Chesapeake Bay Foundation | VA

Fully half of Virginia is drained by Chesapeake Bay rivers, and two-thirds of the state's population lives within the Bay watershed. From the farm fields of the Shenandoah Valley to the pinewoods of the Eastern Shore, for most Virginians the Bay is as close as the nearest creek or stream.

VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER CENTER

Volunteers Make It Happen!
Join the individuals who make a difference for the Chesapeake Bay by becoming a CBF volunteer in Virginia! Here are some of the ways you can get involved:

Oyster Restoration
Want to restore the oyster population in Virginia? You can help by raising native oysters in CBF's oyster gardening program!

You can also get involved by volunteering at CBF's Oyster Restoration Center, located near Gloucester Point, Virginia. Millions of oysters are grown from seed at this facility and placed on protected reefs throughout the Bay watershed. Depending on the time of the year, volunteers may assist with bagging oyster shells, cleaning oyster cages, transferring baby oysters to larger grow-out systems, or harvesting or transplanting adult oysters on sanctuary reefs.

For more information on CBF's oyster restoration activities visit our Oyster Restoration page, or contact Tommy Leggett at (804) 642-6639.

Bay Grass Restoration
Join the hundreds of volunteers who are helping grow, plant, and monitor underwater grasses throughout Virginia in CBF’s "Grasses for the Masses" program. The program teaches citizen volunteers to grow underwater grasses and plant them in Virginia rivers in an effort to restore this vital Bay resource.

Tree Plantings
Help improve water quality by planting trees! Trees are crucial to the health of the Bay watershed--they slow down runoff and erosion, as well as absorb excess nutrients that are the main cause of pollution in the Bay. CBF typically schedules public tree plantings during the spring and fall, as restoration projects are identified. Planting events are great activities for families, clubs, and civic groups. To get involved in CBF tree plantings contact Jess Barton at Jbarton@cbf.org.

Boaters for the Bay
Whether you paddle a kayak or pilot a cruiser, and no matter where you are in the Chesapeake watershed, CBF needs your help! Join CBF's Boaters For The Bay program and help protect this national treasure. There are no meetings to attend and no dues to pay, just boaters united to save a national treasure. Take the pledge to be a Boater for the Bay today!

Cyclists for the Bay
Are you an avid cycling enthusiast or a weekend cycler? No matter how often you head out on your bike, CBF wants you to join our Cyclists for the Bay. There are no meetings to attend and no dues to pay, just cyclists united to save our waterways. Take the pledge to be a Cyclist for the Bay.

Gardeners for the Bay
You love your garden and you love the Bay. With your support we can save the Bay one garden at a time. Lend a hand by joining CBF's Gardeners for the Bay program. There are no meetings to attend and no dues to pay, just gardeners united to support healthy water and a healthy environment. Take the pledge to be a Gardener for the Bay.

VoiCeS
CBF's Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards (VoiCeS), is an adult education/CBF volunteer training program designed to create a deeper understanding of the Chesapeake Bay and the efforts to restore it. Learn more about the VoiCeS series.

Bay-Friendly Workshops
We are looking for volunteers with special training and skills who may be interested in sharing their knowledge with others while helping save the Bay. Potential workshop topics include growing native plants, bayscaping, rain barrels, composting, Bay-friendly lawn care, rain gardens, and more! If you have a Bay-friendly talent to share through CBF please contact Jess at Jbarton@cbf.org to discuss the development of special public education workshops.

Mud Busters
Are you concerned that muddy runoff from new construction in your community is damaging your local streams? So are we! Help us take the first steps toward correcting this problem by joining our Mud Buster volunteer program where you will learn the signs of erosion and sediment control failures and how to document and report the problems. Help us address sediment and nutrient pollution—the two biggest threats to water quality in the Chesapeake Bay region—by signing up to be a CBF Mud Buster.

Fairs and Festivals
We often get requests to attend fairs and festivals located across the Commonwealth, but simply cannot attend them all due to staff limitations. Our purpose in attending these events is to further educate the public on important Bay issues. This is your opportunity to help spread the word about CBF and its programs! To get involved please contact Jess (Jbarton@cbf.org) in our Richmond Office or Chris (CMoore@cbf.org) in our Hampton Roads Office.

Office Volunteers
Office help is often needed with a variety of tasks, including research, data entry, phone calls, mailings, and other general administrative assistance. Volunteers may also provide assistance to our program staff as they prepare for upcoming events. This is a great opportunity to learn more about grassroots organizing! To volunteer in our Richmond Office please contact Jess (Jbarton@cbf.org), or Chris (CMoore@cbf.org) to volunteer in our Hampton Roads Office.

Clean The Bay Day
Shoreline litter is one of the most visible and pervasive reminders that the Chesapeake Bay needs help. CBF's Annual Clean the Bay Day is a day of state-wide efforts to clean up local waterways.

Share your ideas with us!
Please take a moment to fill out our short volunteer survey and let us know how we can better serve you with the volunteer opportunities we offer.

Want more?
Upcoming events and opportunities can be found on our CBF Calendar.