Beach Cleanup Participant

As a Beach Cleanup Participant, you’ll connect with other passionate volunteers who share your commitment to keeping our beaches clean and beautiful.

You’ll start by meeting at a designated beach, where you’ll sign a waiver, receive a quick introduction and safety briefing, and pick up cleanup supplies. From there, you’ll team up with fellow volunteers to comb the beach, collecting litter and making a tangible impact on the environment.

Together, we can make a difference—one beach at a time—and build a stronger, cleaner future for our oceans and communities.

• Volunteer type: One-time or recurring as your schedule permits
• Time commitment: Roughly 2-3 hours, usually on a Saturday
• How to get involved: Check the calendar on this page for a list of upcoming cleanups or email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name and contact info

Beach Cleanup Leader

As a Beach Cleanup Leader, you’ll play a key role in organizing and hosting beach cleanups. This is an excellent opportunity to get involved with your local community and make a huge impact on keeping our coastlines clean.

Organizing a cleanup takes roughly two to three hours or preparation a few weeks before the event. This includes getting city permits online, posting flyers, and a few additional tasks.

Hosting a cleanup takes roughly three hours the day of the event. This includes getting the supplies (table, gloves, buckets, grabbers, etc.)  from our storage facility near the Santa Cruz harbor, setting up a table at the beach, ensuring waivers are signed, and answering any questions volunteers may have.

For this role, we provide training and assistance, so we’re seeking volunteers who can commit to leading at least three to four cleanups a year.  

• Volunteer type: Ongoing
• Time commitment: Roughly 5-6 hours per clean up
• How to get involved: Email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name, contact info, availability, and any additional info you think is helpful

Blue Water Task Force Coordinator

As the Blue Water Task Force Water Coordinator, you'll play an essential role in protecting public health and the environment by coordinating the local water quality testing program that collects water samples from designated beach and coastal sites and delivering them to our testing lab near the Santa Cruz Harbor.

Your efforts will directly contribute to identifying potential pollution issues, promoting clean water, and ensuring the safety of our local waterways. Click here for the Program Coordinator Handbook and here are the responsibilities:

• Act as the main point of contact and representative for the Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) program
• Determine sampling sites based on input from chapter, volunteers, partners, and local needs
• Manage BWTF volunteers by creating sampling and laboratory schedules
• Provide training for volunteers
• Ensure Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QAQC) measures are being properly followed for sampling and laboratory protocols
• Ensure all results are uploaded into BWTF website after each sampling event and communicated out to the chapter and local community
• Keep track of laboratory supplies and place orders with the Surfrider HQ BWTF Manager
• Troubleshoot laboratory issues with Surfrider HQ BWTF Manager
  
  
• Volunteer type: Ongoing
• Time commitment: Roughly 1 hr per week
• How to get involved: Email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name, contact info, preferred beach(es), availability, and any additional info you think is helpful

Blue Water Task Force Water Sampler

As a Blue Water Task Force Water Sampler, you'll play an essential role in protecting public health and the environment by collecting water samples from designated beach and coastal sites and delivering them to our testing lab near the Santa Cruz Harbor.

Your efforts will directly contribute to identifying potential pollution issues, promoting clean water, and ensuring the safety of our local waterways.

We’re seeking dedicated volunteers who can commit to weekly sampling, helping us gather reliable data to keep the community informed and safe.  

• Volunteer type: Ongoing
• Time commitment: Roughly 1 hr per week
• How to get involved: There is currently a wait list for this position until we get the Blue Water Task Force Program Coordinator position filled. To join the wait list, please email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name, contact info, preferred beach(es), availability, and any additional info you think is helpful

Blue Water Task Force Lab Analyst

As a Blue Water Task Force Lab Analyst, you’ll assist with analyzing water samples collected from local beaches and coastal sites. Working in our lab near the Santa Cruz Harbor, you’ll follow established procedures to test for water quality indicators and help identify potential pollution risks. 

Your work will be critical in providing accurate, timely data that informs the community about water safety and supports efforts to protect the environment and public health.

We’re seeking dedicated volunteers who can commit to regular shifts, ensuring consistent and reliable testing to monitor and safeguard our local waterways.  No experience required. Training provided.

• Volunteer type: Ongoing
• Time commitment: Roughly 1 hour per week
• How to get involved: There is currently a wait list for this position until we get the Blue Water Task Force Program Coordinator position filled. To join the wait list, please email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name, contact info, preferred beach(es), availability, and any additional info you think is helpful

Beach Guardian

As a Beach Guardian, you’ll help monitor and protect coastal access and water quality by keeping an eye on activities and conditions in your local neighborhoods and coastal areas.

This volunteer role involves staying alert to any issues that could impact the health of our beaches—such as pollution, illegal dumping, or actions that restrict public access.

You'll report concerns to our team, helping us address potential threats before they escalate. Your observations and reports will play a crucial part in ensuring that our coastal areas remain accessible, clean, and safe for everyone.

• Volunteer type: Ongoing
• Time commitment: Simple notifications only when you see something
• How to get involved: Email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name, contact info, availability, and any additional info you think is helpful

Impact Ambassador

As an Impact Ambassador, you’ll help spread the word about Surfrider events, programs, and campaigng by keeping an eye on our social media and chapter newsletters. We're looking for people who are involved with surf clubs, and community groups, along with students at schools throughout Santa Cruz County.

This volunteer role involves inviting your friends and family to Surfrider volunteer opportunities, events and encouraging them to take action on local issues.

• Volunteer type: Ongoing
• Time commitment: Minimal and it varies depending on the number of upcoming events and opportunities.
• How to get involved: Email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name, contact info, availability, and any additional info you think is helpful

Policy Committee

As a Policy Committee Volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in supporting Surfrider’s mission by tracking and engaging in public policy at the city, county, state, and federal levels. This involves staying informed on legislation and regulations that impact coastal access, water quality, and environmental protection, and providing feedback or taking action as needed to advance our advocacy goals.

You’ll collaborate with a team of volunteers and staff to review policies, draft letters, attend meetings, and participate in campaigns that shape the future of coastal conservation.

This role offers a unique opportunity to be directly involved in influencing policy decisions that have a lasting impact on our beaches and oceans. We’re seeking volunteers who are passionate about environmental advocacy and eager to help drive change at all levels of government.

• Volunteer type: Ongoing
• Time commitment: Roughly 1-2 hours per week
• How to get involved: Email volunteercoordinator@santacruz.surfrider.org with your name, contact info, availability, and any additional info you think is helpful