Volunteer initiatives

Fall 2023 Postings

There are currently 10 open opportunities! Be sure to check for new opportunities often as we plan to continue adding more throughout the semester!

To view postings from Spring 2023, click here

The Watershed Institute (3 Opportunities)

Streamwatch Monitor

Position Details:

The Watershed Institute is looking for volunteers to join their stream monitoring team. Two of the teams are Chemical Action Team (CAT) and Biological Action Team (BAT).

StreamWatch CAT volunteers monitor one weekend per month year-round and attend a mandatory Quality Assurance session in the Watershed Lab every year. Volunteers test six basic water quality parameters: water and air temperature, phosphates, nitrates, pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. The results are analyzed and reported to the public through our quarterly subwatershed report cards, municipal report cards, and online. Data is also submitted to the EPA’s Water Quality Exchange.

StreamWatch BAT volunteers monitor the populations of organisms called macroinvertebrates. Water quality ratings are based on the abundance of various species and their sensitivity to pollutants. If the stream is healthy, a diverse macroinvertebrate population can be found in a relatively small sample of water. A reduction in their numbers may indicate a high level of pollution. Sampling is conducted twice a year in the spring and fall. Once a year the organisms are identified to family level in the Watershed Lab by BAT volunteers. The other samples collected that year will be sent to a certified lab for identification to the genus level.

Additional Details:

• Spots are limited! You must fill out an application.

• Timeline: This is currently ongoing

• Area(s) of Interest: Science/Research

• Time Commitment: 1 year commitment

  • CAT volunteers monitor the streams monthly

  • BAT volunteers monitor the streams twice a year

• Transportation: Using Lyft pass/coordinating with PACE center

• Interested? Join by filling out this form and sign up on MyPrincetonU

CWAP (Community Watershed Advocacy Program)

Position Details:

The Watershed Institute's Community Watershed Advocate Program (CWAP) educates all those interested in learning more about how best to advocate for their water resources. Training on a multitude of topics including environmental justice, water quality, environmental policy, and more are conducted by in-house and guest experts. Volunteers are taught how to advocate at the local level for environmental resiliency and sustainability. That could take the form of attending a planning board meeting and speaking about the impact a proposed project would have on stormwater runoff or advocating that a local school install a rain garden and assisting them in doing so or many other possible activities.

Additional Details:

• Timeline: Ongoing

• Area(s) of Interest: Education, Environmental Justice

• Time Commitment: 1.5 - 2 hours (for an 8 week period)

• Location: Hybrid (both virtual and in-person)

• Interested? Join by filling out this form and sign up on MyPrincetonU

Green Infrastructure Event

Event Details:

This event will serve as an opportunity for local Latine landscape businesses to learn sustainable landscaping practices and attract more customers. Volunteers are needed at certain booths to translate environmental terms to the attendees, give guided nature tours in Spanish, and to provide general translation aid to those with questions. Lunch will be provided.

Additional Details:

• 4-5 volunteers

• Location: 31 Titus Mill Road Pennington, NJ 08534

• Date: Saturday September  23rd, 2023 9am - 1:30 pm

• Area(s) of Interest: Environmental Justice, Nonprofit Support

• Time Commitment: One time opportunity

• Transportation: Provided by The Watershed Institute

• Interested? Fill out this form

Sierra Club (1 Opportunity)

Joining NJ Sierra’s Committees

Event Details:

Sierra Club’s New Jersey Chapter is a grassroots, volunteer-central organization and there are several opportunities for engagement and leadership development. Incoming volunteers can choose to get involved in an issues-based committee or regional Group. There is also potential to bring up new issues and topics within these circles. The main actions are as follows:

• Attending committee or group meetings for conversations and strategy, attending public events/demonstrations, attending public hearings to testify in support of environmental protections, submitting comments or testimony on legislation, writing articles on environmental issues, attending or giving lectures hosted by the Club, and social media management. 

• Here are their committees: 

• Conservation Committee (broad range of issues like land-use, water protections, wildlife, plastics/toxics, etc)

• Offshore Wind Committee

• Legislative Committee

• Transportation Committee 

• Environmental Justice Committee

• Current Organization Needs/Active Campaigns

• Offshore Wind: bolstering public support and education to fight misinformation.

• Building Electrification

• Clean Transportation: Pushing for Advanced Clean Cars II Rule to be adopted ASAP

• Fighting Fossil Fuel Facilities

Additional Details:

• Date: Ongoing

• Area(s) of Interest: Nonprofit Support

• Time Commitment: Non Specific but they are meeting to attend for the committees

• Transportation: Using lyft pass/coordinating with PACE center for in-person events

• Interested? Fill out this form

UNESCO’s Green Citizens Program (1 Opportunity)

Details:

We are directly partnering with UNESCO’s Green Citizen’s program where you will be able to meet and directly partner with 4 UN approved environmental organizations. We have organized a Zoom kickoff event with the 4 organizations from different continents and will involve students being put into breakout rooms and facilitate conversations on specific issues. After the event, you will form a group with the organization of your choice and other Princeton students interested in the same organization and you will be working with them throughout the year. Depending on the engagement, we may do in person field work abroad. Spots are limited, so be sure to fill out the form ASAP!

Here are the four organizations represented in the event (that YOU have the chance to directly work with):

• Aqualuz – Safe Drinking Water for All (An organization which uses water purifying technology in Brazil)

• TIP Sessions (An organization that empowers local women in rural India to take on water management  and other climate initiatives) 

• Bee the Buzz of the Reserve (An organization that aids in restoring bees + providing bee education in the Caribbean Islands 

• Blue Schools (An environmental and ocean education nonprofit that provides curriculum to schools)

Additional Details:

• Up to 40 volunteers

• Location: On Zoom

• Date: Initial Kickoff will take place on Friday, September 29th at 2:30pm EST

• Area(s) of Interest: Nonprofit Support

• Time Commitment: Varies depending on the organization you work with

• Interested? Fill out this form

End Fossil Fuels Climate March (1 Opportunity)

Details:

Tens of thousands of people are converging on NYC to protest outside of the UN's Climate Ambition Summit, demanding an end to fossil fuels and a livable planet.  Join Princeton Student Climate Initiative, Divest Princeton, EcoReps, Rewild Princeton, and YDSA to take part in this march! To learn more information about the march click here! If you are interested, please sign up through the link below. 

There's also going to be an art build to make posters for protest on Friday 9/15 from 7-9pm in Whig Hall Senate Chamber. We'd love to see you there as well, but you don't need to come to the art build to come to the protest.

Additional Details:

• Location: Meet us at the Dinky

• Date: Sunday, September 17th at 9:30am

• Area(s) of Interest: Political Advocacy

• Time Commitment: One time opportunity

• Transportation: We will be taking the train (with some tickets covered)

• Interested? Fill out this form

World Wildlife Fund (1 Opportunity)

Details:

World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Panda Ambassador program works with WWF on environmental advocacy & activism, policy, and community education. Panda Ambassadors host events, lead groups in marches and protests, and meet with politicians and business leaders. To learn more information click here. If you’re interested, apply by clicking this link.

TerraCycle (1 Opportunity)

Details:

TerraCycle is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Operating in 20 countries, including 12 in Europe, TerraCycle works with manufacturers, retailers and end users to implement turnkey recycling programs through a range of public-facing services for hundreds of everyday waste streams that other waste management companies are unable to recycle. 

Here are all of the types of internship opportunities at TerraCycle from working in research & development to analytics and marketing, they offer all sorts of opportunities for summer and fall & spring break.

Environmental Defense Fund (2 Opportunities)

Wildlife Conservation Corps

Details:

The Wildlife Conservation Corps (WCC) is the largest natural resource management volunteer group in the state. WCC members are involved in all phases of New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife activities from wildlife research to fishing education. Here are some of the sectors volunteers can get involved in: 

• Hunter Education and upkeep of hunter ranges

• Winter trout stocking programs with Pequest facility 

• The Endangered and Nongame Species Program. 

To learn more information click here. If interested, fill out this form and email it to WCC_DEP@dep.nj.gov. 

NJ Forestry Service

Details:
New Jersey Forest Service promotes the resilience of New Jersey’s forests and their interdependent natural systems in the face of societal needs and a climate crisis that demands urgent and decisive action. Volunteers are able to partake in seed planting, forest data collection and restoration, trail work, maintenance of gardens and other pathways, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and other data analysis work. To learn more information click here. If interested, fill out this form and email it to FREC@dep.nj.gov.