Volunteer Vacations
Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.
Giving back isn’t just something you can do at home. When you travel, it’s a special opportunity to become part of the community you’re visiting. Check out the organizations and opportunities below, and see where you might find some way you can help. These organizations need volunteers for events, work parties, and regularly scheduled shifts throughout the year. Please contact them directly for further details.
All events at 11:00 am
Volunteer with Local Organizations
Help us keep a favorite park open! Individual or group service projects are available and can be tailored to fit your group.
Opportunities include:
- Litter Pick-up
- Trail Maintenance
Contact: parks@sanjuanco.com or call (360)378-8420
Volunteers operate the gift shop and learning center from May to September but also involved in park projects like the annual spring clean-up. Get involved!
Contact: info@friendsofmoran.org
San Juan Island NHP participates in the National Park Service's Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program.
Opportunities include:
- Trail Ambassadors
Share the wonders of Lime Kiln Point State Park through running the interpretive center, guiding lighthouse tours, as a park naturalist, and more. No experience necessary, training provided.
Contact: Erin Corra, ErinCorra@FolksSJI.org
The San Juan Preservation Trust offers a volunteer program that invites active participation in our efforts to preserve our cherished island places.
Opportunities include:
- Planting parties
- Invasive weed removal
- Habitat Helpers for Island Marble Butterfly
Conservation Land Bank Preserves often provide public access in the form of rustic trails, shoreline access, or wildlife viewing areas. Preserves also help protect the wonderful array of plants, animals, and habitats that make the islands unique.
Opportunities include:
- The Salish Seed Project (native plant restoration)
- Clean-ups
- Work Parties
Community Science Projects
Each year in mid-January, the Preservation Trust helps the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) with their annual survey of trumpeter and tundra swans. Volunteers can sign up for a territory on one of the San Juan Islands and record the number of swans they find. This helps WDFW track swan use of core wintering areas.
Help the Washington Department of Natural Resources track marine debris, creosote, king tides, and more. Download the MyCoast app and make a report today!
Bat Patrol is a project led by the San Juan Island National Historical Park to monitor bat populations at English Camp - counting bats emerging from a maternity roost from May to October. Surveys begin 1 hour before sunset and are 2 hours long.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer with other organizations when they visit the San Juan Islands. Many of these groups have programs linked to the San Juans, so check their schedules to plan your own volunteer vacation!
Be a part of a crew of outdoor lovers and help rehabilitate trails all across the country. Crews consist of 6-15 volunteers accompanied by a crew leader. Volunteer Vacations involve backpacking or day hiking and accommodations vary from primitive campsites to bunkhouses or cabins. Tools and supervision are provided by the host agency or organization.
Contact: info@americanhiking.org
The San Juan Islands Chapter is dedicated to the preservation, conservation, study, and restoration of native plants and vegetation throughout the San Juan Islands and supports educational outreach on the values of the native flora and its habitat throughout the islands. San Juan Island Chapter welcomes new members, and those who are interested are encouraged to volunteer. Contact: info@wnps.org
Be a part of the organic agricultural movement through a variety of farm educational opportunities—growing vegetables, keeping bees, making wine, working with animals, etc. Several farms in the San Juan Islands have WWOOFers working in their fields and gardens, including Doe Bay Resort and others. Membership required. Contact: info@wwoofusa.org
Looking for opportunities in Washington after your trip to the islands? Check out Whale Scout's new app Podmatch and get involved in habitat restoration projects around the Salish Sea.
Help promote awareness and stewardship of the marine environment through outreach, social media, and any other ideas you can come up with! Contact: info@thewhaletrail.org
Trails across Washington need our help and support more than ever. WTA welcomes anyone who wants to lend a hand and help out on the trail—whether you've had years of experience or you're brand new to tools. We look forward to seeing you at the next work party!
