Volunteer Programs

Getting involved with the work happening on the Reserve is one of the most rewarding ways you can experience this land. Good for the wildlife, good for you, good for future generations—it’s a win-win-win.

There is no shortage of ways to love your wild.

Start with something as simple as cultivating seeds at one of our nurseries, join us for a little trail maintenance, or dive deep and train to be an NROC guide. Whether you want to dedicate a day or a lifetime, there are opportunities to match your interests and availability.

Habitat Restoration

Head out in the field and help us enhance the Reserve’s ecosystems by planting native species, weeding out invasive plants, and learning more about the ways we support the land’s wildlife.

Native Plant Cultivation

Get your hands dirty without going too far at a plant nursery or native seed farm—it’s where the magic begins! Help care for growing plants, harvest and clean seeds, and get plants ready to be put in the wild.

Interpretive Tours + Environmental Education

A truly rewarding experience! Get trained to lead or assist on nature tours, including hikes, mountain bike treks, and horseback rides. Get to know the land on a truly intimate level, and share your enthusiasm for the Reserve with visitors of all ages.

Fire Prevention + Safety Monitoring

Wildfires are one of the biggest threats to our wildlife. Get trained to volunteer as a lookout on high-risk days, bolstering our first line of defense to protect open space and surrounding neighborhoods.

Trail Maintenance

Love the Reserve’s trails? Put that passion to work by helping to keep these beloved public paths safe, clear, and accessible, which protects the surrounding habitat, too.

Visitor Services + Public Engagement

Calling all friendly folks! Volunteer your time at one of the Reserve’s education centers, help with educational programs, get involved with special events, or channel your love into community outreach.

Invasive Plant Removal

What gets taken out of the Reserve is just as important as what goes into it! Join us for the extremely satisfying experience of digging things up that don’t belong. The native species will thank you!

Donations + Corporate Volunteerism

They say time is money, but money is money too, and there are a handful of nonprofit organizations caring for the Reserve that gladly accept tax-deductible donations, including the Natural Communities Coalition, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Crystal Cove Conservancy, and Newport Bay Conservancy. Does your company support employee volunteerism? The Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Crystal Cove Conservancy are happy to host corporate volunteer days.

Citizen Science

Caring for the Reserve means understanding its intricate ecosystems, so we can support the wildlife here in the best way possible. Join local experts on observational outings to help gather data that informs our conservation efforts and helps track our progress.

Volunteer Organizations

Looking for somewhere to volunteer? Visit these NROC partners for activations and volunteer programs going on in your local park.

Taking care of the NROC is a giant group effort

For more than three decades, land managers, landowners, environmental organizations, government entities, and countless volunteers have collaborated to protect and sustain the Reserve's thousands of acres of open space. Learn more.

Honoring the Original Stewards

For thousands of years, the ancestors of the Acjachemen and Tongva people have cared for the lands we now call Orange County. We acknowledge the ongoing stewardship of the region’s Indigenous communities as we work to preserve our local wildlands.