There are many ways to help protect the coast by volunteering with Surfrider! The easiest way to get started is by attending a beach cleanup (typically the 4th Saturday of each month) and/or one of our general chapter meetings (typically the 1st Tuesday of each month). Click Here to see our current calendar of events with the specifics on those events and others coming up soon.

Volunteers and Leaders wanted – no experience necessary! At Surfrider, we aim to develop community leaders that can help find innovative ways to run our programs and campaigns. Click on the ‘Active Programs and Campaigns’ tab above for an overview of what we are doing and see below for some of the specific volunteer needs then you can fill out the form at the bottom of the page with your specific interests:

Beach Cleanup Leaders: We average over 100 volunteers at our monthly beach cleanups and need help organizing the events. Duties include setting up, checking in volunteers, passing on cleanup how-to information, checking out volunteers, encouraging them to fill out data cards, etc. Email beachcleanups@ventura.surfrider.org for more info.

Ocean Friendly Garden Specialists: The ‘OFG’ program needs help from novice gardeners to professional landscapers and anyone interested in helping to reduce urban runoff at the source to help keep out ocean clean! There are a variety of activities from planning sessions to work days and social mixers.

Ocean Friendly Restaurants Leaders and Specialists: The ‘OFR’ program needs help identifying restaurants to be certified as Ocean Friendly. Check out the Ocean Friendly Restaurants program page for a great list of volunteer incentives!

Surfer’s Point Stewards: The dune restoration project at Surfer’s Point near the Ventura River is a prime example of adapting to living coastlines rather than building a seawall or other structure. The native plants in the dunes need semi-regular maintenance to make sure they don’t get overgrown or trampled.

Rise Above Plastics Leaders and Specialists: In 2016 the main focus for the ‘RAP’ committee was to help uphold the statewide plastic checkout ban. Now we are looking forward to what we can accomplish next by analyzing beach cleanup data for top littered items on local beaches.

Hold Onto Your Butt Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers are needed to Identify and adopt a “hotspot” (places with high concentrations of cigarette butts) in areas between “C” Street and San Jon: Volunteers would clean up once a month and record data from the spot as well as take photos of the area. This will help our HOTYB Committee determine if an ashcan is justified in the area. If it is not physically possible to install an ashcan, volunteers can clean the area up once a month.  We recycle all butts collected. Volunteers will be asked to focus on hot spots near storm drains, restaurants, bars, tattoo shops, smoke shops, bus stops, etc.
Check out our HOTYB webpage for more information about our Campaign.

To get started, please email volunteercoordinator@ventura.surfrider.org or fill out the form below: