Come volunteer for The Otter Project & Monterey Coastkeeper!

We are piloting some exciting new programs and we need volunteers to help make them possible! Please join us in protecting our beautiful coastline and the amazing wildlife that calls it home.This is a great opportunity to spend some time on the coast and work closely with The Otter Project staff to make these programs a reality—they wouldn’t happen without community support!

We have opportunities around Ano Nuevo, the Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur, Piedras Blancas & Cambria.

Volunteering for The Otter Project is a way to get involved, meet new, interesting people, and to connect to the wild things and places we are working to protect.

UPDATE: Stay tuned for 2011 trainings

We welcome volunteers of all ages but ask that volunteers under the age of 18 have parental permission & supervision throughout the programs

MPA Watch

Be part of a core group of volunteers to pilot MPA Watch! This is a NEW program, so you will get to help get it off the ground! This is an exciting opportunity that requires a sense of adventure and flexibility.

In 2007 the state of California adopted its first network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) right here at our doorstep—the Central Coast! MPAs are like underwater parks. They were created with scientific guidance to provide protection for valuable underwater resources. To protect wildlife and habitat, certain activities are prohibited in these underwater parks.

The Otter Project was a driving force in the effort to establish these protections—now it’s essential that we make them work.  MPA Watch will mobilize volunteers to monitor how people are using these valuable patches of ocean.

Activities will include spending time at monitoring sites, recording data, meeting with team-members to help develop monitoring protocols, and helping staff record and analyze data.

Scheduling is flexible, but shifts must be scheduled regularly. We are asking for a minimum commitment of 2 hours a week.

Read a full description of the MPA Watch volunteer position here. Of visit the MPA Watch homepage to learn more about the program.

Outreach and Events

Are your friends tired of hearing you talk about otters all the time? Mine too. Join The Otter Project’s outreach team and share your knowledge where it’s appreciated!

Outreach volunteers will help us spread the word at fairs, festivals and tabling events. Volunteers will have the opportunity to educate the public on the importance of sea otters and healthy local ecosystems, as well as help The Otter Project build and maintain vital community support.

Questions or inquiries can call (831) 646-8837.