Our Mission

Tampa Bay Watch is dedicated to fostering a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through community-driven restoration projects, education programs, and outreach initiatives.

Contact

Have questions about Tampa Bay Watch? We can help.

Stay Current

Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on all the latest and greatest information.

Discovery Center

Explore our educational space on the St. Pete Pier, featuring interactive exhibits, daily programs, and a touch tank full of animals from the estuary!

Together, we can bring life to the bay.

It takes a community to make lasting change and protect the future of Tampa Bay’s ecosystem.

Volunteer Calendar

Check out all of our upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Become A Member

Are you passionate about protecting our waterways? Take a stand for Tampa Bay’s future.

Our annual events are designed to educate, entertain, and strengthen the community.

Host an unforgettable occasion at our beautiful waterfront event space.

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. 

VOLUNTEER DETAILS

Upcoming projects

ONGOING VOLUNTEER NEEDS

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: rarndt@tampabaywatch.org

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

October 2024

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
  • Oyster Reef Ball Construction
2
3
  • Living Shoreline Installation
4
  • Living Shoreline Installation
5
6
7
8
  • Outreach Volunteer Training
9
10
11
12
13
  • FL Halloween Distance Classic
14
15
  • Oyster Reef Ball Construction
16
17
18
19
20
21
  • Native Plant Harvest
22
  • Oyster Reef Ball Construction
23
  • Living Shoreline Installation
24
  • Living Shoreline Installation
25
  • Living Shoreline Installation
26
27
28
29
  • Oyster Reef Ball Construction
30
31
  • Mono Clean-a-thon