Volunteer's Corner: Working to Protect and Preserve the Environment of Long Island and Beyond

Volunteering is the ultimate act of kindness. Giving one's time and energy to help out others is so much more rewarding than just donating money to a worthy organization. Volunteer opportunities abound on Long Island and everywhere for people who'd like to lend a hand to someone less fortunate than themselves. Volunteering can take many forms, whether it's utilizing a special skill or just lending an ear to someone who could use one.

The Long Island Volunteer Center is part of the 1-800Volunteer.org network, an organization dedicated to connecting people who want to volunteer with the organizations that need help. Both organizations are wonderful resources for anyone looking to give back to society and volunteer their services, whatever they may be.

In this edition of Volunteer's Corner, we take a look at organizations that are dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment in order to make the world a better place for ourselves and future generations. These non-profit organizations are always on the lookout for people who care and want to volunteer their time to contribute to their efforts.

New York Natural Farming

255 Oregon Rd., Mattituck, NY 11952

Mark Ungar (917)658-2672

New York Natural Farming is a farm located on Long Island's North Fork in Mattituck. The farm seeks to continually produce organically grown fruits and vegetables with minimal impact to the environment. Some of the activities the organization seeks to involve itself in are learning and putting into practice the latest in organic farming technologies and techniques, beekeeping, composting, and eventually livestock. The farm is always on the lookout for volunteers and interns to get involved with any of these operations, as well as in other much needed areas like public relations, marketing, management, and helping to teach other area farms to learn to convert to organic.

Coastal Steward Adopt a Beach Program

516-946-6560

http://www.coastalsteward.com/index.html

At more than 118 miles in length, Long Island is one of the largest islands in the United States and home to miles and miles of beautiful coastline. The Coastal Steward Adopt a Beach Program is an organization dedicated to preserving both the natural beauty and the pristine wildlife that resides in and around its waters. They're always on the lookout for volunteers to help with activities such as beach cleanups, shellfish restoration, fish tagging, osprey platforming, and coastal steward investigations throughout the beaches of Long Island.

Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society

http://www.fireislandlighthouse.com/index.html

The very first Fire Island lighthouse was constructed in 1826 on the grounds of what is today Robert Moses State Park. The lighthouse has a storied history, serving for many years in its important role as a beacon for transatlantic crossings, and has undergone several changes over the years. For almost 30 years, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society has taken on the duties of maintaining and preserving the history of this monument that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and volunteers willing to serve as tour guides, nature walk leaders, gift shop workers and more are always welcome.

These are just three of the many organizations dedicated to helping preserve both the historical and natural environment of Long Island. They are among the many non-profit organizations all over Long Island and the rest of the United States that seek your help in achieving their very worthy goals. For more information on volunteering your services at these or any other non-profit organizations seeking to protect and preserve our environment, please use the contact information provided within or visit the links below.

Sources:

Long Island Volunteer Center

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/long-island-volunteer-center/vcindex.do

1-800-Volunteer.org (National)

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do

Other Long Island volunteer-seeking organizations working to protect the environment:

Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission

http://pb.state.ny.us/

NY Sea Grant/I Fish NY Program

http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/articles/t/i-fish-ny

Seatuck Environmental Association

http://seatuck.org/

Sierra Club Long Island Group

http://newyork.sierraclub.org/longisland/

Quality Parks

http://www.qualityparks.org/

Huntington Audubon Society

http://www.huntingtonaudubon.org/

For past editions of Volunteer's Corner, check out:

A Call to Volunteer

Non-Profit Organizations in Suffolk County, New York

Volunteer's Corner: Organizations that Help Fight Homelessness

Volunteer's Corner: Animal Welfare and Protection Organizations