Opportunities From: Galveston Bay Foundation

Track the tide. Tally the debris.

Join Galveston Bay Foundation and our partners at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to document the debris that reaches our shoreline.

This is more than a cleanup. This is community science and the data you help collect will tell the story of where debris comes from and how it moves through the Bay.

As a Marine Debris Survey Volunteer, you will:

Collect and remove trash from designated shoreline survey plots Help measure and mark survey areas using simple field tools Sort and identify debris by type to support NOAA data collection Record findings alongside staff and trained volunteers Assist with loading and unloading supplies

No experience needed. Staff will guide you through each step of the survey process.

This role involves walking on sand, mud, or uneven shoreline terrain while working outdoors. Dress for the weather and bring water.

Minors welcome. Volunteers under 18 must be registered with a parent or guardian and accompanied by an adult chaperone.

Your effort helps turn today’s data into tomorrow’s solutions for the Bay.

Grow native plants. Restore the prairie.

At the GBF EcoCenter Greenhouse, staff and volunteers cultivate native plants to restore and manage coastal tallgrass prairie across the Galveston Bay region.

Every Thursday and Saturday from 8:00–11:00 AM, volunteers work in the nursery to support one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. This work helps create habitat for wildlife and strengthens natural flood protection.

As a Nursery Volunteer, you will:

Weed and pot plants Mix soil and rotate plants Clean and sort seeds Assist with seasonal nursery maintenance

No experience is necessary; we will show you what to do!

Getting There

Search for “EcoCenter Sponsored by Reliant” when using Google Maps - View site on Google.com . Alternatively, you can enter the coordinates (29.750970027078534, -94.91775406482465) into your maps application as you would a street address. From TX-99 and W Bay Rd/Old F-M Rd 1405 Head north to turn into Bayer Rd. Turn left on the restricted road; you will see an EcoCenter directional sign (its like a small yard sign with a blue arrow). Continue on the restricted road for 200 ft until you reach the EcoCenter on the left.
Note: The Ecocenter does not have a public address and is a part of the larger NRG Cedar Bayou campus. Getting here can be complicated without a map application. Feel free to contact Carter Clay, Nursery Operations, at cclay@galvbay.org (281)684-2858 before you come for more help with how to get there.

Your time in the nursery helps grow native plants that restore habitat, support wildlife, and protect communities around Galveston Bay.

Help Native Plants Find New Homes

Every spring, Galveston Bay Foundation hosts a community native plant sale to help residents bring more habitat into their own backyards and neighborhoods. This year we will be concurrently hosting a Rain Barrel Workshop for those interested in learning about water conservation for the Bay.

As an Event Setup Volunteer, you will work alongside GBF staff to unload plants, organize them by species, and prepare the space for the next day’s visitors.

By helping us prepare plants for sale, you make it easier for residents to choose native species that benefit pollinators, birds, and the greater Galveston Bay watershed.

This is a physically active volunteer role involving light lifting and organizing. Restrooms are available onsite. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Please check in with GBF staff inside the BBQ shed upon arrival. You will receive a quick orientation and task overview before setup begins.

Parking & Where to Meet
We will meet at Walter Hall Park at the BBQ Shed adjacent to the Community Center. When entering the park, continue to go straight and park in the first parking lot. You will see a GBF truck and trailer in the next lot over. Give yourself enough time to park and use the restroom so you are ready to help at the start of your shift.

Help Native Plants Find New Homes

Every spring, Galveston Bay Foundation hosts a community native plant sale to help residents bring more habitat into their own backyards and neighborhoods. This year we will be concurrently hosting a Rain Barrel Workshop for those interested in learning about water conservation for the Bay.

As an Event Support Volunteer, you’ll help maintain plant organization, restock inventory as needed, and provide support to staff and customers throughout the event.

By helping us prepare plants for sale, you make it easier for residents to choose native species that benefit pollinators, birds, and the greater Galveston Bay watershed.

This is a physically active volunteer role involving light lifting and organizing. Restrooms are available onsite. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Please check in with GBF staff inside the BBQ shed upon arrival. You will receive a quick orientation and task overview before setup begins.

Parking & Where to Meet
We will meet at Walter Hall Park at the BBQ Shed adjacent to the Community Center. When entering the park, continue to go straight and park in the first parking lot. You will see a GBF truck and trailer in the next lot over. Give yourself enough time to park and use the restroom so you are ready to help at the start of your shift.

Help Native Plants Find New Homes

Every spring, Galveston Bay Foundation hosts a community native plant sale to help residents bring more habitat into their own backyards and neighborhoods. This year we will be concurrently hosting a Rain Barrel Workshop for those interested in learning about water conservation for the Bay.

As an Event Breakdown Volunteer, you will work alongside GBF staff to load any remaining plants, breakdown equipment, gather remaining plants, and load up the GBF trailer. 

By helping us prepare plants for sale, you make it easier for residents to choose native species that benefit pollinators, birds, and the greater Galveston Bay watershed.

This is a physically active volunteer role involving light lifting and organizing. Restrooms are available onsite. Refreshments will be provided.

Please check in with GBF staff inside the BBQ shed upon arrival. You will receive a quick orientation and task overview before setup begins.

Parking & Where to Meet
We will meet at Walter Hall Park at the BBQ Shed adjacent to the Community Center. When entering the park, continue to go straight and park in the first parking lot. You will see a GBF truck and trailer in the next lot over. Give yourself enough time to park and use the restroom so you are ready to help at the start of your shift.

Healthy bird populations are an indicator of a healthy Bay.

Join the Galveston Bay Foundation for a monthly bird survey led by Texas Master Naturalist and Lead GBF Volunteer, Lisa Hardcastle, at Sweetwater Preserve, a 140-acre GBF property that is not open to the public. This restored site includes coastal prairie, estuarine marsh, salt flats, freshwater wetlands, brackish wetlands, and coastal woodlots, which support a wide variety of resident and migratory birds.

All levels of birders are welcome! Bring your own binoculars and field gear.

Surveys take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 a.m. at the end of 103rd Street in Galveston. From there, participants will drive short distances to three survey areas. The survey typically lasts three to four hours, but volunteers may leave early if needed.

No restrooms on site. Conditions can vary, so wear closed-toe shoes (boots recommended) and bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and plenty of water.

DATA COLLECTION
Survey results will be submitted to GBF staff and eBird, and the eBird list will be shared with all registered participants. These data help document species use of restored coastal habitat in the Galveston Bay watershed.

Get dirty helping grow the Bay!

The Gessner Center is Galveston Bay Foundation’s new visitor hub in Kemah, TX. It will be home to our aquatic nursery program—where we grow and prepare wetland plants that are critical to restoring habitat, improving water quality, and supporting the long-term health of Galveston Bay.

As an Aquatic Nursery Volunteer, you will assist GBF staff with hands-on plant care.

Depending on the needs of the nursery, may help with watering, weeding, trimming, shifting plants, repotting wetland plants, and removing algae buildup from nursery ponds.

Some workdays may also include planting in our wetland pools and will be communicated in advance.

If you would like to help rotate or retrieve plants from the aquatic pools, you are encouraged to bring tall rubber boots.

Expect to get dirty and muddy!

By caring for nursery plants that will be used in restoration, you directly support healthier wetlands and a healthier Galveston Bay.

No experience is necessary. Staff will show you everythingyou need to know. Be prepared to walk across uneven terrain. Restrooms will be available onsite.

Learn more about getting to and parking at GBF Headquarters↗

All minors must be accompanied by a registered guardian or approved chaperone.

Track the tide. Tally the debris.

Join Galveston Bay Foundation and our partners at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to document the debris that reaches our shoreline.

This is more than a cleanup. This is community science and the data you help collect will tell the story of where debris comes from and how it moves through the Bay.

As a Marine Debris Survey Volunteer, you will:

Collect and remove trash from designated shoreline survey plots Help measure and mark survey areas using simple field tools Sort and identify debris by type to support NOAA data collection Record findings alongside staff and trained volunteers Assist with loading and unloading supplies

No experience needed. Staff will guide you through each step of the survey process.

This role involves walking on sand, mud, or uneven shoreline terrain while working outdoors. Dress for the weather and bring water.

Minors welcome. Volunteers under 18 must be registered with a parent or guardian and accompanied by an adult chaperone.

Your effort helps turn today’s data into tomorrow’s solutions for the Bay.

What we throw away doesn’t go away.

Even the smallest pieces of trash can have a ripple effect on marine life, communities, and future generations. As the second most productive estuary ↗ in the United States, Galveston Bay supports both wildlife and the people who depend on it.

This cleanup is part of the regional Trash Free Gulf initiative ↗, a collaborative effort to reduce marine debris and protect coastal ecosystems across the Gulf.

As a shoreline cleanup volunteer, you and your team will:

Use gloves, trash grabbers, buckets, and bags to collect and remove litter from the shoreline Participate in a litter audit Work in tandem at a site where we are conducting a Marine Debris Survey, helping remove debris after the survey has been completed in random transects If you encounter them, help remove small plastic pellets called nurdles, which are especially common near the check-in area

No experience is necessary. We will show you what to do.

Restrooms are available nearby at the park. Be prepared to stand and walk for over an hour. Come prepared with a reusable water bottle and appropriate outdoor clothing.

NOTE: All minors must be accompanied by a registered parent/guardian or approved chaperone over the age of 18. Parents or guardians must register and complete a waiver for participants under age 18.

By removing marine debris from the shoreline, you help protect wildlife, improve water quality, and keep Galveston Bay healthier for people and nature.

Site Map & Where to Meet Why This Work Matters

Debris poses a serious threat to this ecosystem. Trash that enters the Bay can:

Entangle or be ingested by wildlife Damage fragile coastal habitats Block oxygen from reaching the water Release harmful chemicals that impact animals and people

Learn more about marine debris prevention and recovery through Trash Free Gulf ↗ and visit texasseagrant.org ↗ for more information on monofilament recycling.

The Trash Free Gulf campaign, a program of the Gulf Trust, is presented by H-E-B's Our Texas, Our Future

Make Wednesdays count for the coast

Join a growing community of volunteers who are restoring and caring for Galveston Bay’s habitats. Work alongside staff and fellow volunteers at our Gessner Center and see the impact of your efforts week by week.

This is a hands-on stewardship role where you will build practical skills, spend time outdoors, and be part of a team making visible progress each week.

As a Coastal Care Volunteer, you will:

Plant native species, remove overgrowth, and maintain habitat areas Use hand tools and assist with safe, organized fieldwork Help prepare and move tools, plants, and materials Learn directly from staff about coastal ecosystems and restoration

No experience needed. We provide all training, tools, and guidance. Just show up ready to help!

Restrooms and wifi available onsite. All tools and supplies provided. Minors (16+) welcome with a registered adult chaperone.

This role involves outdoor work in sun, mud, and uneven terrain. Review heat safety guidelines here.

Plan your visit and parking (↗)

Your weekly effort restores habitat and helps create outdoor spaces where people can learn, explore, and connect with Galveston Bay.