VOLUNTEER
Becoming part of the solution has never been more fun! Volunteer for Explore Ecology and make a difference. Volunteers are our valuable partners who assist in all areas of Explore Ecology programming. You make our continuing service to the community possible. Adults, high school and college students, business groups, and those needing community service hours are welcome.
Email us for more information.
ART FROM SCRAP
BEACH CLEANUPS
SCHOOL GARDENS
ART OPENINGS & RECEPTIONS
PHOTOGRAPHY
& MORE
& MORE
Click on your desired volunteer activity for more information
Do you love being on the beach, taking care of the ocean and environment, and helping to clean up marine debris? Our Monthly Cleanups take place at Arroyo Burro Beach, one of Santa Barbara’s most gorgeous beaches. Beach Cleanups are a wonderful way for families, businesses, and groups to volunteer together.
Beach cleanups are on the 2nd Sunday of the Month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Meet at the Watershed Resource Center at 10:00 am to sign in and pick up supplies.
Do you want to learn more about reuse and waste reduction? Do you support creativity and the arts? Do you see the potential in reuse materials and love turning trash into treasure? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the volunteer opportunity for you!
The Art From Scrap Creative Reuse Store is looking for volunteers to work in our retail store: stocking, sorting, organizing materials, and assisting staff. Volunteer shifts are Wednesdays through Saturdays either 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm or 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. You can sign up online for this opportunity.
We would love to have you join our team as a member of our fundraising and event planning committee and help us plan and coordinate our events. If you are passionate about arts and ecology, we are sure to have an event that would interest you. We host one to two fundraisers a year, numerous art shows, and Makers’ Markets. We look forward to dreaming up some new events with you!
Spend time in the garden this summer by volunteering with Explore Ecology’s School Gardens program. We are looking for volunteers to assist our Garden Educators with summer school lessons in the garden.
Community Service Hours are available.
If you like going to coffee shops, smoothie stores, and other places with bulletin boards, we need you to post our event and fundraiser flyers around town.
Isn’t it time to show your favorite beach or creek some love? Join us for Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 17th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. An international day of volunteer action, Coastal Cleanup Day offers community members a chance to give back to the beautiful beaches that make Santa Barbara County such a wonderful place to live. Get outside, enjoy nature, and remove marine debris from our beaches and waterways.
Volunteers of all ages can participate at any of the 2022 cleanup sites. Pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged. If you can’t make it to one of the cleanup locations on Saturday, the 17th, you can do a self led cleanup at anytime during the month of September and your litter data will be included in the 2022 Coastal Cleanup Day results!
Please select the site you plan on volunteering at when registering. Each site will have a Beach Captain on hand to provide necessary instructions and supplies. All volunteers are encouraged to bring their own reusable gloves, bags or buckets, and water bottles to reduce waste and decrease the plastic footprint of the cleanup. Click here to register.
The Art From Scrap Gallery needs your assistance at art openings and receptions throughout the year. If you love assemblage and environmentally-themed art, mingling with artists, socializing, and food service this could be the volunteer opportunity for you. We are looking for volunteers to pass out refreshments, pour wine (must be over 21), and help staff with set up and take down. Events usually occur on a Friday or Saturday evening from 6:00 to 8:00.
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID Our Summer Camps are exciting and educational! Work with our experienced staff of environmental educators to lead students in activities that include beach and nature explorations, environmental concept games, cooking, nature crafts, tie-dye, and more! Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs for students ages 13 to 17 cost $75.00 per week. College Internships are also available.
If you like engaging with the public, educating about the environment, and creating art out of reuse materials, this is the perfect volunteer job for you. Explore Ecology and our Creative Reuse Program, Art From Scrap, offer the Santa Barbara community free art and environmental education projects at various events throughout the year. This is a super fun and social volunteer opportunity- a nice way to be outside enjoying the day while also supporting a great cause.
Volunteer for Earth Day on April 29th and 30th! We are looking for volunteers to help staff our booth at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival.
Duties include: Interacting with the public and providing information about our organization * Taking part in hands-on art and environmental education activities * Representing Explore Ecology in a professional manner.
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about sustainability and who enjoy helping kids make Art From Scrap projects.
We are looking for photographers who would like to build their portfolios, practice their skills, and support environmental education and the arts. We need photos of our fundraising events, art workshops, Creative ReUse Store, environmental education classes, and more. If you’re a creative shutterbug, this is the opportunity for you.
Emma Serr is an artist and a student studying Studio Art at SBCC. Emma has a background in art and customer service, having worked as a camp counselor at sewing camp and assistant for sewing events and classes, and display manager and cashier in previous positions, and was recently a nanny to several young children. Emma first found us as a customer who loved what Art From Scrap represents!
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent her last four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife. Veronica is very passionate about conservation and sustainable agricultural practices. Veronica has spent many summers working in environmental education at various zoos and museums and loves introducing kids to the plants and animals that coexist with us. In her free time, she likes to sit at the beach and read, take dance classes, roller skate, and walk around fancy neighborhoods to look at the houses.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them. Lu is thrilled to be teaching budding scientists about the Earth and why it’s important for us to protect and preserve the environment. 
Lydia
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Ian Docktor
MELISSA BROOKS
Lindsay Johnson