CONSERVATION CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS

Adventure Scientists is a SciStarter partner that connects outdoor enthusiasts with citizen science projects that help researchers, conservation organizations, and land managers to collect credible field data in places where access, scale, or cost would otherwise limit research and action.

No scientific background needed. Training and support provided.

Check out our current projects:

Adventure Scientists Pacific Northwest Forest Biodiversity Project is Here! Sign up for Email Updates for Project Updates and Volunteering Opportunities
Join the Butternut project
American Beech trees are declining, and Adventure Scientists Forest Resilience and Health projects are here to help!
View All Featured Projects

Join a Community That Cares!

Adventure Scientists volunteers report that participating in projects changes how they think about conservation, science, and their role in protecting the places they care about. The data they collect is used by scientific partners to directly affect research, management, and conservation decisions.

“I got so much value from knowing we could contribute to awareness for these species, as well as promoting a way that we, as runners, can get involved in conservation.”– Craig Lloyd, Wolverine Volunteer

“I volunteer with Adventure Scientists because it allows me to actively participate in preserving the places I enjoy and love most in the outdoors. They make it easy to learn the protocol for collecting the samples. So easy that now I take samples whether it’s on a weekend hike in my own backyard here in Patagonia or abroad on vacation.” – Stevie Anna Plummer, Snow and Ice Volunteer

“The world will never become a better place if everyone thinks ‘someone else will go fix it’, so volunteering for Adventure Scientists is one of the ways I hope I can be that ‘someone else’ who helps things get better.” – Jon McFarland, Microplastics Volunteer

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Are You Planning an Expedition

If you’re planning a unique adventure or expedition, Adventure Scientists can connect you with researchers who need field data from specific regions or environments, making your time outside even more impactful.

Find a Scientific PArtner

Volunteer Field Job FAQs

What is Citizen Science?

Citizen science (sometimes called community science) allows everyday people to contribute to scientific research by collecting observations, data, samples, or photographs that help answer important environmental questions.

Adventure Scientists specializes in outdoor, field-based citizen science. We partner with scientists and conservation organizations to collect hard-to-gather data across large landscapes and remote environments.

Our volunteers help gather information that supports:

  • Wildlife conservation
  • Forest health monitoring
  • Biodiversity research
  • Ecosystem restoration
  • Marine conservation
  • Public lands stewardship

Your next hike, paddle, backpacking trip, or dive could help generate the data conservation depends on. 

What is an Adventure Scientists volunteer?

Adventure Scientists’ volunteers EXPLORE the planet while making a difference. They COLLECT data to PROTECT critical species and ecosystems.

These are thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, scientific partners, and community members who:

  • Support making an impact in conservation
  • Pay attention to detail when collecting data
  • Creatively solve problems in challenging situations
  • Engage their communities by sharing their experiences
Does it cost anything to volunteer with Adventure Scientists?

No, there is no cost to volunteer with Adventure Scientists. We encourage you to check our our current volunteer field data collection opportunities and sign up to stay up to date on our impact and new opportunities.

How else can I get involved with Adventure Scientists?

Donate to support conservation to save our planet! Consider partnering with Adventure Scientists and sharing your contacts with Adventure Scientists to help spread credible field data that supports conservation and environmental decision-making.

In addition to becoming an Adventure Scientists volunteer, you can sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook and  Instagram to stay up to date on our new conservation projects. 

Can I work with Adventure Scientists to develop a conservation project or field data collection opportunity?

We work closely with agencies, research institutions, NGOs, universities, and the scientific community to develop high-quality conservation projects that create impact. If your project meets our criteria, submit a consultation request on our project management page.

Can groups sign up to volunteer with Adventure Scientists?

Yes, we encourage group field science opportunities. Every field conservation volunteer will need to sign up individually and be trained through Adventure Scientists. To preserve the integrity of our research-grade data, any sample taken from someone not in our system will be rejected. If there are members of your group who cannot complete the requirements needed to collect samples, consider having those members collect additional observations (e.g., date, time, GPS coordinates, photos).

What does an Adventure Scientists volunteer do?

Adventure Scientists trained outdoor volunteers collect critical field data for our scientific partners to support conservation and environmental decision-making.

Each project is unique and requires different skill sets, but each volunteer will:

 

Found Us Through SciStarter?

You’re not alone. Thousands of people use SciStarter to discover citizen science projects and ways to contribute to scientific research. Adventure Scientists offers outdoor-focused opportunities where volunteers collect real-world conservation data that helps researchers better understand and protect wildlife, forests, oceans, and ecosystems.

Find a project. Join our community. Support conservation science.