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!
Saturday, June 7
National Trails Day: Trail Work
Eibs Pond Park, Staten Island, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Volunteer to contribute to ongoing restoration work and learn the importance of species diversity to ecosystem health, as well as clean and clear trail corridors in order to help restore the forest and create a healthier ecosystem. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Please visit NYC Parks’ website for more information.
Cross Country Trail Maintenance
Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the Cross Country Trail in Van Cortlandt Park. Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer or new to trail maintenance, your help will make a significant impact! Program is hosted by Van Cortlandt Park Alliance. Please visit their website for more information.
Sunday, June 8
Trail Stewardship and Restoration
Forest Park, Queens, 10:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers and the Forest Park Trust to lend a helping hand by maintaining and restoring several trails in the park. All materials will be provided. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers. Please visit their website for more information.
Monday, June 9
Horseshoe Crab Monitoring
Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Join the Stewardship Team for an evening of horseshoe crab monitoring and training on how to support staff! Walk the beach to count the number of crabs present and tag them to keep track of how many have already been seen as part of NYC Parks' ongoing effort to monitor their activity. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website for more information.
Wednesday, June 11
Horseshoe Crab Monitoring
Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn, 8:00 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
Join the Stewardship Team for an evening of horseshoe crab monitoring and training on how to support staff! Walk the beach to count the number of crabs present and tag them to keep track of how many have already been seen as part of NYC Parks' ongoing effort to monitor their activity. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website for more information.
Friday, June 13
Coastal Cleanup
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Coastal Cleanup Volunteers help keep the shorelines clean by removing debris that washes into the park’s marshes and beaches with the tides. Volunteers also document the types of trash collected, which is shared with the Ocean Conservancy to support global efforts in understanding and combating plastic pollution. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by Brooklyn Bridge Park. Please visit their website for more information.
Saturday, June 14
Forest Restoration
Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect the forested areas in Inwood Hill Park! Volunteers will contribute to ongoing restoration work and learn the importance of species diversity to ecosystem health. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team and NYC Service. Please visit NYC Parks’ website for more information.
Natural Area Restoration
Idlewild Park, Queens, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect the forested areas in Idlewild Park! Volunteers will contribute to ongoing restoration work and learn the importance of species diversity to ecosystem health. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Please visit NYC Parks’ website for more information.
Friday, June 20
Park Cleanup
Franz Sigel Park, Bronx, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Join for a cleanup in Franz Sigel Park thanks to the sponsorship of Council member Althea Stevens! Program is hosted by NYC H2O. Please visit their website for more information.
Saturday, June 21
Conservation Chalk Art
Rockaway Beach, Queens, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Volunteer to create conservation chalk art messages supporting endangered and threatened shorebirds at Rockaway Beach. Pre-registration is preferred. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Wildlife Unit. Please visit their website for more information.
Salt Marsh Planting
Saw Mill Creek Marsh, Staten Island, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Volunteer to help plant plugs at Saw Mill Creek Marsh in order to restore this vital ecosystem. Urban wetlands provide a variety of benefits including improved water quality and storm water retention. They also serve as critical habitat for native wildlife! REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website for more information.
Sunday, June 22
Coastal Cleanup
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Coastal Cleanup Volunteers help keep the shorelines clean by removing debris that washes into the park’s marshes and beaches with the tides. Volunteers also document the types of trash collected, which is shared with the Ocean Conservancy to support global efforts in understanding and combating plastic pollution. Program is hosted by the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Please visit their website for more information.
AMSEAS Necropsy Volunteer Training
Rockaway Beach, Queens, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Do you want to be part of Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) stranding response team? Are you interested in assisting with necropsies? Join AMSEAS at RISE for a volunteer training session! Program is hosted by RISE Rockaway and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. Please visit RISE Rockaway’s website for more information.
Monday, June 23
Horseshoe Crab Monitoring
Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Join the Stewardship Team for an evening of horseshoe crab monitoring and training on how to support staff! Walk the beach to count the number of crabs present and tag them to keep track of how many have already been seen as part of NYC Parks' ongoing effort to monitor their activity. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website for more information.
Wednesday, June 25
Horseshoe Crab Monitoring
Calvert Vaux Park, Brooklyn, 8:00 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
Join the Stewardship Team for an evening of horseshoe crab monitoring and training on how to support staff! Walk the beach to count the number of crabs present and tag them to keep track of how many have already been seen as part of NYC Parks' ongoing effort to monitor their activity. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team. Please visit their website for more information.
Friday, June 27
Forest Restoration
Kissena Park, Queens, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect the forested areas in Kissena Park! Volunteers will contribute to ongoing restoration work and learn the importance of species diversity to ecosystem health. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Program is hosted by NYC Parks Stewardship Team and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Please visit NYC Parks’ website for more information.
Saturday, June 28
Park Cleanup
Baisley Pond Park, Queens, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Join for a cleanup of Baisley Pond Park thanks to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams! Program is hosted by NYC H20. Please visit their website for more information.