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: 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

	December 2024
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
						1 TBW at Shopapalooza TBW at Shopapalooza November 30, 2024 10:00 am - December 1, 2024 5:00 pm Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA Tampa Bay Watch will be a nonprofit vendor at Shopapalooza at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Pete, a community festival with 350+ local makers and small businesses. See more details •
2	3 Oyster Reef Ball Construction Oyster Reef Ball Construction December 3, 2024 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 •	4	5 Oyster Reef Ball Construction Oyster Reef Ball Construction December 5, 2024 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. This project is full, thank you for your support! See more details •	6	7	8
9	10	11 CANCELLED: Fantasy Island Living Shoreline Project: In Memory of Fred Crabill CANCELLED: Fantasy Island Living Shoreline Project: In Memory of Fred Crabill December 11, 2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Williams Park Boat Ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41 S, Riverview, FL 33578, USA THIS PROJECT DATE HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to create a living shoreline at Fantasy Island. The project meeting location is Williams Park boat ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41, Riverview, FL. The project will involve the installation of oyster shell bars and oyster reef balls. The goal is restoring lost habitat systems to the bay, prevent further erosion of the shoreline and improve water quality through natural biological filtration. See more details •	12 Fantasy Island Living Shoreline Project: In Memory of Fred Crabill Fantasy Island Living Shoreline Project: In Memory of Fred Crabill December 12, 2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Williams Park Boat Ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41 S, Riverview, FL 33578, USA Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to create a living shoreline at Fantasy Island. The project meeting location is Williams Park boat ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41, Riverview, FL. The project will involve the installation of oyster shell bars and oyster reef balls. The goal is restoring lost habitat systems to the bay, prevent further erosion of the shoreline and improve water quality through natural biological filtration. Click here to register to volunteer. See more details •	13 Fantasy Island Living Shoreline Project: In Memory of Fred Crabill Fantasy Island Living Shoreline Project: In Memory of Fred Crabill December 13, 2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Williams Park Boat Ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41 S, Riverview, FL 33578, USA Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to create a living shoreline at Fantasy Island. The project meeting location is Williams Park boat ramp, 9425 US Hwy 41, Riverview, FL. The project will involve the installation of oyster shell bars and oyster reef balls. The goal is restoring lost habitat systems to the bay, prevent further erosion of the shoreline and improve water quality through natural biological filtration. Click here to register to volunteer. See more details •	14	15
16	17 Mono Clean-a-thon Mono Clean-a-thon December 17, 2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715, USA Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers for a "Mono Clean-a-thon" at Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. 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 Commissions (FWC) statewide initiative for proper recycling and repurposing of used fishing line. Click here to register to volunteer. See more details •	18	19	20	21	22 FL Holiday Distance Classic FL Holiday Distance Classic December 22, 2024 7:00 am - 10:00 am Seminole City Park, 7464 Ridge Rd, Seminole, FL 33772, USA We're the proud charity partner of Florida Road Races for the third year in a row! It's our role to help recruit volunteers for their races. In return, a portion of proceeds benefit the mission of TBW. The final event of 2024 is the Florida Holiday Distance Classic. Volunteers are needed to pass out race packets prior to the event, set up, and more. Click here to see the available shifts. See more details •
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Volunteer

Making a difference in Tampa Bay

Upcoming projects

Oyster Shell Recycling

Adopt A Monotube

Volunteer FAQ's

Volunteer Event Calendar

December 2024

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