Calling all college student and early career treehuggers, nature lovers, animal advocates and climate activists in the Bay Area!

The California Academy of Sciences recently launched the Volunteers for Nature (VN) program, uniting volunteers to support local conservation efforts and forge lasting connections with nature and each other as part of our Thriving California initiative. During the 2024 pilot year, we aim to engage and support college students and early career professionals throughout the Bay Area in accessing volunteer opportunities in the field, while also fostering meaningful relationships between these communities and their local outdoor spaces. 

You can join this program by participating in one of our place-based chapters. Currently, we have a San Francisco and North Bay chapter. More chapters will follow in each subregion of the Bay Area. 

For more context on program chapters:

  • These chapters will be place-based but not college-specific, meaning any college student or early career professional who wants to join a chapter is welcome to do so with the knowledge that volunteer work will take place in that given area.
  • By joining a chapter, you will be able to participate on a bimonthly basis (twice a month), with a virtual meeting to discuss plans and developments once a month in addition to a group volunteer outing at a partner site once a month. You can expect to commit approximately 5 hours a month if actively participating. 
  • The SF chapter generally meets virtually the first Wednesday of each month from 6-7:30pm, and the North Bay meets virtually the second Thursday of each month from 5-6:30pm. Chapter outings occur the 3rd or 4th Saturday of the month, depending on that partner's availability. 
  • These are free-flowing chapters, meaning you do not need to commit to any specific amount of time to participate. That being said, we will give a certificate of completion to active members who stick around throughout at least 6 chapter rotations and complete one individual volunteer project with a partner site.

By volunteering together and rotating through local conservation efforts, you'll have the chance to explore the field, gain valuable hands-on experience, foster a sense of belonging and purpose in nature and become the next generation of scientific experts and leaders while doing so. 

We appreciate you taking the time to fill out this application, and we look forward to building this network of nature champions!

Your information


Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).
First Name *
Last Name *
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Mobile Phone *

For example, 123-456-7890
SMS/text messaging: By providing your mobile number and checking the box below, California Academy of Sciences will be allowed to send you SMS (text) messages relating to their volunteer activities. To opt-out, reply STOP to any SMS message OR return to this form and uncheck the box.
Current Status *
What college do / did you attend? *
Zip code (home) *
In the fall of 2024, what year of college are in? *
What is / was your intended major?
What currently active chapter are you most interested in participating in? *
In 2025, would you prefer to join the East or South Bay-based chapters instead? If yes, please select your top pick. If no, select "not interested." *
What would help make volunteering in this program more accessible for you?
What are you hoping to gain personally and professionally in this program?
Can we contact you about program updates and opportunities in the future? *
How did you hear about Volunteers for Nature?
Comments / questions / ideas?
Additional information
Demographic data is helpful to our program in identifying who we are reaching and where we can improve or focus our efforts. This information is used in a pooled dataset, separate from other participation information. This section is optional but we appreciate any and all information that you are willing to share!
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Waiver

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AGREEMENT AND RELEASE [ADULT]

l. The undersigned ("Participant") hereby acknowledges as follows: (i) Participant is a participant in the activity or program conducted by or at, or maintains the relationship with, the California Academy of Sciences ("Academy"), a California nonprofit corporation, specified below (collectively, the "Activity"); and (iv) during Participant's participation in the Activity, the Academy or other may take photographs and make video or audio tapes of Participant (collectively, "Photos").

2. As a condition to and in consideration of the Academy allowing Participant to participate in the Activity, Participant, for Participant, and Participant's heirs, successors and assigns, hereby releases and waives any interest Participant may have in and with respect to the Photos and agrees that the Photos are the sole and exclusive property of the Academy and that Releasees may, without payment to Participant of any consideration whatsoever, take, make and use the Photos for any purpose whatsoever, including use in advertising and in the Academy's annual reports and on posters, and may commercially exploit the Photos in any way, world-wide, and hereby and forever releases and discharges the Academy and its members, trustees, directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents, affiliates, and successors and assigns (collectively "Releasees"), from, and covenants not to sue or commence arbitration proceedings against any of the Releasees with respect to, any and all claims, actions, causes of action and demands of every kind and nature in law, equity, or otherwise, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or undisclosed, for damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses, actual or consequential, past, present and future, arising out of or in any way related to the Photos and Releasees use thereof.

3. Participant hereby represents and warrants that (i) no promise or inducement has been offered in connection herewith; (ii) this Acknowledgment, Agreement and Release is executed without reliance upon any statement or representation by any of the Releasees, or their respective representatives, and (iii) Participant is of legal age and legally competent to execute this Acknowledgment, Agreement and Release.

4. Participant hereby expressly waives the provisions of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California which reads as follows:
"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor."

5. In the event of any matter involving this Acknowledgment, Agreement and Release, the person(s) not prevailing shall pav the attorneys' fees and costs of the person(s) prevailing in any such matter.