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Community Engaged Science and Education – Volunteer
Community Engaged Science and Education
We foster lifelong connections between people and nature, strengthening communities’ capacity to care for the natural world through place-based and outdoor educational programs, volunteer service, and community science.
By Topic
Explore the different ways we support community engaged science and education throughout the state
Volunteer in Nature
We provide volunteer opportunities where you can engage in community science while making a difference. Spend time in nature and recharge your batteries while strengthening environmental stewardship efforts and increasing your environmental science literacy.
Water Action Volunteers Program
Help protect Wisconsin’s wadeable streams and rivers by becoming a Water Action Volunteers stream monitoring volunteer. Over 500 volunteers across the state adopt stream sites to monitor for different aspects of stream health, including water quality, aquatic invasive species, fish habitat, and macroinvertebrates.
Citizen Lake Monitoring Network
Join a network of over 1,000 volunteers who monitor Wisconsin’s lakes. UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes and Wisconsin DNR staff provide training, support, and equipment for lake volunteers to monitor for water clarity, chemistry, aquatic invasive species, ice cover, and more.
Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program
Through the statewide Clean Boats, Clean Waters program organized by UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes, paid and volunteer inspectors are trained to organize and conduct a boater education program in their community. Adults and youth inspectors perform boat and trailer checks for aquatic invasive species, distribute informational brochures, and collect and report any new aquatic invasive species presence in water bodies.
UW Urban Canid Project
If you spot a coyote or red fox in Madison, report it on iNaturalist! With your help, we are studying the behaviors of urban coyotes and foxes to be able to proactively manage for peaceful coexistence. With the right knowledge, living with wild urban canids can be safe, enjoyable, and rewarding.
Wisconsin Master Naturalist Volunteer Opportunities
Trained Master Naturalists use their newfound knowledge and skills to make a difference within their communities. We will help you find an opportunity to make a difference. You can inspire others through education, contribute to important data collection as a community scientist, or get physical with stewardship activities. There’s a role for everyone.
Featured Resources
Get to know common and uncommon aquatic invasive plants and animals in Wisconsin using this handy guidebook. It also includes the aquatic invasive species monitoring methods for both lake and stream monitoring volunteers.
Expand your knowledge of Wisconsin’s aquatic life and stream, lake, and wetland ecosystems and issues by watching recordings from the Winter Water Talks webinar series hosted by the Water Action Volunteers Program and Citizen Lake Monitoring Network.
Explore the abundant aquatic life living underwater with these free learning resources that help you collect, identify, and understand aquatic macroinvertebrates in streams, lakes, and wetlands.