Volunteer Opportunities

Phytoplankton monitors needed

The Phytoplankton Monitoring Network will host a training/refresher workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010, at the Waddell Mariculture Center in Bluffton.

Anyone interested in taking water samples from local waterways and identifying and counting the microscopic life found there can join the volunteer network. The sampling data is used to warn of dangerous harmful algal blooms and to monitor the health of rivers, marshes and the ocean.

The workshop agenda is:

10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: NOAA PMN Presentation
10:50 a.m. – 11a.m.: Short break
11:05 a.m. – noon: Phytoplankton identification using light microscopy

For more information, contact Matt Brim, Atlantic Coordinator, at (843) 762-8656 or by e-mail at
matt.brim@noaa.gov

The following organizations seek volunteers to help them with their missions in the community.

Beaufort County Open Land Trust

· St. Helena Community Garden Project

· Widgeon Point - Watch for announcements as this project moves forward. Volunteers are needed to help deconstruct old infrastructure and then install new infrastructure.
· Contact development director Katherine Royal, 521-2175

Coastal Discovery Museum - Hilton Head

The Coastal Discovery Museum offers programs, activities, and exhibits year-round with both indoor and outdoor exhibits and 11 different tours and cruises about Hilton Head and other sea islands. Many of their volunteer projects require a Docent Training which occurs in January or February.
Those interested in this upcoming session should contact the V.P. of Programs Natalie Hefter
(843) 689-3033 ext. 225

· School Programs - Topics relating to the cultural and natural history of the Low Country - Ages vary from pre-kindergarten to high school (most often elementary aged students) - contact: Amy Tressler
(843) 689-3033, ext. 228

· Walks, Tours and Cruises - The museum offers a wide variety of programs for the general public (tourists and residents of all ages) - These include: beach walks, Pinckney Island Tours, Birding walks, Salt Marsh Discovery, Dolphin and Nature cruise, and a complement of history talks/walks. Contact: Carlos Chacon (843) 689-3033, ext. 226

· Phytoplankton Monitoring - Twice a month, volunteers do testing and monitoring of the phytoplankton in Jarvis Creek. Contact: Amy Tressler, (843) 689-3033, ext. 228

· General Grounds/Marsh/Signage Care - Throughout the year, we look for groups or individuals to do a 'clean sweep' of the property making sure signage is in place, branches aren't down, marsh isn't littered with garbage. Watch for announcements of these projects.

Hilton Head Audubon Society - Hilton Head

Operating without an Audubon "office" or Audubon Center, they oversee the 50 acre Newhall preserve, help with the Pinckney Wildlife Refuge as well as the Savannah Wildlife Refuge and provide education to school children with field trips and in-class presentations. Members receive a monthly newsletter with numerous field trip opportunities.

· Pinckney Wildlife Refuge - To learn more about volunteer opportunities contact Clem Dietz at (843) 837-2612
· Newhall Preserve - To learn more about volunteer opportunities contact Joan Schulman (843) 842-9246
· Education in Schools - To learn more about volunteer opportunities contact Mary Jane Major (843) 342-5804
· Hilton Head Audubon Society - Hilton Head

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

The SNWR has a recently opened Visitors' Center and is also in the process of conducting invasive species management ("Battle Against Invasives") with a team of volunteers.
· Contact Refuge Ranger Amy Ochoa for more information or call 912-652-4415.
· Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges also has a regularly scheduled work day every Thursday at 9AM at the Visitors' Center
· Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Lowcountry Estuarium - Port Royal, SC

The 7-year old Estuarium provides learning and a sense of stewardship for the marshes, creeks, rivers and sounds that make-up the unique Port Royal Sound estuarine system.

The Lowcountry Estuarium - A Coastal Learning Center has recently expanded and renovated its facility in Port Royal and is now open to the public Wednesday thru Saturday. Our long term goal is a state-of-the-art facility on the shores of Battery Creek. Not only are we are looking to fill the usual volunteer positions, we are in need of those with the special skill sets and dedication to help carry us to our ultimate goal. Contact Bob
Bender for information on all volunteer opportunities (843) 524-6600 or Bob Bender

· In-House Docents
· School Classroom and Field Program Presenters
· Membership/Volunteer Coordinator
· Fundraising Events Planner
· Corporate and Business Sponsorship Recruiter
· Communications Specialist - Quarterly

Newsletter and Public Relations
· Long-range Planning and Capital Campaign
· Excel Accounting Skills
· Service on the Board of Directors

Blue Heron Nature Center - Ridgeland, SC

Constructed in 2000, the 4,200 square foot log cabin Nature Center sits on 10 acres of green space. The Center also boasts a ½ mile nature trail featuring native plants and wildlife, a butterfly garden, a 65 seat outdoor classroom, an indoor classroom that can accommodate 90 people, and an exhibit room displaying local wildlife and historical and cultural resources.

· Nature Center Volunteers - Contact the center at (843) 726-7611 or Contact the center
· Blue Heron Nature Center

Waddell Mariculture Center - Bluffton, SC

This fisheries research facility is part of DNR's Marine Division and isresponsible for red drum and cobia stocking programs. Must complete orientation. Contact for all volunteer opportunities is Friends of Waddell at (843) 837-3795 ext. 121 (Dave Harter or Al Stokes).
· Tour Guide - Offers the public and groups a tour of the facility providing overview of mission and function of the Center. Tours are on Tuesdays.
· Clerical Volunteers - Assist with mailings, direct calls and organize tour schedules.
· Public Speaker - To make presentations to community groups, schools and clubs.
· Waddell's Hatchery and Shrimp - Assist staff with many aspects of operation including feeding, checking water quality, cleaning and harvesting. Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
· Waddell's Physical Plant - Assist staff with many aspects of operation including grounds, maintenance, construction and repairs.

Hunting Island State Park - Hunting Island, SC

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available at the park, including beach cleanups, educational programs, and maintenance of projects.
· Nature programs - Lead a seminar in an area of interest for you (birding, wildflowers, fishing, etc.), help out with daily programs led by rangers, or volunteer with school programs. Contact Mitch Helms
Interpretive Ranger at 843-838-7437
· Turtle program - Karen Whitehead or 838-7627
· Nature Center docents - Neville Patterson, 838-9966
· Litter Control - Vicki Ann Nestor, or 379-3389
· Trails - Tom Valentino or 843-379-4895
· Hunting Island State Park

Friends of the Rivers

Dedicated to preserving water quality in the Port Royal Sound system.
· Kids in Kayaks - Contact Susan Dee, Susan Dee
· River Cleanups - TBA

S.C.O.R.E

SCDNR program to restore oyster reefs. Contact SCORE or call (843) 953-9241.

IF YOU KNOW OF OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD BE ADDED TO THIS LIST, CONTACT: Robert@RiverSmart.com

Coastal Discovery Museum seeks voluneers

The Coastal Discovery Museum is hosting its annual Docent and Volunteer Training in January and February, 2011. New volunteers are encouraged to attend all six sessions of the training to learn about Lowcountry’s natural history and cultural heritage.

The Coastal Discovery Museum has an active corps of around 140 volunteers who assist the Museum in a variety of capacities. Chances are, if you’ve visited the Museum, participated in a guided tour, or attended a special event at Honey Horn, you’ve met one of our volunteers.

The Museum is seeking new volunteers to: lead history walks/talks, lead natural history walks/talks, assist with school field trip experiences, work at the gift store/front desk, care for the Heritage and Butterfly Gardens and more.

To sign up to join these training sessions, please contact the Museum at 843-689-6767.

Training session will be held on six consecutive weeks – from 2-3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays: January 18 and 25 and February 1, 8, 15, and 22. Most training sessions will be held at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn.

You can find out more about the Coastal Discovery Museum’s programs and offerings by visiting our website at www.coastaldiscovery.org.

Savannah Wildlife Refuge needs workday volunteers each Thursday

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge has started a weekly volunteer work day program at the new Savannah Visitor Center On U.S. 17 near Hardeeville. Anyone who wants to become a volunteer can come from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays. Volunteers can stay one hour or the whole time.

Projects include basic grounds, building and trail maintenance. Some inside opportunities like filing and organizing are also available.

For more information, contact Supervisory Refuge Ranger Monica M. Harris at (843) 784-9911 ext. 103.

Volunteers needed to monitor marine debris

SC Sea Grant, in partnership with COSEE SE, the SC Aquarium, SC DHEC-OCRM, Charleston Water Keepers, North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are seeking Beaufort-area volunteers to be trained and serve as “spotters” of marine debris in local waterways. Volunteers are being recruited to spot, record and report large marine debris in the waterways stretching from St. Helena Sound to Port Royal Sound.

Volunteers will be trained on the use of GPS units and using standardized forms, how to accurately record and report areas with large marine debris as well as any habitat and navigational impacts. This information will then be reported to SCDHEC-OCRM, compiled on a live, web-based database and used to help prioritize removal efforts of these marine debris items. Individuals with their own power boats or kayaks are encouraged to become trained and volunteer.

The Beaufort training will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 1, 2010, at the Beaufort County Clemson Extension Service office.

For more information and/or to register, contact Amber Von Harten at ambervh@clemson.edu or (843) 255-6060, ext. 112.

Help battle invasive plant species at refuges

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the follow appeal for volunteers to help combat invasive plant species at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge:

The Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex is taking on a more proactive approach to dealing with exotic, invasive species, and we need the help of our volunteers and Friends Group. Our location next to one of the busiest ports along the East Coast makes the refuges within our complex prime candidates for the establishment of exotic, invasive species. The best approach to dealing with this menace is through early detection and then employing a rapid response to prevent the pest from becoming established.

Recently, the complex received a grant designed to involve volunteers and Friends Groups in the development and implementation of an Early Detection/Rapid Response approach to invasive species. Since we do not have such a program in place, the possibilities for involvement are many; including, but not limit to determining the best direction for the program, producing educational and outreach materials, and implementing control methods.

Contact Refuge Ranger Amy Ochoa, either by e-mail or phone, for more information.

amy_ochoa@fws.gov
843-784-9911, ext. 111

Help with the Gulf oil spill

If your group has an upcoming event that needs volunteers or that can provide an opportunity for people who would like to volunteer, contact River Smart Director Robert Holquist at robert@riversmart.com or call (843) 263-7477 and we will promote the event on riversmart.com.

Visit the Deepwater Horizon response official website here.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, call the Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Request Line at 1-866-448-5816 or visit the Web sites below.

State specific volunteer opportunities:

* Louisiana: http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
* Mississippi: http://www.volunteermississippi.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do
* Florida: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
* Alabama: http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx

Volunteer Hotlines:

* Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information:
(866)-448-5816
* Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system:
(281) 366-5511

Visit the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana here.

Mobile Baykeepers has a website here with volunteer opportunities.

The National Audubon Society has an oil spill page here with volunteer opportunities.

The Oceana website lists numerous ways you can help here.