Marin County Directory of Volunteer Opportunities for Homeschooling Families
Volunteer in Marin County
The organizations listed in this resource guide welcome kids and/or families as volunteers.
While there are well over 100 organizations listed we have
undoubtedly missed some great opportunities. If you know of any organizations that should
be added to this list or if you find broken links or incorrect information please
E-mail Diane Flynn Keith.
Special thanks to Melissa Grush of
Dry Creek Roots and Shoots, for compiling
this wonderful list of volunteer resources.
Marin County Directory
of Volunteer Opportunities for Homeschooling Families
Brief description of Organization: We are the largest Marine Mammal
Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release facility in the world. We recognize human
interdependence with marine mammals and their importance as sentinels of the
ocean environment, the health of which is essential for all life. It is our
responsibility to use our awareness, compassion and intelligence to foster
marine mammal survival and the conservation of their habitat. The Marine Mammal
Center works toward this end:
- Through rescue and humane treatment of ill, injured or orphaned marine mammals, to return healthy animals to the wild
- Through scientific inquiry, to increase knowledge of marine mammals, their health and their environment and assure their long-term survival
- Through education and communication, to increase appreciation of marine mammals, foster informed decision-making affecting them, and inspire action to protect the marine environment.
Brief description of volunteer need: Animal Care — Gain a deeper
understanding of the marine mammals cared for at the hospital, why they are here,
and what it is like to care for them. Animal care volunteers provide the daily care
of the animals, which includes general cleaning, laundry, dishes, equipment maintenance,
weighing, charting records, and preparing food for feeding. Youth volunteers (under
18) are not allowed to have contact with the animals or go in the pens with the animals
but learn through observation. Requires a commitment of one 4 to 8 hour shift per week
for a minimum of 8 contiguous weeks. We will also be accepting education and docent
youth volunteers when we open the new facility.
General area volunteer opportunity is located: North Bay and San Francisco
City where volunteer opportunity is located: Sausalito — Marin Headlands
or Pier 39 in San Francisco
Fees required: none
Age requirements: 15 - 18 year of age
Contact Person: Molly Russell, Youth Programs Coordinator
Phone Number: 415-289-0216
Category: Environment
Brief description of Organization: Save The Bay is the oldest and
largest organization working exclusively to protect, restore and celebrate San
Francisco Bay. As the Bay's leading champion since 1961, Save The Bay is committed
to making the Bay cleaner and healthier for people and wildlife.
Brief description of volunteer need: Save The Bay gives your family
the opportunity to help restore wetlands of San Francisco Bay! Our restoration
programs utilize community volunteers to plant native plants along the shoreline,
remove non-native weeds, collect native plant seeds, grow plants in our nurseries,
and help cleanup trash along the shoreline. These restoration activities improve
habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife, and enhance our region's quality of
life. Our restoration programs can be a great learning experience for the whole
family. We welcome your children as long as you maintain control and responsibility
for them and their actions.
General area volunteer opportunity is located: East Bay, North Bay, Peninsula/South Bay
City where volunteer opportunity is located: Oakland, Hayward, Palo Alto,
Redwood City, and Mill Valley.
Fees required: No fee for land-based programs. For the Bair Island canoe
restoration program the price is $25 per person for Save The Bay members, $35 for
non-members.
Age requirements: None for land-based programs. For Bair Island canoe
restoration program the minimum age is 10 years old.
Contact Person: Sarah Lyons
Phone Number: 510-452-9261 ext. 119
Category: Environment
Brief description of Organization: A small working farm & hands-on
agricultural and environmental education center nestled in 134-acres of national
park land on the coast, 45-minutes north of San Francisco. One third of the programs
we run serve underserved communities.
Brief description of volunteer need: Please come volunteer with us at the
Spring Fling or Harvest Festival, fun family celebrations that support our scholarship
programs for underserved schools and families. We ask for help with arts & crafts,
the food booth, parking, registration, etc. for part of the day. The rest of the time,
enjoy the live music and ranch activities. We are also looking for volunteer musicians
to perform on our garden stage. Once in the Spring and once in the fall.
Our Garden Manager also works with volunteers aged 14 to adults throughout the year.
The range of activities includes organic gardening, native plant restoration and ranch
maintenance projects. You can come for a one-time visit or include Slide Ranch
volunteering as part of your regular schedule. We accept volunteers on many Wednesdays
and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visits must be scheduled in advance with our
Garden Manager. Please email or call our office with any questions or to schedule
yourself or your group.
General area volunteer opportunity is located: Marin
City where volunteer opportunity is located: Muir Beach
Fees required: None
Age requirements: Volunteers should be age 14 and up.
Contact Person: Joe Papendick
Phone Number: 415-381-6155
Category: Human Community
Brief description of Organization: The seventy Trips For
Kids chapters we support combine lessons in confidence building,
achievement and environmental awareness through the development of
practical skills, and the simple act of having fun. Trips for Kids
welcomes families with older kids to volunteer at our training center
in the Marin County Canal District.
Brief description of volunteer need: Families can team up
to provide practical and fun environmental education information
(preservation, recycling, etc..) at our after school Earn-A-Bike
workshop in the Canal District of San Rafael. Local youth from this
low income community drop in every Tuesday through Saturday to learn
bike mechanic skills and to seek tutoring with homework projects.
This is a great location to offer some fun information and practical tips
about how these youth can become pro-active earth stewards. We also
welcome families that would like to offer some arts project activities
to the youth at this program...most types would be suitable.
Families that would like to offer any other support at the after school
workshop would be most welcome — let us know what you have in mind!
General area volunteer opportunity is located: Marin County Canal District
City where volunteer opportunity is located: San Rafael
Fees required: none
Age requirements: 13+
Contact Person: Joseph McCarthy
Phone Number: 415-455-8876
Category: Environment
Additional Environmental Volunteer Opportunties in Marin County
Additional Animal Volunteer Opportunties in Marin County
Additional Human Volunteer Opportunties in Marin County
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