Conservation Service Volunteering
Our trained outdoor volunteers and community members collect hard-to-gather field data that scientists, agencies, and conservation partners put into motion to protect nature and people.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Volunteer opportunities that citizen science data is moving forward right now.
RECRUITING NOW
Restoring Whitebark Pine
WA · OR. | COMING SOON: MT · ID
Mapping surviving whitebark pine so partners can protect healthy trees and plan reforestation.
COMING SPRING 2027
Keeping Aspen Standing
CO · ID · MT · NM · WYFinding an invasive insect early so the U.S. Forest Service can treat aspen stands before they die.
DATA PROCESSING
Preserving Northwest Forest Biodiversity
WA · OR · CABackcountry audio recordings help the U.S. Forest Service track wildlife across Northwest forests.
Saving American Beech
AL · AR · FL · GA · IN · KY · LA · MI · PA · SC · TN · TX · WI · WV
Finding disease-resistant beech trees whose genetics can help restore future forests.
Restoring Butternut Trees
AL · AR · IN · KY · MI · MO · NC · NH · OH · PA · TN · WI · WV
Documenting surviving butternut trees to guide restoration of a threatened species.
WHY VOLUNTEERS JOIN
Volunteers say the work changes how they think about conservation, and their role in protecting the places they care about.
“I got so much value from knowing we could contribute to awareness for these species, as well as promoting a way that we, as runners, can get involved in conservation.”
“I volunteer with Adventure Scientists because it allows me to actively participate in preserving the places I enjoy and love most in the outdoors. They make it easy to learn the protocol for collecting the samples. So easy that now I take samples whether it’s on a weekend hike in my own backyard here in Patagonia or abroad on vacation.”
“The world will never become a better place if everyone thinks ‘someone else will go fix it’, so volunteering for Adventure Scientists is one of the ways I hope I can be that ‘someone else’ who helps things get better.”
PLANNING AN EXPEDITION?
Make your time outside count.
If you’re planning a unique adventure or expedition, we can connect you with researchers who need field data from specific regions or environments.
BEFORE YOU APPLY, YOUR EXPEDITION NEEDS:
- 9–12 months of lead time before you head out, so we can match you with a researcher and train your team.
- A clear path to impact. Your route has to reach places where missing data is holding back a solution, and the data has to lead to lasting results.
- Funding or a sponsor already in place for the expedition.
VOLUNTEER FAQS
Questions about volunteering with us
What is an Adventure Scientists volunteer?
Adventure Scientists’ volunteers EXPLORE the planet while making a difference. They COLLECT data to PROTECT critical species and ecosystems.
These are thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, scientific partners, and community members who:
- Support making an impact in conservation
- Pay attention to detail when collecting data
- Creatively solve problems in challenging situations
- Engage their communities by sharing their experiences
Does it cost anything to volunteer with Adventure Scientists?
No, there is no cost to volunteer with Adventure Scientists. We encourage you to check our our current volunteer field data collection opportunities and sign up to stay up to date on our impact and new opportunities.
How else can I get involved with Adventure Scientists?
Donate to support conservation to save our planet! Consider partnering with Adventure Scientists and sharing your contacts with Adventure Scientists to help spread credible field data that supports conservation and environmental decision-making.
In addition to becoming an Adventure Scientists volunteer, you can sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on our new conservation projects.
Can I work with Adventure Scientists to develop a conservation project or field data collection opportunity?
We work closely with agencies, research institutions, NGOs, universities, and the scientific community to develop high-quality conservation projects that create impact. If your project meets our criteria, submit a consultation request on our project management page.
Can groups sign up to volunteer with Adventure Scientists?
Yes, we encourage group field science opportunities. Every field conservation volunteer will need to sign up individually and be trained through Adventure Scientists. To preserve the integrity of our research-grade data, any sample taken from someone not in our system will be rejected. If there are members of your group who cannot complete the requirements needed to collect samples, consider having those members collect additional observations (e.g., date, time, GPS coordinates, photos).
What does an Adventure Scientists volunteer do?
Adventure Scientists trained outdoor volunteers collect critical field data for our scientific partners to support conservation and environmental decision-making.
Each project is unique and requires different skill sets, but each volunteer will:
- Complete a training to ensure accurate and credible logistics and data collection methods
- Develop or be assigned a data sampling plan within a project’s geographic area
- Perform data collection by gathering samples, observations, etc. from the field
- Share your story on social media channels, or be featured in our blog!
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Be the first to hear when new projects open.
Sign up for updates on volunteer opportunities and the impact of our work.