NORTH BAY
Chaperone Newts
Every winter, tens of thousands of newts cross Chileno Valley Road to breed in Laguna Lake, west of Petaluma—a perilous journey that leaves up to 40 percent of them roadkill. But since 2019, volunteers from the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade have been patrolling the road and scooping up newts to bring them safely to the other side, tracking species and other data as they go. Volunteers patrol evenings from October to mid-March. Details on the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade website.
EAST BAY
Sweep the Broom
Oakland’s 1,833-acre Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is home to magnificent redwood groves, chaparral, and grasslands. Ongoing habitat restoration throughout the park requires clearing invasive species on and off trail. Every month, volunteers gather at different locations in the park to remove invasives such as French broom and acacia so that native plants and animals can thrive. See the schedule here.
SOUTH BAY
Weed with Friends
Located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Teresa County Park offers sweeping views of the Almaden and Santa Clara valleys, rolling grasslands, and 1,155-foot Coyote Peak. Each month, volunteers help maintain and improve the park’s habitats for native species by watering trees and shrubs, weeding, pruning, and picking up litter. Check the website for upcoming volunteer workdays. Sign up here.
PENINSULA
Tidepool Whispering
North of Half Moon Bay, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve protects 180 acres of bluff and rocky intertidal habitat. You can help the astounding array of creatures that call the tidepools home by volunteering with the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Helpers staff the visitor center, lead interpretive tours for school groups, and keep visitors at a safe distance from harbor seals rearing their pups. Register by February 9, 2026.
SAN FRANCISCO
Beach Cleanup
Keeping trash out of the ocean is essential for protecting wildlife from microplastics, entanglement, and pollution. On the last California Coastal Cleanup Day, 148 tons of debris were removed from beaches and waterways. But you don’t have to wait until September to do your part: Join the San Francisco Surfrider Foundation every month at Ocean Beach to pick up trash before it makes its way into the ocean. Participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable gloves. More information on the Surfrider Foundation website.
Sign up today!
BAY AREA-WIDE
Count Colonies
Since 1982, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory has conducted surveys of nesting colonies of waterbirds, such as herons, terns, gulls, and egrets, around the Bay Area. These population counts contribute to a 40-plus-year database of birds, helping to inform local conservation efforts and research. Volunteering is an ongoing commitment, with participation of one or more times a month, January through August. Visit the SFBBO website for more.
FROM ANYWHERE
Fathom the Deep Sea
In Monterey Bay’s underwater canyon—and throughout the ocean—remotely operated vehicles are collecting thousands of hours of video, more than researchers can analyze on their own. They’re hoping to use artificial intelligence to help with this daunting task, but first AI needs to be trained correctly. Inspired by apps like eBird and iNaturalist, a new mobile game created by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute called FathomVerse is bringing community science underwater. In the game, players identify and label images of sea creatures, creating examples that will be used to help train machine learning models. Download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play.
