Volunteer

Making a difference in Tampa Bay

We couldn’t accomplish any of our restoration or education goals without the help of our active volunteer base! Volunteers of all ages from children to retirees help in habitat restoration projects, lend a hand at our annual fundraisers, and represent our organization at community events to increase awareness. On an annual basis, approximately 2,000 volunteers from corporate groups, families, individuals, and more help us accomplish our mission.

Restoration Volunteer

Oyster Reef Ball Construction

Oyster Reef Ball Installation

Oyster Shell Recycling

Native Plantings

Coastal Cleanups

Fishing Line Recycling & Cleaning

& More!

Upcoming Projects →

Outreach Volunteer

Community Events

Corporate Fairs

Festivals & Concerts

& More!

Discovery Center Volunteer

Enhance visitor experiences

Educate visitors at our touch tank

Interact with animals

Support special events

& More!

Learn More →

Group Volunteers

Corporate Team Building

Group Community Service

& More!

Upcoming projects

Oyster Shell Recycling

We are seeking the help of a few tenacious volunteers to support our Shells for Shorelines program to assist in collecting oyster shell donations from our partner restaurants on a weekly basis. Duties include picking up the shell, dropping them off at the curing pad, and delivering clean buckets to the restaurants. Volunteers should have the ability to lift 35 lbs, a personal vehicle capable of carrying up to ten 5-gallon buckets, and comfortable with Florida flora and fauna typically associated with decomposition of organic matter.

A required training is offered on Fridays at 8 AM by riding along with our staff on their route meeting in Tierra Verde.

Adopt A Monotube

Help us keep fishing line out of Tampa Bay!
Tampa Bay Watch partners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in their statewide initiative to recycle used fishing line through a network of monofilament collection tubes called “monotubes”. Monofilament or “mono”, is another term for the commonly used plastic fishing line which has great fishing utility, but takes over 600 years to break down. Improperly discarded line can end up in our local ecosystems and may result in wildlife entanglement, accidental hooks, and ingestion.

Adoption involves checking your designated location once a month to empty its contents and clean/prep the collected line for recycling. We are asking that volunteers commit a minimum of one year for any chosen site.

Contact Rachel Arndt with questions about volunteering at Tampa Bay Watch: [email protected]

Volunteer FAQ's

Where does Tampa Bay Watch get volunteers?

Tampa Bay Watch recruits individual community members, corporate groups, school groups, scout groups, local clubs and others to accomplish restoration projects. 2,895 volunteers participated with us in 2022.

How can I get involved?

Interested volunteers should reference our scheduled projects and register to receive our weekly e-newsletter to get first notices of upcoming opportunities.

Is there an age requirement to volunteer?

The majority of our habitat restoration projects are open to volunteers of all ages with the exception of oyster reef ball construction and installation since it is very heavy work. The minimum age for this project is 16 years old. If you have a question about a project, please contact our volunteer coordinator.

Where do your projects take place?

Although Tampa Bay Watch’s headquarters are located in Tierra Verde, habitat restoration projects take place in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Manatee Counties.

When do your projects take place?

Our projects are on a scheduled basis as they are dependent on funding, permitting, tides, and partnerships. The majority of our projects take place during the work week, Monday through Friday, and take place from 9 AM – 12 PM. We average one project per month on a Saturday morning. Spring and fall are the busiest time of year for habitat restoration projects due to the weather and tides being optimal. We do not have many projects over summer due to the heat and our focus lies with providing camps for children.

How can my company become involved?

Please contact the volunteer coordinator to recommend a project for your group.

Why should I become involved with Tampa Bay Watch?

It’s an opportunity to participate in local habitat restoration while also building ties within the community and working with others who are dedicated to restoring Tampa Bay.

Volunteer Event Calendar

	May 2025
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
			1 Reef Ball Installation Reef Ball Installation May 1, 2025 9:00 am - 2:00 pm MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL 33621, USA Be a part of our longest-term restoration project! The goal is to stabilize the eroding shoreline, provide hard bottom habitats for fish and wildlife resources and promote water quality improvements in the Tampa Bay ecosystem. The minimum age to participate is 16 years old as this is a heavy project as reef balls weigh 200 pounds each. Two people share the weight of each reef ball at a time to install it on the shoreline. Learn more about living shorelines. The deadline to register is 4/23 at 9 AM to allow time for base security clearance. Register to volunteer! See more details •	2 Reef Ball Installation Reef Ball Installation May 2, 2025 9:00 am - 2:00 pm MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL 33621, USA Be a part of our longest-term restoration project! The goal is to stabilize the eroding shoreline, provide hard bottom habitats for fish and wildlife resources and promote water quality improvements in the Tampa Bay ecosystem. The minimum age to participate is 16 years old as this is a heavy project as reef balls weigh 200 pounds each. Two people share the weight of each reef ball at a time to install it on the shoreline. Learn more about living shorelines. The deadline to register is 4/23 at 9 AM to allow time for base security clearance. Register to volunteer! See more details •	3	4
5	6 Oyster Reef Ball Construction Oyster Reef Ball Construction May 6, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting 20-30 volunteers to build oyster reef balls at Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. The minimum age to participate is sixteen years old since this is a physical project which requires bending, stooping, and some heavy lifting. Click here to register to volunteer. See more details •	7 Mono Clean-a-thon Mono Clean-a-thon May 7, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA We'll be cleaning "mono" or fishing line which involves sorting through the line to remove debris, then cutting out hooks and lures. The clean line will be contributed to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) statewide initiative for proper recycling and repurposing of used fishing line. Register to volunteer! See more details •	8 Oyster Reef Ball Construction Oyster Reef Ball Construction May 8, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting 20-30 volunteers to build oyster reef balls at Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. The minimum age to participate is sixteen years old since this is a physical project which requires bending, stooping, and some heavy lifting. Click here to register to volunteer. See more details •	9	10	11
12	13 Oyster Reef Ball Construction Oyster Reef Ball Construction May 13, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting 20-30 volunteers to build oyster reef balls at Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. The minimum age to participate is sixteen years old since this is a physical project which requires bending, stooping, and some heavy lifting. Click here to register to volunteer. See more details •	14	15 Reef Ball Installation Reef Ball Installation May 15, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Williams Park Boat Ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41 S, Riverview, FL 33578, USA Join us at the Fred Crabill Fantasy Island Project! The project honors CCA Florida Life Legacy member and conservationist Fred Crabill and will create oyster reef habitat in an effort to increase biodiversity, reduce erosion and improve water quality in Tampa Bay. This project marks a significant step forward in enhancing the area’s shoreline resilience and protecting vital fish habitats. The minimum age to participate is 16 years old as this is a heavy project as reef balls weigh 200 pounds each. Two people share the weight of each reef ball at a time to install it on the shoreline. Learn more about living shorelines. Register to volunteer! See more details •	16 Reef Ball Installation Reef Ball Installation May 16, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Williams Park Boat Ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41 S, Riverview, FL 33578, USA Join us at the Fred Crabill Fantasy Island Project! The project honors CCA Florida Life Legacy member and conservationist Fred Crabill and will create oyster reef habitat in an effort to increase biodiversity, reduce erosion and improve water quality in Tampa Bay. This project marks a significant step forward in enhancing the area’s shoreline resilience and protecting vital fish habitats. The minimum age to participate is 16 years old as this is a heavy project as reef balls weigh 200 pounds each. Two people share the weight of each reef ball at a time to install it on the shoreline. Learn more about living shorelines. Register to volunteer! See more details •	17	18
19	20	21 Oyster Reef Ball Construction Oyster Reef Ball Construction May 21, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting 20-30 volunteers to build oyster reef balls at Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. The minimum age to participate is sixteen years old since this is a physical project which requires bending, stooping, and some heavy lifting. Click here to register to volunteer. See more details •	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

Volunteer

Making a difference in Tampa Bay

Upcoming projects

Oyster Shell Recycling

Adopt A Monotube

Volunteer FAQ's

Volunteer Event Calendar

May 2025

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