FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING FOR COA
WHO can volunteer?
Clean Ocean Action (COA) has volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Love of the ocean is a must!
WHAT volunteer opportunities does Clean Ocean Action offer?
Clean Ocean Action offers several opportunities for volunteers.
You can call 732-872-0111 or email citizens@cleanoceanaction.org about any of the opportunities listed below.
COA’s annual Spring and Fall Beach Sweeps allows volunteers to participate in or lead beach cleanups in their communities. Volunteers, young and old, arrive on a Saturday morning and sweep the beaches of litter while recording the litter found. Click here for a description of leading a cleanup and click here for a description of participating as a volunteer. If you are interested in being a Beach Captain, call COA at 732-872-0111 or email Beachsweeps@cleanoceanaction.org by March 1st for the Spring Cleanup and September 1st for the Fall Cleanup.
Outreach:
Volunteers are needed to reach out to citizens, teach them about ocean pollution problems, and get them involved. Outreach volunteers set up tables at events and festivals along the NJ coast throughout the year. At these events, volunteers distribute educational materials about important coastal issues, obtain signatures on petitions, and sell T-shirts and other COA merchandise to raise funds for COA’s continuing research of environmental problems and solutions. Click this link to review a volunteer job description for this opportunity.
Office Work:
Volunteers are always needed to help with work around the office at Sandy Hook. This includes tallying beach sweeps data, helping with newsletter mailings, data entry, and organizing materials. Helping around the office is extremely important to helping us further our mission.
Event Assistance:
Throughout the year, Clean Ocean Action hosts parties and events to thank supporters and raise funds for our work. Volunteers are needed to help with the set-up and running of these events, which includes serving food, setting and cleaning up, and staffing informational tables.
Social Media:
Virtual Volunteers are needed to help spread the word about Clean Ocean Action! This can be done on your own time, promoting Clean Ocean Action's social media outlets through your own contacts and networks. You can write a blog about ocean issues for our blog. Help us reach others about the importance of a clean ocean!
Photography/ Videography:
At special events throughout the year, volunteers experienced with or enthusiastic about photography and/or videography are needed to record those events. Also needed are volunteers who are familiar with video editing. We are looking to create several more videos for our YouTube Channel. Let us know if this sounds like the opportunity for you!
Advocacy:
Opportunities vary from letter-writing, to attending or speaking at public hearings, to calling elected officials, to outreach to businesses or organizations, to talking to your Town Council. We need volunteers to call upon when issues come up and we need support. This is a great way to really get involved with and learn the issues affecting the ocean right now and make your voice heard!
Education
COA has several educational programs that are led by volunteers. Click this link to review a volunteer job description for COA's Teachers Squad. We also seek educators to lead field trips at our Fall and Spring Students Summits. Call COA's Main Office at 732-872-0111 and ask to speak with the Education Coordinator or email citizens@cleanoceanaction.org for more information.
WHEN can I volunteer?
Clean Ocean Action offers opportunities all year long. Most of the activities for which volunteers can offer expertise and assistance are during the warmer months, specifically, spring and summer. However, opportunities exist during the fall and winter as well.
WHERE are most volunteer opportunities held?
Office work volunteers are needed at the COA Main Office in Highlands, NJ, within the Gateway National Recreation Area - Sandy Hook Unit.
Outreach volunteers are needed throughout the NJ, with the majority of opportunities located in the central coastal regions.
Beach Sweeps are held statewide, mainly along the shores from Keyport, NJ, to Cape May, NJ. However, Clean Ocean Action is always broadening the Sweeps programs to include cleanups at back bays, lakes, rivers, and streams, near the coast and inland. If you want to suggest a new site, email Beachsweeps@cleanoceanaction.org.
HOW OFTEN should I volunteer?
Clean Ocean Action is grateful and appreciative of any amount of time volunteers offer to the efforts to protect the ocean. Depending on the opportunity, people can volunteer for Clean Ocean Action weekly, monthly, seasonally, or yearly.
In WHAT WAYS are COA’s volunteer opportunities beneficial for volunteers and communities?
Volunteers educate people young and old about protecting the ocean, bring people together on common issues and concerns, and promote a community feeling. Volunteers feel good about contributing to their communities. It is also a good way to fulfill service hours.
How do I SIGN UP to volunteer?
Call 732-872-0111 and ask for the Education and Volunteer Coordinator.
