Citizens Working Together for a Healthy Coast

There are a variety of interesting ways in which you can
directly or indirectly help in protecting our coast. Volunteers enable the NCCF to maximize our restoration and protection efforts and keep administrative costs low.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES EVENT CALENDAR

Here are some ways in which you can participate:

ISSUES & PROGRAMS

• COASTKEEPERS^® : Help our COASTKEEPERS^® monitor our coastal waters.
• Lobbying: Be an advocate for the Coast. Help us be heard! Attend critical meetings and be an active voice in protecting our coastal waters. Sign up for our Coastal Action Alert Network (CAAN) and you will be notified by email of issues that need public support. NOTE: You need to be a member of NCCF to receive alerts. Click here for membership application.

OFFICE SUPPORT

• Reception Desk: 9am to 1pm, or 1pm to 4pm Monday through Friday. Volunteers answer and transfer phone calls, help with routine office tasks and greet the public.
• Mailings: Volunteers help fold, stuff, and label bulk mailings and the quarterly newsletter. These volunteers can work as often or infrequently as they like.
• Newsletter Delivery: Use your car to deliver quantities of the quarterly newsletter to central coastal area visitors' centers, libraries, restaurants, etc.

LANDSCAPING and MAINTENANCE SUPPORT

• Gardening: Maintain NCCF headquarters landscaping.

• Native Plant Sale: Help with NCCF's annual Native Plant Sale - Earth Day weekend.

• Carpentry: Help with NCCF carpentry needs.

• Maintenance:  Help maintain headquarters building.

RESTORATION & HABITAT PROTECTION

• Shoreline Restoration: Plant native vegetation and restore marshes at our "Living Shoreline" demonstration projects. Plantings are scheduled in the spring and early summer at various locations along the coast.
• Oyster Restoration: Volunteers can help bag oyster cultch, relay oyster bags, seed oyster reefs and monitor established reefs. Oyster Restoration events occur along the coast throughout the year.
• Oyster Shell Recycling: Volunteers will load and transport recycled oyster shell from designated locations (restaurants, festivals, etc.) to shell stockpile areas. These shells will later be used in Oyster Restoration projects.

Restoration days are dependent on the weather, tides and the completion of site preparation. Therefore, we alert volunteers to upcoming projects and call with specific assignments 3 to 5 days in advance.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN-UP

• Hoop Pole Clean-Up: Volunteers and NCCF staff, pick-up trash, trim brush and maintain the nature trail at Hoop Pole Creek in Atlantic Beach. This event is the first Saturday in March.
• Big Sweep: The major coastal cleanup is an ideal opportunity for scout troops and outdoor clubs to lend a hand. The North Carolina Big Sweep clean-up events occur during the month of October.

NATURE TRAILS

• Trail Maintenance: Clear brush and perform general maintenance on the Hoop Pole (Atlantic Beach) and Patsy Pond Nature Trail (Ocean).
• Trail & Property Stewards: Help NCCF monitor the Hoop Pole and Patsy Pond Nature Trails and other NCCF coastal properties. Volunteers are asked to walk these areas once a month to help monitor for maintenance needs and keep information brochures stocked.

FESTIVAL & EVENT STAFFING

• NC Seafood Festival in Morehead City
• Special Meetings and Events

At all of these events, the NCCF depends on volunteers to help with greeting the public, merchandise sales, set-up and pack-up.

Have something in mind that isn't listed here?

Let us know and we may be able to use your special skills and interests. Please take a few minutes to complete the Volunteer Questionnaire or contact:

Rachael Carlyle
Director of Operations
Phone: 252-393-8185 or 800-232-6210
Fax: 252-393-7508