Volunteer To Save Our National Marine Sanctuaries
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer
Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to shape the future of our oceans and our lands so that our next generation would be able to benefit from the beauty of our efforts? The opportunities are simply endless when you begin to weigh all the possibilities.
If the ocean is your safe haven away from the challenges of normal everyday activities, volunteering in one of the many National Marine Sanctuaries across the United States could mean a glorious sense of fulfillment and hours of pleasure while enjoying your passion. It is so crucial to be able to keep our marine sanctuaries as America’s underwater treasures for decades to come. So just what makes up these treasures? Astounding rocky reefs, lush kelp forests, whale migration corridors, breathtaking deep-sea canyons and underwater archaeological sites are all the items that distinguish the magnificence of the National Marine Sanctuaries. Size can vary from as small as one square mile to 137,792 miles and extend from Washington State to the Florida Keys or from Lake Huron to American Samoa.
There are some very impressive programs taking place these days to drive home the importance of keeping our natural habitats safe and healthy. It all begins with our youngsters and Ocean Guardian Programs have been established with great success to encourage students of all ages to explore the wonders of the ocean and personally connect with its inhabitants. There are activity books, classroom sessions and even dive clubs. Schools are eager to get involved in this initiative.
If your passion reaches out and you have that desire to make the necessary difference in the health of our oceans, go to the NOAA website and determine where your skills and interests can come into play. It could be any activity from diving and observing to whale identification, beach cleanups, water quality monitoring, collecting field observations and surveys, wildlife monitoring and even acting as visitor center educators and guides. After its inception in the mid-1990’s, the entire volunteer program has taken off and had a major impact on our oceans and National Marine Sanctuaries. There are some staggering statistics that deserve to be recognized:
- In 2015, national marine sanctuary volunteers contributed over 149,000 hours across the system, which is equivalent to 74 full-time federal employees.
- Sanctuary volunteers contributed $3.46M to the sanctuary system last year (calculated using the non-profit organization Independent Sector’s 2015 estimated value of volunteer time of $23.07 per hour).
- In 2015, 8,485 of these volunteers specifically supported citizen science efforts helping to answer real-world scientific questions with a total of 72,346 hours.
Since 2003, the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation have recognized the important work of volunteers around the country and annually named one as Volunteer of the Year. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment that will overcome you as you strive to be a Volunteer of the Year.
Finding your special place in this thrilling marine world could even lead to a lifelong career in the field. There really are no boundaries and no limits to what you can do with pride, dedication and a desire to keep our Marine Sanctuaries clean and healthy. See what this could have to offer to you for a greater sense of satisfaction. Check out the many career opportunities on the NOAA website.
