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.
Oyster Reef Ball Construction
Oyster Reef Ball Installation
Oyster Shell Recycling
Native Plantings
Coastal Cleanups
Fishing Line Recycling & Cleaning
& More!
Community Events
Corporate Fairs
Festivals & Concerts
& More!
Enhance visitor experiences
Educate visitors at our touch tank
Interact with animals
Support special events
& More!
Corporate Team Building
Group Community Service
& More!
Do you know a high school student, 15 years of age or older, who needs service hours? Tampa Bay Watch is offering an opportunity to earn community service hours this summer.
Teens will assist with native plantings, oyster shell recycling, cleaning fishing line, and coastal cleanups. Interested students should email Rachel at rarndt@tampabaywatch.org with the dates they’d like to participate and a cell phone number. Students can come to any or all of the dates: June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1, July 12 Coastal Cleanup, July 19 Ghost Trap Rodeo, July 22 & July 29.
Attention Tampa Bay Anglers, Boaters, Paddlers and Shoreline Walkers!
The Ghost Trap Rodeo Tournament Series is returning to Tampa Bay!
It's just like your favorite inshore sight-fishing tourney, but instead of snook and redfish, after your 4-hour search, we'll be weighing in collected derelict crab traps, plastics and other forms of marine debris. It's all for a great cause - and with thousands in industry prizes for top collectors at each tournament event - let the friendly competition begin! Put together a team and bring your boat or come and help us clean up the shoreline!
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.
Contact Rachel Arndt with questions about volunteering at Tampa Bay Watch: rarndt@tampabaywatch.org
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.
Interested volunteers should reference our scheduled projects and register to receive our weekly e-newsletter to get first notices of upcoming opportunities.
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.
Although Tampa Bay Watch’s headquarters are located in Tierra Verde, habitat restoration projects take place in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Manatee Counties.
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.
Please contact the volunteer coordinator to recommend a project for your group.
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.
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