We owe the success of our chapter to our many dedicated volunteers! There are a wide variety of opportunities in education, conservation, and organizational support, as an individual or on a committee. Our staff will work with you to find activities that match your interests, skills, and availability. As a volunteer, you can learn new skills, explore areas of interest, meet other people, and feel a sense of accomplishment. Check out our Volunteer Spotlight to see some of the incredible volunteers behind SCVBA.
Please contact Carolyn Knight, our Education and Outreach Manager, at programs@scvas.org if you have any specific questions about volunteering.
Latest Volunteer Opportunities
NATURE SHOP: HELPING FEED THE BIRDS
SCVBA is looking for reliable volunteers to help run the nature shop on an as-needed basis. Volunteers are responsible for answering basic birding and wildlife related questions for the public over the phone and in person, entering sales in the Nature Shop, filling and cleaning the feeders and bird baths, and helping with the occasional mailing.
Contact April Austin at scvas@scvas.org for further information.
SOCIAL MEDIA INTERNS: BIRDS ARE REAL
SCVBA is recruiting students with a passion for the environment and an interest in social media to assist in content creation across SCVBA’s social media platforms. We are looking for content on local conservation and environmental issues, informative accounts of local species and habitat. Interns will attend a biweekly zoom meeting, attend at least two SCVBA events each month, and will be responsible for postings to SCVBA’s Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and other platforms.
Interested students can apply by sending a social media portfolio and a one-minute video on a local environmental issue, or local species of wildlife they are passionate about, to Carolyn Knight at programs@scvas.org. Further details here.
Naturalists Needed: Show off the natural world
Do you love sharing nature with people? Do you have a passion for wildlife that extends past birds? Are you a community scientist? SCVBA collaborates with multiple organizatons around Santa Clara County to provide nature interpreters for bioblitzes, community science events exploring our local parks. Volunteer naturalists do not need to be experts, but a friendly attitude and a familiarity with iNaturalist are a must!
To join as a volunteer, register as a “Naturalist”
Outreach: Share the love (of birds)
Share your love of birds with Communities in Santa Clara Valley
SCVBA needs volunteers to help with "tabling events," where we host a table at community events and fairs in the area and talk to people about birds. This is a great opportunity to help SCVBA raise its visibility and share your love of birds with the public! We'll have many events throughout the spring and summer. You pick the date and event and time when you can help. We're currently in need of volunteers for events on the weekend of Earth Day!
Required: willingness to talk to strangers about birds, the importance of habitat, and SCVBA programs; enthusiasm; friendliness
Very helpful: language skills in addition to English (Spanish, Mandarin, others)
Not required: super expertise in bird identification
How to sign up: see our September signup, October signup or email programs@scvas.org and ask to be added to the "Tabling Volunteers" email group to find out about opportunities
OTHER Ways to GeT Involved
Join a Committee
One of the great ways you can support the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance as a member is to join one or more of our dynamic committees.
Conservation Action Alert Network
Receive alert emails when action is required on an important conservation issue. To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Conservation Action Alert Network, simply fill out this online form.
Adult Education Classes
Plan and organize educational programs for adults under the guidance of the Education Committee.
Event Support and Hospitality
Provide support for events: organizing events, setting and cleaning up, welcoming attendees, or assisting with many other tasks.
Part-Time Office Assistant
Help with various office tasks, including data entry, photocopying, promotional mailings, and Nature Shop inventory.
Technology Support
Help maintain and improve our technological capacity and equipment to support our many programs.
Newsletter Support
Help pursue stories, organize, edit, and publish our newsletter, The Avocet.
Community Science
Volunteers, even those without scientific training, can perform research-related tasks that allow scientists to accomplish research goals that would otherwise be impossible. Many volunteers of all skill levels participate in these different projects for their own enjoyment, for conservation, and to provide scientists with valuable information. Visit our community science page for more information.
For more information about volunteering, please complete the form at the top of this page and our Education and Outreach Manager will contact you with more information about volunteering.