Volunteer for the River

There are numerous volunteer opportunities, from joining the River Patrol to event volunteering and writing letters. Plug in and discover new ways to help the river.

Volunteer Opportunities

River Patrol: See below for more information.
Community Events: Staff the St. Johns Riverkeeper information table, includes handing out brochures, answering questions and interacting with the public, getting petitions signed, and promoting upcoming events and programs.
Education: Assist Education staff with field trips, boat trips, clean-ups, lesson plans, education projects and more!
Speaker’s Bureau: Give presentations to local groups or at local events using our Presentation in a Box or River Trivia.
Administrative Assistance: Help with monthly renewal mailings, thank-you notes, phone calls, filing, organizing supplies and database maintenance.
Write Letters: Write letters to the editors of newspaper publications or to elected/public officials to raise awareness and address critical issues impacting the health of the river.

Help St. Johns Riverkeeper by becoming a volunteer today!

Download our volunteer application by clicking here. Fill out the application and return to Roger at volunteer@stjohnsriverkeeper.org.

River Patrol

What is the River Patrol?

The River Patrol is a volunteer-based program designed to increase the Riverkeeper's ability to monitor the River and waterways in the St. Johns Watershed and to increase the visibility of Riverkeeper in the community. The River Patrol is an on-the-water "neighborhood watch" program that monitors water quality and habitat conditions and reports any problems that are encountered. Volunteer River Patrol members "adopt" a section of a creek, tributary, or the St. Johns River and agree to monitor that body of water a specified number of times each month. Each River Patrol volunteer determines their own individual level of commitment. In addition, River Patrol members occasionally take part in community water-related events and cleanups.

Why is the Riverkeeper River Patrol important?

Unfortunately, the Riverkeeper cannot be out on the water all the time and is unable to respond to and investigate every problem that arises. Yet, spills and other harmful environmental incidents occur on a regular basis, and often without the knowledge of Riverkeeper or the regulatory agencies responsible for enforcing our environmental laws. The River Patrol helps us to assist regulators by monitoring our waterways, identifying potential problems and regulatory violations, and reporting them to the appropriate regulatory agency. Without the River Patrol, many problems would go unnoticed and unresolved.

Who are the members of the Riverkeeper River Patrol?

The River Patrol is comprised of Riverkeeper members who volunteer to help the Riverkeeper monitor the River and its tributaries. River Patrol members patrol in a variety of boats and watercraft, including sailboats, motorboats, and kayaks. However, you don't have to own a boat to be member of the River Patrol! You can patrol by foot or by bike, observe your surroundings while in your car, or assist other Patrol members in their boats as they make their rounds.

What are the qualifications to be a River Patrol member?

We only ask that (1) you be a current St. Johns Riverkeeper member, (2) that you fill out the application and volunteer agreement, (3) and that you attend River Patrol meetings and any training that may be offered. You don't have to have any particular expertise to participate. We just ask that you be observant when you're out on the water or in the travels of your everyday life. If you see possible illegal discharges, pumping from boats, muddy water leaving construction sites, streamside wetlands being filled, or anything that appears unusual, help out by contacting Riverkeeper and the appropriate regulatory agency.

How do you sign up?

Fill out the River Patrol Agreement and email it to volunteer@stjohnsriverkeeper.org.

“Volunteering for St. Johns Riverkeeper has made me much more aware of the things that threaten the health of our river and has enabled me to become an advocate on its behalf. Whether helping out on a boat trip, talking to students at a science expo, or getting someone to sign a petition against the water withdrawal—I know I make a difference, even if just one person is made aware of the power of their voice.”
 —Marti Pounder, Volunteer