NSEN Volunteer Hub

Volunteer with the staff at the Back to the Sea Centre to engage with visitors looking to get some hands-on learning around the local marine life of Nova Scotia! Come share our passion to spark curiosity about the ocean with our visitors! From touch tanks to crafts in the kids corner, you will be helping us provide an unforgettable experience for every person coming through our doors.

Potential Duties

• Work at the touch tanks, handling the animals and providing information about the animals to visitors.
• Guide visitors around the centre, providing them with information about the exhibits.
• Hangout in the kids corner and help kids with different crafts and sensory activities.
• Assist staff in various programs presented to visitors.
• Create blog posts for our website!

Skills Needed
Interest in local marine life. Comfortable talking with people of all ages and backgrounds. A passion for ocean conservation!

Location
On-site. Back to the Sea Centre is located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia at 140 Alderney Drive.

Timeline
Positions will be available throughout the summer, starting in May. We will be holding orientations periodically throughout the summer.

Commitment
Very flexible hours, around 2 hours a week.

Volunteers Needed
30

The Halifax North West Trails Association is seeking a secretary to help guide the organization. HNWTA is a small (6-8 member) board focused on education, promotion and use of trails in our neighbourhood. Check out our website to learn more about us. If you don't want to be our secretary consider joining our board as a member at large. We can find other ways to use your skills and interests.

Potential Duties

• Prepare meeting agenda (usually the same every month).
• Send out reminders of upcoming meetings.
• Attend monthly Zoom meetings and take notes (on a simple template using MS word).
• Prep the notes into readable form and send to the board members.

Skills Needed
MS Word, email. Organized It would be nice if you lived in Fairview, Clayton Park, Larry Uteck area but not required. Like to walk or spend time outdoors.

Location
Mix of online and on-site. We often lead walks on the trails in our area, you would be welcome, but not required to attend.

Timeline
Ongoing.

Commitment
2-3 hours per week.

Volunteers Needed
1

To promote KAIROS Halifax social justice events and activities among university students and help find ways to work together on common interests related to social justice such as environment and climate justice and human rights. 

Duties: 1. Make KAIROS Atlantic Facebook and other social media platforms more accessible to members and supporters.
2. Link KAIROS Halifax to campus events related to shared social justice interests, events and activities.

Skills: Computer and communication skills including social media; networking skills with other social justice groups within the university.

2 flexible hours per week.

*Attend KAIROS monthly meeting online if possible.

Nature Nova Scotia is working on a new fundraising policy and strategic planning exercise to prioritize new revenue generating activities to pilot in 2025. We need volunteers to help us chart a path forward to improve financial sustainability.

Potential Duties

• Meet with other committee members semi-regularly to discuss strategic actions.
• Take on one or two targeted actions that help us achieve our goals (ex: conduct a review of similar corporate giving programs at other charities, conduct cold calls to businesses about opportunities to sponsor Nature NS, conduct a review of fundraising policies at other charities, etc.).
• Help the committee prepare and present recommendations for policy and practice to the board.

Skills Needed
Interest in business, social purpose operations, fundraising, etc.

Location
Mix of online and on-site.

On-Site Location

Anywhere in Nova Scotia. Meetings may be online and other activities may take place in the volunteer's community where appropriate.

Timeline
Ongoing, start date is flexible.

Commitment
1-2 hours per month for an expected committee term of 1 year.

Volunteers Needed
2-3

Literature review on moose health, behaviour, and ecology.

Location
Online.

Timeline
TBD.

Commitment
TBD.

Volunteers Needed
1

Nature-themed TikTok content creation.

Location
Online as well as chosen nature sites.

Timeline
Available on an ongoing basis.

Commitment
TBD.

Volunteers Needed
1

The NS Adopt-A-Highway and Great NS Pick-Me-Up Programs are looking for volunteers to register for litter clean-ups. We provide free clean-up supplies and facilitation for planning your clean-up. Clean-ups can take place on roadways, parks, trails, shorelines, and more!

Potential Duties

• Register for a clean-up on nsadoptahighway.ca.
• Organize your clean-up with assistance from the Litter Programs Coordinator.
• Complete your litter clean-up.
• Organize pick-up for the litter that you collect.


• Submit your data by filling out the Data Card provided to you by the Litter Programs Coordinator.

Skills Needed
No skills required, other than the ability to pick up litter!

Location
Mix of online and on-site. On-site location of your choice (cannot be on a 100 series roadway, and clean-ups on provincial roadways require you to fill out an Assumption of Risk Form).

Timeline
Your choice of date/time before November 15th.

Commitment
Approximately 2 hours per clean-up registered.

Volunteers Needed
As many as possible.

The Nova Scotia Biodiversity Caucus is a collection of ENGO representatives and individual citizens who meet regularly to network, collaborate, combine resources, and advance shared priorities.

The Caucus is seeking enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to join our Steering Committee and help shape impactful biodiversity initiatives in the province.

As a Steering Committee member, you will collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations to strengthen efforts to protect and educate about biodiversity, guiding the Caucus' work and ensuring meaningful change in conservation efforts.

Potential Duties

• Attend bimonthly Caucus meetings.
• Meet with other committee members to discuss strategic actions and next steps for the Caucus.
• Take on specific roles based on interests and expertise, including: Co-chair, Secretary, Event Planner, Recruitment/Outreach, Communications, Fundraising Support, or Strategic Planning.
• Assist with outreach and engagement strategies to involve more stakeholders in biodiversity efforts.

Skills Needed

• Passion for biodiversity, environmental conservation, or community engagement.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Interest or experience in strategy, policy-making, or environmental advocacy.
• Ability to research biodiversity-related issues.
• Project management and organizational skills.

Location
Online meetings with occasional, optional in-person events.

On-Site Location

Anywhere in Nova Scotia. Meetings take place online. Flexible opportunities to participate based on your availability and location.

Timeline
Ongoing position with a flexible start date. As soon as possible is preferred.

Commitment
1-2 hours per month for Caucus and Steering Committee meetings, with flexibility for more involvement for specific tasks or projects.

Volunteers Needed
3-5

For more detailed information, please refer to the complete information package here. If you have questions, please contact biodiversity@nsenvironmentalnetwork.com.

NSEN is always looking for skilled volunteers to contribute environmental blog posts to feature on our website, newsletter, and social media platforms.

Potential Duties

• Interviewing environmental experts for Q&A style posts.
• Conducting online research on topics of interest.
• Writing op-eds on topics you are knowledgeable in.
• Acquiring appropriate images to include with the article.
• Citing your information sources.

Location
Online.

Timeline
Available on an ongoing basis.

Commitment
1 article every 1-3 months.

Volunteers Needed
2 or 3

Re-Imagining Atlantic Harbours is surveying Lake Charlotte and Lake Echo this summer. Community volunteers are welcome to learn more!

Potential Duties

• Supporting community events.
• Supporting field technicians.
• Designing and delivering story collection opportunities!
• Promotion of program.

Skills Needed
A passion for Lake ecosystems and community engagement. Experience based on the Eastern Shore and a demonstrated love of the lakes and community.

Location
Mix of online and on-site. Lake Charlotte and Lake Echo.

Timeline
Summer 2024.

Commitment
5 flexible hours per month.

Volunteers Needed
2-5