Family on boardwalk Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
Family on boardwalk Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
volunteers raking and pushing leaves in a wheel barrel in fall
Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, Sharon

Volunteer

At Mass Audubon, we believe that every person can make a positive impact when it comes to protecting the nature of Massachusetts! And one of the best (and most enjoyable) ways you can make an immediate difference is by volunteering your time.

We welcome individuals, families, and groups of all ages and abilities to lend a hand at one of our wildlife sanctuaries or at Mass Audubon headquarters in Lincoln.

Volunteers at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary

Current Volunteer Opportunities

From working on the trails to greeting visitors in a nature center, find all the ways you can volunteer with Mass Audubon.

Online Volunteer Portal

Frequently Asked Questions

People of all ages—from high school students to retired seniors—and from a variety of backgrounds volunteer at Mass Audubon. 

Our volunteers include people who enjoy nature, care about the environment, and like giving back to their community. For example:

  • Individuals, families, and corporate or community groups
  • Students, parents, professionals, and retirees
  • Seasonal, weekly, occasional, or one-time volunteers

Depending on their interests, experience, and the time they have available, volunteers contribute to Mass Audubon in a variety of meaningful ways—welcoming visitors to the sanctuaries, maintaining trails, tending gardens, submitting wildlife observations, educating people of all ages, assisting with ecological management projects.

Volunteer positions are available from A to Z: Advocacy, Building and construction, Conservation, Design, Education, Front desk and visitor services, Gardening ... and more! 

Whether you only have one Saturday morning to commit or are available one afternoon each week, you can make a difference at Mass Audubon.

For people who can make an ongoing commitment to a few hours each week, there are many opportunities—as front desk or gift shop volunteers, volunteer educators, property crew volunteers, or wildlife care volunteers.

Some volunteer positions are seasonal in nature, requiring a short-term commitment of several months. These include nest box monitors and other community science positions. 

Special events and special projects—such as beach cleanups, fall festivals, and Earth Month volunteer days—provide one-day opportunities for volunteers with busy schedules.

As a Mass Audubon volunteer, you’ll develop new skills and knowledge, meet people who share your interests, and explore new possibilities while enjoying the natural beauty of our wildlife sanctuaries. 

Students have the opportunity to accrue community service credit. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of supporting our mission of protecting the nature of Massachusetts—something to feel good about at the end of the day.

Volunteers who give 50 hours a year or more of service are eligible for a Volunteer I.D. card, which allows: 

  • Free admission to all Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries
  • Free or discounted access to participating area museums and attractions
  • Other benefits may be awarded by the sanctuary or department where the individual volunteers.

Generally, volunteers must be at least 16 years old, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, although the minimum age varies with the specific position. Training is required and provided for some positions; some positions require a minimum time commitment. For many positions, a CORI/SORI background check is required. See the specific position description for these and other special requirements.

Visit the Mass Audubon Volunteer Portal where you can learn more and respond to posted opportunities.

Wildlife sanctuaries around the state welcome groups of volunteers to help with various projects. 

We host corporate groups, school and alumni groups, scout troops, and community groups for fun, meaningful, and team-building experiences.

Service projects range from property maintenance to farm chores to ecological management to small construction. Volunteer groups have:

  • Planted butterfly gardens
  • Repaired boardwalks
  • Installed fencing
  • Helped control invasive plants
  • Created nature play areas
  • Maintained trails
  • Built turtle gardens
  • Made decorations for special events

Most projects are designed for 2 hours to a half-day, but multi-day projects can also be arranged.

Depending on the size of your group (from 5 to 50, or more), the ages of your volunteers, and your schedule, we can help you find a suitable project and a convenient location. The busiest months are May through September, so we encourage you to schedule several weeks in advance.

Fill out our group volunteer form to inquire about planning group volunteer opportunities.

Need more information?

Don't hesitate to send an email to our Statewide Volunteer Coordinator.

Featured Stories

  • Loggerhead turtle on the beach at night
    Loggerhead Sea Turtle © William Freedberg

    Sea Turtles

    Wellfleet Bay staff and an annual corps of over 200 trained volunteers have patrolled the beaches of Cape Cod, day and night, especially at high tide, on the lookout for cold-stunned turtles. 

  • Two people, one in a red shirt and one in a blue, kneeling on the ground working in the dirt.

    In Your Words: Jan Spence

    Planting trees in the area that was once a dam pond—one of the last to be removed—brought me back to my childhood working in our garden, digging up rocks to make room for new plants. I am looking forward to more and varied volunteer opportunities at Tidmarsh and at other sanctuaries with Mass Audubon Southeast.

  • boardwalk trail through a grassy meadow
    Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellfleet

    Diamondback Terrapins

    Wellfleet is home to the most northerly population of the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). Through our conservation work, we hope to protect this enigmatic species and the salt marshes it calls home.

  • Young girl with a blue shirt and black face mask, petting a goat.

    In Your Words: Lily, Age 18

    Each week I volunteer, I gain even more experience and responsibility working with animals and interacting with visitors. Goat tending has also become less of a job and more of an outlet to unwind from my busy life of AP classes, swim practices and meets, and family responsibilities.

  • A tall white bird sticks out in a green saltmarsh. A channel of open water cuts through the center of the marsh.
    Allens Pond, South Dartmouth

    South Coast Osprey Project

     Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, with the essential support of volunteers and partner organizations, annually monitors the breeding activity of 80 pairs of Osprey on nearly 100 nesting platforms in Westport and Dartmouth, MA.

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