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
Outreach: Share the love (of birds)
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 attend many events throughout the year, and volunteers do not need to be able to attend the entire event in order to volunteer. Contact Carolyn Knight at programs@scvbirdalliance.org with interest.
Required: willingness to talk to the public about birds, the importance of habitat, and SCVBA programs; enthusiasm; friendliness
Very helpful: language skills in addition to English (Spanish, Mandarin, others)
Upcoming events:
Portola Valley Wildlife Day - January 25, 3-6pm
Nature Lovers Needed: Join a Bioblitz!
Love exploring nature and sharing in discovery? Join a bioblitz! Join us, along with our friends from the Bioblitz Club, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, and POST, in a morning of nature as we document flora and fauna of all sorts in local Santa Clara County parks using iNaturalist. Participants can join as a group leader - leading community members in finding everything from slime molds to wild pigs, or as a participant documenting their findings. Community service hours are available.
January 25 - Alum Rock Park - Register
Every One Counts: Christmas Bird Count
Take part in one of the longest-running community science projects in the United States: The Christmas Bird Count! Birders of all levels are needed as spotters, data recorders, and identifiers for this winter count that seeks to count every individual bird in Santa Clara Valley. Join us on one or more of the count days to assist with a survey that will take you to the furthest ranges of our county, with some of the wildest findings (and weather) of the year!
San Jose Circle - Sunday, December 14
Palo Alto Circle - Monday, December 15
Calero-Morgan Hill Circle - Saturday, December 27
Mount Hamilton Circle - Friday, January 2
Contact circle leaders with interest in specific circles, programs@scvbirdalliance.org for any general questions.
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.