VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — With the arrival of a new year, Volusia County has organized several volunteer programs for the community. Their goal is to get more people to learn about the resources available to them and how to best take care of them.

What You Need To Know

  • Volusia County offers several volunteer opportunities throughout the year for residents to get involved

  • Their goal is to get more people to learn about the resources available to them and how to best take care of them

  • If you are looking to join one of these programs, here’s a list of upcoming volunteering opportunities with Volusia County

“All of our county conservation lands are free, accessible to the public. So, we just encourage people to get out here on your own,” said Explore Volusia environmental specialist Tommy Nordmann. “And if you don’t know what to do and when you get out here, you can always join one of our programs.”

Holly Giles leads the Be Florida Now and Green Volusia volunteer programs and has been working as an environmental specialist in Volusia County for four years.

“I am a fourth generation Floridian,” said Giles. “I think it’s really important for people to understand the value of the uniqueness of Florida.”

Giles says Riverbreeze Park is the only county park open seven days a week, 24 hours a day with access to a boat ramp. To keep it up, they need the help from volunteers, that’s why on Jan. 16, they will host a Nature Walk and Cleanup, one among many volunteering opportunities the county offers.  

“Our goal is to get people out to all the diversity that we have here in Volusia County,” she said. “Our environmental resources are amazing. And I think getting out hands on and seeing it and participating in it gives them a sense of ownership as well.”

Giles says volunteers will be able to learn about Mosquito Lagoon, shore birds, mangroves, and invasive species while helping clean up trash items along the shore and boat ramp area.

“When I was walking along here, a lot of times we can see a lot of trash that gets down into the mangroves here. And that’s an easy way that volunteers can help us,” she said. “So, we’ll come out here and we supply the buckets and grabbers and different things, and we’ll spend about a half an hour.”

And not everything will be volunteer work, Giles says they also leave time for exciting discoveries.

“We usually bring a lot of things with us that people can use, like binoculars,” she said. “We all have bird books so people can identify birds and just give them an opportunity to learn something new or see something they haven’t seen before.”

That includes sightings of dolphins and manatees who make the Riverbreeze Park their home.

The county offers volunteer opportunities like this all throughout the year. They post them on Eventbrite every month, and depending on staff availability, they limit the capacity at 15 to 20 people, with reservations being required.  

“Volusia County spends a lot of time managing the parks and buying conservation lands for the future,” Giles said. “But if no one knows about them, it won’t be important to the next generation. And the only way we figure it out is one on one.”

If you are looking to join one of these programs, here’s a list of upcoming volunteering opportunities in Volusia County. You can also check their monthly newsletter here.

  • January 12th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tomoka Landfill Tour and Cleanup

Join Environmental Specialist Holly Giles at the Tomoka Landfill. Learn about the importance of proper trash disposal. See what happens to trash after it’s brought to the landfill and participate in the Adopt-a-Road program by doing a roadside cleanup. Meet at Tomoka Landfill—Park at the office building on the right. Reservations are required. Limited spots are available.

Location: 1990 Tomoka Farms Road, Port Orange, 32128

  • January 16th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Nature Walk and Cleanup

Join Environmental Specialist Holly Giles and Explore Volusia Education Specialist Tommy Nordmann at Riverbreeze Park as they share about Mosquito Lagoon, shore birds, mangroves, and invasive species. We will clean up trash items along the shore and boat ramp area. There may be sightings of dolphins and manatees. Reservations are required.

Location: 250 H. H. Birch Road, Oak Hill, 32759

  • January 17th from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Animal Signs Hike

Participants will join Explore Volusia Education Specialist Tommy Nordmann on the 4.4-mile yellow trail in Deep Creek Preserve. We’ll search for animal tracks, bird calls, and other signs of animal presence. This hike is for the adventurous and is not for beginners or children. Wear close-toed shoes and bring plenty of water and snacks. Reservations are required.

Location: 964 S SR-415, New Smyrna Beach, 32168

  • January 17th from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Bicycle Ride

Join Environmental Specialist Holly Giles and the DeBary Hall Historic Site team for a nine-mile round trip from DeBary Hall Trailhead to Lake Monroe Park and back. Learn about the history and ecology of the area as we explore this beautiful spring-to-spring trail. Ages 12 and up are welcome. An adult must accompany children. Participants will provide their bicycles and helmets. Reservations are required. Limited spots are available.

Location: 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary, 32713

  • January 20th from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Native Fruit Tree Giveaway

Volusia County Environmental Management will give away native fruit trees on January 20th—two trees per Volusia County resident. First come, first serve basis. Follow the signs on Prevatt Road for drive- through directions to pick up your trees.

Location: Volusia County Extension/ Fairgrounds parking lot 3150 E. New York Avenue, Deland 32724

  • January 25th from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Forest Service Eco Buggy Tour

Florida Prescribed Fire Awareness Week. Florida Forest Service staff will discuss and demonstrate the use and benefits of prescribed fire in land management and wildland fuels reduction. Forest Rangers will demonstrate the use of equipment in the field on prescribed fire and answer questions. Foresters will be onsite. Burning demonstration is weather dependent. All ages are welcome. Reservations are required. Limited space available.

Location: Tiger Bay State Forest 2201 Rima Ridge Road, Ormond Beach, 32174

  • January 26th from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Birding Walk

Bring your binoculars and walk with Explore Volusia Education Specialist Tommy Nordmann in Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve. We’ll search for native Florida birds and discuss the adaptations they must have to survive in an estuarine habitat. Participants must wear closed-toed shoes. Trails may be wet and muddy, so be prepared with appropriate footwear. Extra binoculars will be available. All ages are welcome. Reservations are required.

Location: 6250 S. Ridgewood Avenue, Port Orange, 32127

  • January 27th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Manatee Festival

Environmental Specialist Holly Giles and Green Volusia Volunteers will have a booth at the Blue Spring Manatee Festival. See us to learn more about the Be Floridian Now and Green Volusia Volunteer programs. All ages are welcome. You don’t need to register. Blue Spring State Park hosts this event and is open to the public.

Location: 2100 W. French Avenue, Orange City 32763

  • January 31st  from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Eco Buggy Tour

Hop on the Eco Buggy with Explore Volusia Education Specialist Tommy Nordmann and Environmental Specialist Holly Giles, and learn about the importance of fire to the Flatwoods and scrub habitats in Florida. Land management practices, including prescribed burns, will be discussed. Participants will learn how plants and animals have adapted to survive fires in their habitat. Participants must wear closed-toed shoes. All ages are welcome. Reservations are required. Limited space available.

Location: Deep Creek Preserve 964 S SR-415, New Smyrna Beach, 32168