Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

A State - Federal Partnership

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to learn more about Cape Cod ecology and habitat issues? Would you like to meet like-minded people and provide a service to the community? Why not volunteer at the Waquoit Bay Research Reserve? Join the team of dedicated volunteers here at Waquoit Bay NERR. No matter what your background or talent, we have opportunities available for you. Any contributions are greatly appreciated. All active and “wanna-be” volunteers are invited and encouraged to attend our Education and Training Sessions. All sessions will be held at the Waquoit Bay Reserve’s Headquarters at the Visitor Center, Route 28 in E. Falmouth. Click here to register online!

For more information or to register for any of the training opportunities listed below, call Nancy Church at 508-457-0495 x108 or email Nancy.Church@state.ma.us. To get involved in the Monitoring Programs of BayWatcher and CoastWatcher program contact MaryKay Fox at 508-457-0495 ext 109 or email MaryKay.Fox@state.ma.us.

Volunteer Training

Endangered Shorebird Monitor Training
April 8th, 9:30 AM ~ 1:00 PM
New and returning volunteers

Help save a species while walking the beach this spring and summer. Experts from a number of organizations will be on hand to share information and strategies for monitoring and protecting rare shorebirds species found in and near the Reserve. Volunteers will be trained to identify and monitor birds, nests and potential predators and provide information to beach goers about protecting rare species. Contact Nancy Church 508-457-0495 ext.108, nancy.church@state.ma.us

Monitoring Opportunities

BayWatchers Program

Initiated in 1993, the WBNERR BayWatcher program is comprised of volunteer, citizen-based monitors who conduct field sampling and water quality measurements throughout the year. These monitors measure several key environmental parameters in Waquoit Bay and its associated water bodies (Waquoit Bay proper, Childs and Moonakis estuaries, and Hamblin, Jehu, Sage Lot, and Eel ponds). WBNERR BayWatchers form a key data collection component of the WBNERR Water Quality Database. The Reserve’s program is a component of a broad-scale national Database served by all the Reserves in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. This long-term record allows for tracking seasonal variation in environmental parameters to facilitate detection of local, regional, and global changes.

The BayWatcher volunteers are trained and equipped by WBNERR Research staff. Training consists of participation in several training sessions at the WBNERR laboratory and field site. BayWatchers will be contributing to the WBNERR Water Quality Database only after successful completion of the training sessions and also demonstration that unassisted field testing produces repeatable results. Each BayWatcher is responsible for an assigned study site. Some sites are accessible by boat, others are located on public or private docks.

Membership to the program is open; citizen volunteers may join the program at any time.

CoastWatcher Program

WBNERR CoastWatcher program is predominately involved in monitoring coastal erosion on South Cape Beach and Town Beach. CoastWatcher volunteers are trained by WBNERR Research staff. Training consists of direct participation in field sessions at the two beach field sites. You will take measurements of the beach four times per year and just after major coastal storms. Membership to the program is open; citizen volunteers may join the program at any time.

Land Stewardship Observation
Land Steward Observation Form
Waquoit Bay and its tributaries include more than 1200 acres of protected lands in Falmouth and Mashpee. WBNERR has added new pieces of land to the Reserve in recent years and are in the process of adding more. This, of course, means more protected open space. Now, we need your help in managing these lands!
We are recruiting volunteers to assist with a variety of activities to help take care of the lands that make up the Reserve and the surrounding Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. Do you enjoy walking on the wooded roads and trails through the lands that we have protected? Would you be willing to commit to a regular schedule of walking a certain trail or checking on piece of conservation property? We are looking for committed folks who enjoy getting out there and who could report back to us about what is happening on the land, as well as educate others they meet in the woods about our land protection efforts. It's easy! If you walk the woods, you can help!

Endangered Shorebird Monitoring Program

Monitors usually work about 2-4 hours per week walking the beaches March through July (later in some cases).
We need people to walk the beaches both in the mornings and the early evenings every day of the week.
In addition to monitoring the birds, volunteers also help to educate the public about the birds.
Monitors need to be willing to walk long distances on the beach (possibly in the hot sun). Folks who have a boat in Waquoit Bay or Eel Pond might want to participate by monitoring on Washburn Island.

Osprey Watchers
The Reserve has had an eye on the more than 20 osprey nests around Waquoit Bay for the past several years, but a few more eyes would help us to better understand the activity of these birds. They usually return from their southern winter homes in March. We'd like to know when the ospreys arrive in the spring, when they nest, and how many chicks hatch, as well as other things that will help us to inderstand the local population. Maybe you have an osprey nest near your house, or perhaps you are just fascinated by these magnificent birds. If so, we'd like to work with you so that we can get to know these summer visitors a little better.

Registration Form

Check which opportunities you are interested in, then hit submit! We will be in touch very soon to line up an interview.

Visitor Greeters - We are in need of volunteers to staff our Visitor Center Monday through Friday 10 am -- 4 pm and Saturday mornings. The time commitment is 3 hours per week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. We provide all training and education.

Trail Stewards - This committee will work 2-4 hours per week with our Stewardship Coordinator to create and maintain trails within the Reserve properties.

CoastWatchers - This group monitors coastal erosion on South Cape Beach. You will take measurements of the beach four times per year and just after major coastal storms. Reserve Staff will provide training.

Endangered Shorebird Monitoring - March-July. Monitors patrol South Cape Beach and Washburn Island at least once per week to check on the Piping Plovers and other endangered shorebirds that nest at the Reserve. Each patrol takes about 2-4 hours. Training is provided. Some birdwatching experience and a willingness to walk long distances on the beach are a plus. If you have a boat in Waquoit Bay, Eel Pond or the Childs River, we are always in need of monitors on Washburn Island.

Special Events - In the summer, we have many events and activities at the Reserve. If you would like to help with parking, greeting, hanging posters around town, or even serving ice cream, let us know.

Administration - Are you organized? If so we need you to help us occasionally with filing, mailings, copying, and general clerical duties.

Environmental Education - We are always in need of people to help the education staff with their variety of programs here at the Reserve and in schools around the community.

Osprey Watchers - We'd like to know when the ospreys arrive in the spring, when they nest, and how many chicks hatch, as well as other things that will help us to inderstand the local population. Maybe you have an osprey nest near your house, or perhaps you are just fascinated by these magnificent birds. If so, we'd like to work with you so that we can get to know these summer visitors a little better.

BayWatcher -

Art/Illustrations - Photographs of plants and animals in and around the bay can be used to help with presentations to schools and other community groups. We are always in need of illustrators who can draw plants, animals and other line drawings for our newsletters, other publications, and special events.

Other -

I am a:

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Address:

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Phone: Email:

How should we contact you?

Calling me on the phone is the best way to contact me

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What is your interest level?

Yes! I would like to volunteer with Waquoit Bay NERR.

I am no longer available to participate as a volunteer with Waquoit Bay NERR, please remove me from the volunteer list but retain my name on the mailing list as I would like to continue to receive the newsletter.

I am no longer available to participate as a Volunteer please remove me from both the volunteer list AND the mailing list.

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
PO Box 3092, 149 Waquoit Highway
Waquoit, MA 02536
PHONE: 508-457-0495 FAX: 617-727-5537
Volunteer E-mail: Nancy.Church@state.ma.us

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