Volunteer Opportunities at DEEP
Environmental Education - Field Facilities
Goodwin Conservation Center: Youth and adult volunteers for gardening, trail maintenance, workshop assistant, and invasive plant control.
Contact: Beth Bernard at the Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton
Phone: 860-455-9534
E-mail: bbernard@ctwoodlands.org
Kellogg Environmental Center - Osborne Homestead Museum
Museum Programs and Projects: Tour Guide; Holiday Tours;
Citizen Science Projects: Project Nest Box; Project Feeder Watch; Monarch Larvae Monitoring Project
Contact: Susan Robinson at the Kellogg Environmental Center, an environmental education center in Derby
Phone: 203-734-2513
E-mail: Susan.D.Robinson@ct.gov
Boating
Adult volunteers needed as instructors in teaching the Safe Boating, Personal Watercraft, and Canoe/Kayak Safety Courses to the general public. The classes will be held at various statewide locations.
Contact: Gwendolynn Flynn at the Boating Division in Old Lyme
Phone: 860-447-4339
E-mail: gwendolynn.flynn@ct.gov
State Parks
Adopt a Park
Volunteers (individuals or groups) can make a long-term commitment to maintain/monitor an area or feature of a state park.
Additional Park Volunteer Opportunities
Youth and adult volunteers are needed for a variety of projects in state parks and forests throughout Connecticut. Projects include: trail maintenance; gardening; grounds maintenance; carpentry; interpretive guides; campground hosts; digital photography; and newsletter writing and more. Some work is available in collaboration with established "Friends" organizations.
Contact: Wanda Torres, State Parks and Public Outreach Division in Hartford
Phone: 860-418-5963
E-mail: wanda.torres@ct.gov
Fisheries
Connecticut Aquatics Resources Education (CARE)
The Fisheries Division is seeking volunteers to join our team of certified Fishing Coaches! FISH with CARE program hosts classes and events all over the state where we teach basic fishing skills to adults, families, and youth. FISH with CARE coaches work with Fisheries staff to educate and engage the public in the outdoors through the sport of fishing. If you are interested in sharing your love and knowledge of fishing while creating the next generation of environmental stewards, consider joining our team of Fishing Coaches!
Contact: Justin Wiggins of the Fisheries Division – Fish with CARE program
Phone: 860-663-1656
Email: justin.wiggins@ct.gov
Marine Fisheries: Volunteer Angler Survey Program
Connecticut Conservation Education/Firearms Safety Program
The Hunter Education Program is seeking volunteers to join the ranks of hunting/trapping safety education instructors. Certified instructors teach basic hunter/trapper safety education courses required to purchase hunting and trapping licenses in Connecticut.
Contact: Tom Donlon, Hunter Education Program Coordinator
Phone: 860-424-3033
Email: Thomas.F.Donlon@ct.gov
Contact: Keith Hoffman, Hunter Education Program Assistant Coordinator
Phone: 860-424-3174
Email: Keith.Hoffman@ct.gov
Wildlife Research Projects
Community Science Projects with the Wildlife Division
iNaturalist Project - Discover Outdoor Connecticut
Master Wildlife Conservationist Program
Water Quality
Adults and supervised youth volunteers are invited to participate in the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program coordinated by the DEEP Monitoring Group.
- The Riffle Bioassessment by Volunteers (RBV) Program is organized each fall from September 1 through November 30. Volunteers are trained to collect and study aquatic macroinvertebrates in order to document high quality streams and rivers in Connecticut. View program details
- The Volunteer Stream Temperature Monitoring (VSTeM) Network trains volunteers to monitor the water temperature of waterbodies in their town or watershed. Monitoring typically occurs year-round, with the majority of field activity occurring in spring (April-May) and fall (September-October). View program details
- The Connecticut Lake Watch Network trains volunteers to monitor lake/pond water clarity using a secchi disk and thermometer. Monitoring ideally occurs weekly from early spring until fall. In addition, volunteers are trained to identify and report algal blooms that could lead unsafe recreation conditions. View program details
- Long Island Sound Water Quality and Hypoxia Monitoring Program - At this time, CT DEEP does not coordinate a formal statewide volunteer coastal monitoring program. However, the Monitoring Group implements an extensive Long Island Sound (LIS) water quality monitoring program and groups currently conducting coastal monitoring are encouraged to submit their data to support this effort. To learn more contact Katie O'Brien-Clayton at katie.obrien-clayton@ct.gov.
Contact : DEEP.VolunteerWaterMonitoring@ct.gov
Content last updated in July 2023.