protect and preserve the forested areas of Inwood Hill Park. In addition to learning proper restoration techniques, volunteers will learn the importance of species diversity and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

 

Sunday, September 13

The Big Impact Wave Cleanup
Fort Wadsworth Park, Staten Island, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Make waves of positive change by joining this large-scale environmental cleanup initiative. Together, volunteers will help reduce pollution, protect wildlife habitats, and create a lasting impact on our waterways and shorelines. Program is hosted by Gateway National Recreation Area. Please visit their website for more information.



Saturday, September 19

Natural Area Restoration

Soundview Park, Bronx, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Help to protect and preserve the natural areas of Soundview Park. In addition to learning proper restoration techniques, volunteers will learn the importance of species diversity and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

Beach Cleanup
Rockaway Beach Park, Queens, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Join several coastal conservation organizations for a community beach cleanup to steward Rockaway’s coastline. Remove litter to protect both wildlife and people while enjoying Rockaway in the late summer. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the Rockaway Institute for Sustainability and Equity (RISE). Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Beach Cleanup: International Coastal Cleanup Day
Plumb Beach, Brooklyn, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Join community members and organizations on International Coastal Cleanup Day for a shoreline cleanup of Plumb Beach to prevent litter from entering New York’s waterways and to support the park’s ecosystem health and wildlife. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYCH2O. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Coastal Cleanup
Martha P. Johnson State Park, Brooklyn, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Hosted in partnership with ReCreate Brooklyn, this stewardship event aims to steward Brooklyn’s shoreline by removing trash to create a healthier ecosystem for wildlife and people. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Please visit their website for more information.

 

International Coastal Cleanup Day
Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary, Queens, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Take an active role in preserving and restoring one of Queens’ most biodiverse wildlife sites by removing litter on International Coastal Cleanup Day. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by Jamaica Bay –Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Please visit their website to register for more information.


Hook Creek International Coastal Cleanup
Hook Creek Park, Queens, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Take part in International Coastal Cleanup where volunteers will help to remove debris from Hook Creek Park’s coastline to create a healthier ecosystem. Volunteers will also participate in a community science project to collect data on debris within NYC waterways! REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


North Channel Bridge Beach Cleanup
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help steward the largest nature preserve in New York City on International Coastal Cleanup Day by removing litter and creating a healthier ecosystem for all. Program is hosted by Gateway National Recreation Area. Please visit their website for more information.


Soundview Restoration Day
Soundview Park, Bronx, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join in for a day of stewardship in Soundview Park! As part of a collaborative event between several Bronx-based environmental organizations, participants will remove litter from the park’s shoreline and plant native species to help protect, improve, and restore this important waterfront park! REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by Bronx River Alliance. Please visit their website to register and for more information.



Sunday, September 20

Living Shoreline Cleanup
City Island Oyster Reef, Bronx, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Join in for one last time this summer to help steward the Living Shoreline Outdoor Education Center by cleaning up marine debris and clearing invasive species, while learning about the local ecosystem! REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by City Island Oyster Reef. Please visit their website to register and for more information.



Friday, September 25

Forest Restoration
Kissena Park, Queens, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help to protect and preserve the forested areas of Kissena Park. In addition to learning proper restoration techniques, volunteers will learn the importance of species diversity and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Forest Restoration
Marine Park, Brooklyn, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help to protect and preserve the forested areas of Marine Park. In addition to learning proper restoration techniques, volunteers will learn the importance of species diversity and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


 

Saturday, September 26

HRPK Blue Team
Hudson River Park, Manhattan, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Join a dedicated base of marine stewards (alongside the “WasteShark”, a remote-controlled aquadrone) to count, categorize, and remove debris from the Hudson River’s shoreline. Program is hosted by Hudson River Park Trust. Please visit their website for more information.

 

Forest Restoration
Jones Woods Park, Staten Island, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Help to protect and preserve the forested areas of Jones Woods Park. In addition to learning proper restoration techniques, volunteers will learn the importance of species diversity and ecosystem health. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Climate Week NYC Dune Planting
Rockaway Beach Park, Queens, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

All hands on deck for dune restoration, part of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan during Climate Week NYC! This initiative focuses on long-term enhancement and maintenance of coastal dunes. All are welcome to help build and restore a natural protective buffer along the east end of the Rockaways to protect people and wildlife. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the Rockaway Institute for Sustainability and Equity (RISE). Please visit their website to register and for more information.

 

Beach Cleanup
Canarsie Park, Brooklyn, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join community members and organizations for a shoreline cleanup of Canarsie Beach to prevent litter from entering New York’s waterways and to support the park’s ecosystem health and wildlife. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYCH2O. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Shoreline Cleanup & Hike
Shirley Chisholm State Park, Brooklyn, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Celebrate New York Climate Week with a shoreline cleanup and interpretive naturalist hike, hosted in collaboration with Appalachian Mountain Club – the best of both worlds! REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Program is hosted by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Please visit their website to register and for more information.


Coastal Exploration and Clean-Up
Alice Austen Park, Staten Island, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Learn about the ecological importance of New York Harbor to humans and wildlife before putting the spirit of conservation into action with a shoreline trash clean-up. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers. Please visit their website for more information.