About Channel Islands Restoration’s Volunteer Program
Channel Islands Restoration’s nonprofit volunteer program is unique. We rely on volunteers to help us carry out much of our environmental restoration and conservation. We’ve worked with more than 12,000 adult volunteers since 2002, from the remote Channel Islands to the Los Padres National Forest. We offer a variety of incredible volunteer opportunities where we teach people about the natural world and provide the means to make a sustainable environmental difference in the community.
Become a volunteer today by following this link and filling out a short form!
Volunteers join CIR President Cindy Kimmick for a day of native plant mapping at the San Marcos Foothills West Mesa.
A Brief Overview Of Our Volunteer Activities
Sheep Docent
Each year, Channel Islands Restoration brings sheep to open grasslands in Santa Barbara County. The sheep trample dense thatch that inhibits new native plant growth by grazing the invasive grasses and weeds. This helps promote the growth of native grasses like purple needlegrass and improves habitat for native birds and other wildlife. The sheep also play an important role in wildfire prevention by reducing flammable grassland fuels. For instance in November 2019, the Cave Fire swept down the Santa Ynez Mountains and stopped at the San Marcos Foothills.
In the spring of that year, CIR used 350 head of sheep to graze in the areas the fire later burned. County Fire Chief Rob Hazard was on the fire line when it reached the San Marcos Foothills Preserve and credited CIR’s efforts with reducing the spread of fire. We need volunteers to help us impart this important information to the public while grazing occurs in Santa Barbara.
Sign up to become a sheep docent when you join our volunteer list and stay tuned for more information in 2023.
Sheep grazing at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve in Santa Barbara. Sheep are important for habitat restoration and wildfire prevention.
Backcountry Trips
Channel Islands Restoration is working to remove the non-native invasive Tamarisk species in the Santa Ynez and Sisquoc Rivers. The objective of these camping trips is to restore and maintain habitat for riparian dependent species such as the federally listed arroyo toad, California red-legged frog and steelhead trout. These trips are located within the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County, California and are great ways to experience the outdoors with good company!
Sign up for a trip by following this link.
Volunteers examine a unique rock formation in the Los Padres National Forest during one of our fall backcountry trips.
Seed Collection
We often need volunteers to assist with seed collection! This is a great way to learn more about native seed collection and habitat restoration. Our seed collection volunteer days welcomes new-comers and seasoned seed veterans to join our group for these unique volunteer events. Come out for a beautiful day of seed collection along the California coast! If you’d like to receive updates about seed collection days you can stay updated through our volunteer sign-up page.
Students are also eligible to receive community service volunteer hours for their work with our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Invasive Species Removal
We often depend on volunteers to help us remove invasive pesky weeds from our environment! Invasive plant species can reduce yield and quality of numerous crops. They can also depletes soil moisture, interferes with tillage operations, and serves as a shelter or food source to many insects, vertebrate pests, and crop diseases. For this volunteer opportunity, we work to remove a variety of different invasive weed species from Santa Barbara County to Los Angeles County. Learn more here.
Volunteers were able to successfully remove a large amount of ice plant (an invasive plant species) in order to plant Marsh Sandwort, a native endangered plant that will work to help restore the habitat.
Experience Youth & Adult Volunteer Opportunities
CIR uses our funding to help save and preserve open space, and to provide educational and volunteer opportunities for young people and adults. Since our founding. we have arranged service-learning field trips for 2,505 young people, mostly from underserved communities. Our funding paid for the bus and the boat to transport the kids, along with more than 480 adults who accompanied them on the trips. Funding paid for staff to provide classroom education before the trip and to lead the groups on island hikes and to guide them in their service projects.
Our volunteer trips are perfect for both students and adults to help the environment and learn more about the natural world.