Volunteer with Environment



Alachua Conservation Trust

Mission: To protect the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources in and around Alachua County, Florida. ACT protects land through purchase, donation, and conservation easements.

Volunteer Opportunities: Land management/preserve monitoring & maintenance, office/clerical, research, grant writing, special events staffing, weekend docenting (at Historic Haile Homestead), short workshop presentations (45 minuted to 1.5 hours) in areas such as NCF botany, entomology, natural history, regional Native American & early European settlement history, etc.

Volunteer Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm; some evening and weekend hours (docenting, periodic special events & workshop presentations)

Contact: Lesa Holder
(352) 373–1078
Info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org
Heather Obara, Community Outreach Coordinator
act.heather@gmail.com

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Alachua County Arboriculture 

Mission: The Arboriculture Division’s primary purpose is to promote the benefits of trees and mitigate canopy loss by implementing the County’s Tree Planting Program.

Volunteer Opportunities: The County Arborist schedules a number of unique opportunities for citizens to engage in their communities and assist with tree planting projects.

Volunteer Hours: Varies​

Contact: Lacy Holtzworth
(352) 548-1266
lholtzworth@alachuacounty.us
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Alachua County Forever Preserve

Mission: Alachua County Forever Preserves help maintain the environmental integrity of Alachua County and provide areas for people to enjoy nature and exercise.

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers opportunities include Preserve Monitors, Special Project Volunteers and Volunteer Workdays​.

Volunteer Hours: Varies​

Contact: 
(352) 264-6868
land@alachuacounty.us
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Alachua County Saving My Alachua Art Contest

Mission: For those who are enthusiasts of both the arts and nature, Saving My Alachua Art Contest is a great way to combine artistic expression while communicating the importance of protecting the environment.

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers assist with various aspects of the contest, from curating artwork, to assisting with organizing the awards ceremony, and drafting content for the calendar.

Volunteer Hours: Volunteer positions begin early February through May or August with flexible hours. ​

Contact: Eliana Bardi
(352) 246-6810
ebardi@alachuacounty.us
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Alachua County Water Resources

Mission: The mission of the Water Resources Volunteer program is to increase outreach opportunities in the community to create a shared water ethic that inspires pollution prevention and water conservation habits.

Volunteer Opportunities: Various

Volunteer Hours: Various

Contact: Hollie Greer, Volunteer Coordinator
(352) 264-6827
hgreeg@alachuacounty.us
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Earthshare

Mission: To engage individuals and organizations in creating a healthy and sustainable environment.

Volunteer Opportunities: As a network of over 500 environmental organizations, the type of volunteer activities our charities can offer is endless! From cleanups, to plantings, to nature walks, our overall goal is to connect our communities with the environmental causes we care most about.

Volunteer Hours: varied

Contact: Visit "Get Involved" section of website
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Florida Defenders of the Environment

Mission: To protect the freshwater resource, conserve public land, restore the Ocklawaha River's connection to the St. John's River which would restore 9,000 of forest and protect 20 springs, restore multiple fish populations as well as protect and benefit Silver River and Silver Springs.

Volunteer Opportunities: Office/clerical work, research and visioning, grant writing, special events staffing, short workshop presentations, GIS and mapping.

Volunteer Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; some evening and weekend hours during events.

Contact:
(352) 475-1119
Tracy@fladefenders.org
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Friends of Cuscowilla

Mission: Our mission is to champion, support and preserve Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center as a nature-based, environmental, and cultural resource for citizens of Alachua County and visitors.

Volunteer Opportunities: Opportunities vary based on our needs and upcoming events. Below are some things volunteers help us with.

Setting up / breaking down events
Check-in / tabling at events
Help run booths / activities at events 
Traffic and Parking coordination
Gardening / Planting
Litter clean-up

Volunteer Hours: varied

Contact: Parker Ross, Community Engagement Coordinator
(703) 585-6241
cuscowillavolunteer@gmail.com 
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Keep Alachua County Beautiful

Mission: As an affiliate to Keep America Beautiful, our mission is to beautify, conserve resources, recycle, educate, and preserve our community's environmental legacy.

Volunteer Opportunities: Litter cleanup and beautification projects throughout Alachua County.

Volunteer Hours: 
Projects can be performed any day of the week, and supplies can be picked up at our office at 211 SW 4th Ave #1 Gainesville, FL 32601.

Contact: 
Gina Hawkins
(352) 371–9444
greatamericancleanup.kacb@gmail.com
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North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc.

Mission: The mission of the North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc. is to deliver the highest quality, values-based youth program of character development and leadership training, based on the precepts embodied in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and to prepare young people to make ethical decisions in order to reach their full potential and to better serve their family, community and country.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Special events (no Scouting experience necessary!):
Program Aid – Cub Scout Day Camp, June 12-16, 2017
Event Staff – Sporting Clays Fundraiser, March 2-3, 2018

Ongoing mentoring (prior experience helpful):
Merit Badge Counselor – Register as a subject matter expert to conduct mentoring sessions at your convenience for 1-5 Scouts on one or more of the topics listed at http://www.scouting.org/meritbadges.aspx.

Register as an Adult Volunteer:
Assist with the program delivery at the meeting location of the elementary age Cub Scouts, middle and high school age Boy Scouts or high school age Venturers (boys & girls ages 14-20). Meetings are held weekly but you can attend when able. Also eligible to participate in weekend campouts and high adventure activities. Prior Scouting experience helpful but not required.

Volunteer Hours: Varied

Contact: Sam Mathis
(321) 482–7406
sam.mathis@scouting.org
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The Repurpose Project

Mission:  The Repurpose Project is a non-profit community based effort to divert useful resources from the landfill, redirect these items to the public for art and education, inspire creativity, and help us all rethink what we throw away.   

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer Opportunities include sorting donated items which are being diverted from landfill, organizing, and creating shoppable spaces in order to further the mission at the store. If volunteers become more involved, they may also be asked to table for the Repurpose Project at community events and local schools. 

Volunteer Hours: Volunteer hours may be arranged Monday-Saturday from 10-4. 

Contact: Heather Eakin
(352) 363-8902
Volunteer@repurposeproject.org
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We Are Neutral

Mission: To help businesses and individuals understand, reduce, and offset their comprehensive carbon footprints, giving them the opportunity to take responsibility for their environmental impact and achieve carbon neutrality. We accomplish this through environmental education as well as hands-on carbon reduction and offset initiatives.

Volunteer Opportunities:  Carbon reduction efforts, urban tree plantings, energy upgrades for low-income families, invasive species removals, vehicle fuel efficiency tune-ups, community clean-ups, landfill diversion, urban agriculture, and massive amounts of environmental education. 

Volunteer Hours: Varied. Most volunteer opportunities will be on the weekends.

Contact: Hannah Nistler, Administrative Assistant
(352) 580-0441
hannah@weareneutral.com
https://www.weareneutral.com/