Monterey District Natural Resources Volunteer Program

Monterey District Natural Resources Volunteer Program

A group of volunteers pose with their hand tools after a morning of removing invasive mustard at Fort Ord Dunes State Park.

ABOUT THE MONTEREY DISTRICT NATURAL RESOURCE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:

The Natural Resource Volunteer Program (NRVP) leads on-going natural resource management projects across the Monterey District of California State Parks. Volunteers and State Parks staff work together on projects including: Invasive plant control, habitat restoration, sign and fence maintenance, litter removal, native plant propagation, trail maintenance, public outreach

Read below about the different ways to get involved, or visit our Upcoming Volunteer Events page.

Sign up for our monthly volunteer newsletter to see program highlights and stay up to date on upcoming events!

 

Public Volunteer Events

Want to get started volunteering with the NRVP? Join us at one of our many public volunteer events!

  • Each of our events runs from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

  • Tools, gloves, and training provided.

  • Youth ages 8 and up are welcome with adult supervision.

Check our upcoming events page for the latest schedule of public volunteer events.

Long Term Volunteer Programs

Interested in getting involved beyond our public volunteer days? Learn about the Long Term Volunteers (LTVs) making a difference in parks across the Monterey district!

  • Asilomar Greenhouse Volunteers - Take care of native plants in the Asilomar Greenhouse or assist with other tasks around the dunes and conference grounds.

  • Point Lobos Native Plant Patrol - Join forces to tackle invasive weeds in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

  • Garrapata Gatekeepers - Volunteers adopt a trailhead at Garrapata State Park  

  • The Snowy Plover Guardian Program - Public outreach about nesting shore birds (training begins in March)

  • Various independent projects - Tackle a project in your favorite park! In addition to the programs listed above, we have teams of volunteers working at Fort Ord Dunes SP, Ishxenta SP, Carmel River SB, and Andrew Molera SP.

Before getting involved as a long-term volunteer (LTV), we first ask people to attend four or five of our public volunteer days and shadow with some experienced LTVs.

Contact Volunteer.Monterey@parks.ca.gov to learn about Long Term Volunteer opportunities with the MDNRVP.

Group Volunteer Events

Bring your group out for a day of volunteering in a state park near you!

Contact us to schedule a volunteer project for your school group, groups of friend or family, youth group, team, club, corporate event, or non-profit!

Special Events

The NRVP hosts several special volunteer events each year, including:

Visit our Upcoming Volunteer Events page to learn about upcoming special events!

 

 

Upcoming Special Events

Special Event - Pride in Our Parks! 

Saturday, July 26th, 9 AM — 12 PM

w/ Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations, CA State Parks Foundation & State Parks NR Team

Meeting location: Fort Ord Dunes State Park main parking lot (end of 8th Street in Marina)

Project: Join us for a morning of community building and volunteer fun in the dunes with Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations! LGBTQ2IA+ individuals, families, and allies are invited to help restore native dune habitat. This month, we'll be pulling invasive mustard north of the main parking lot. Breakfast burritos and coffee provided!

Please register online at: calparks.org/volunteer.

The Natural Resources Volunteer Program frequently holds special events in addition to our regularly scheduled volunteer projects.

Check back here for the latest information! 
 

Contact Volunteer.Monterey@parks.ca.gov for more info

WEEKLY & MONTHLY WORK PROJECT SCHEDULE

Each month we hold several natural resource volunteer event days in our lovely Monterey State Parks. Come by yourself or with friends and family!

Visit our event page to see this month's schedule.

RSVP for State Parks Natural Resource projects email: Volunteer.Monterey@parks.ca.gov 

Register for California State Parks Foundation co-sponsored projects at: www.calparks.org/volunteer

NOTE: Poor air quality from wildfires, or inclement weather due to heavy rain or high winds will cancel work days. Social distancing protocols are required.

BE SURE TO RSVP AND EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS!

MONTHLY VOLUNTEER PROJECTS:

  • Every Friday: ASILOMAR STATE BEACH | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resources Team
    Meeting location: Location varies. Contact phoenix.judd@parks.ca.gov for more information
    Project:     This is a WEEKLY program where we work in the greenhouse, collect seed, plant native plants, remove invasive plants, and more! Project and meeting location will vary week by week.
  • 2nd Thursday: PFEIFFER BIG SUR AND ANDREW MOLERA STATE PARKS | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resources Team
    Meeting location: Meeting location varies. Please visit our volunteer event page for the latest information.
    Project:  Once a month, we volunteer at either Andrew Molera or Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Activities may include weeding invasive plants, habitat restoration, collecting litter, and more!
  • 2nd Saturday: CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACH| 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resources Team
    Meeting location:     Southern Carmel River State Beach, at the intersection of Ribera Rd. & Cuesta Way. Please visit our volunteer event page for the latest information.
    Project: Join us for a volutneer day at beautiful Carmel River State Beach. Activities may include weeding invasive plants, habitat restoration, collecting litter, and more! *Friendly reminder*: Restrooms are not easily accessible from this meeting location.
  • 2nd Monday: Broom Bash - ISHXENTA STATE PARK | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resources Team
    Be part of one of our longest running volunteer projects! Join us at Ishxenta State Park for a morning of pulling invasive French Broom from the beautiful Monterey Pine Forest. Volunteers must be comfortable walking and working in difficult terrain, off-trail, and in areas with poison oak, steep slopes, and ticks. RSVP to Volunteer.Monterey@parks.ca.gov. Meet at this pullout along HWY 1 to catch the shuttle to the project location. *Friendly reminder*: Restrooms are not easily accessible from this meeting location. Please visit our volunteer event page for the latest information.
  • 3rd Wednesday: POINT LOBOS STATE NATURAL RESERVE | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ State Parks Natural Resources Team
    Meeting location: Check in with the front Kiosk for this month's meeting location. Please visit our volunteer event page for the latest information.
    Project: Join us for a volutneer day at iconic Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Activities may include weeding invasive plants, habitat restoration, collecting litter, and more!

  • 3rd Saturday: FORT ORD DUNES STATE PARK | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ CA State Parks Foundation & State Parks Natural Resources Team 
    Meeting location:     Fort Ord Dunes State Park main parking lot (end of 8th Street in Marina)     Please visit our volunteer event page for the latest information.
    Project:         Join us for a morning of invasive plant removal to improve habitat for the endangered Smith's Blue Butterfly and other park inhabitatnts!
  • 3rd Sunday: CNPS Broom Bash - ISHXENTA STATE PARK | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ CNPS Monterey Bay & State Parks Natural Resources Team 
    Be part of one of our longest running volunteer projects! Join us at Ishxenta State Park for a morning of pulling invasive French Broom from the beautiful Monterey Pine Forest. Volunteers must be comfortable walking and working in difficult terrain, off-trail, and in areas with poison oak, steep slopes, and ticks. Meet at this pullout along HWY 1 to catch the shuttle to the project location. *Friendly reminder*: Restrooms are not easily accessible from this meeting location. Please visit our volunteer event page for the latest information. RSVP to montereycnpsstewardship@gmail.com
  • 4th Tuesday: GARRAPATA STATE PARK | 9 AM — 12 PM w/ CA State Parks Foundation & State Parks Natural Resources Team 
    Meeting location: Please visit our volunteer event page for the latest information.
    Project: Volunteer with a view! Join us as we tackle invasive weeds along the scenic Garrapata bluffs. In the fall and winter we'll focus on planting native plants to improve habitat for the endangered Smith's Blue Butteryfly and other park residents.

Thank you to all the hardworking volunteers who join us each month. Together, we accomplish so much!

Follow us on Instagram: @Monterey_natresource_volunteer

Sign up for our monthly volunteer newsletter to see program highlights and stay up to date on upcoming events!

 

Snowy Plover Guardian Program

The Snowy Plover Guargian Program Logo. An adult plover and a plover chick pose in front of a yellow circle.

The Snowy Plover Guardian Program is currently recruiting interested volunteers to join us for the breeding season (March-September)! Online training will be announced soon.
 
Contact us to get involved: ploverguardians.monterey@parks.ca.gov

California State Parks and the Monterey Audubon Society are excited to announce the return of our Plover Guardian Program!

The goal of program is to encourage public stewardship of coastal ecosystems and to promote responsible recreation practices that protect native species, especially the Western Snowy Plover, a Federally Threatened shore bird that nests and overwinters on our beaches. Join our team of beach-roaming Plover Guardians and make a difference for this special habitat. 
To learn more about the Western Snowy Plover, visit the Monterey Audubon website.
For more information, or to get involved, please contact us at: ploverguardians.monterey@parks.ca.gov