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. Still have questions? Click here!
If you would like to volunteer with a group, please contact Rachel Arndt directly at rarndt@tampabaywatch.org
Upcoming events:
Volunteer to Recycle Oyster Shell

Oyster Reef Ball Construction
Specified weekday mornings from 9 AM – 12 PM

Living Shoreline Project at Abercrombie Park
Register to volunteer by clicking a date below:

Oyster Shell Project at MacDill Air Force Base
Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to create an oyster reef on the shoreline of MacDill Air Force Base. The deadline for volunteer registration is one week prior to the project to allow time for security clearance, so you’ll be pre-approved for entry. Your driver’s license information is required for MacDill to perform the clearance.
The project involves shoveling fossilized shell into mesh bags and placing them on the shoreline to create a series of oyster bars. This project is an effort to restore lost habitat systems to the bay, prevent further erosion of the shoreline and improve water quality through natural biological filtration.
Click here to read more about the project and/or watch a video of a past oyster shell project.
Register to volunteer by clicking a date below:

Mono Clean-a-thon
9 am – 12 noon

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. Let’s keep fishing line out of our waterways!
Pinellas County:
Ready to adopt? Fill out this form to request a site location. https://arcg.is/


Be the face of Tampa Bay Watch!
Are you a people person? Be the face of Tampa Bay Watch by becoming an outreach volunteer! We regularly seek volunteers to represent our organization at community events, corporate fairs, and concerts with a goal to increase awareness of our mission. As an outreach volunteer, you’ll talk to people who approach our display to learn all about us and encourage them to sign up to receive the Tampa Bay Watch weekly newsletter. We’ll provide you with our display and handouts to effectively discuss programs. Volunteers are responsible for transporting the display and materials to and from Tampa Bay Watch. Email Rachel at rarndt@tampabaywatch.org if you’re interested in representing us at community events.

Volunteer at the Discovery Center
Our Discovery Center on the St. Pete Pier is currently recruiting volunteers ages 16 and over to engage visitors in conversation about the creatures on display, the local ecosystem, and Tampa Bay Watch’s work. You will be an important advocate for our programs and the bay! There is no special experience or knowledge required, we will provide a training guide and you will be invited to shadow an experienced person before you begin. Volunteers should be available to attend a regularly scheduled half-day shift at least once a week. Please complete the volunteer application if you’re interested in volunteering.
Contact Rachel Arndt with questions about volunteering at Tampa Bay Watch: