Marine Resources Division - Volunteering Opportunities

The SCDNR Marine Resources Division Volunteer Program provides coastal wide volunteer opportunities through different marine related SCDNR programs. Many of these programs are completely community based and volunteers provide invaluable assistance to these programs and to the conservation of our state’s natural resources. Regular volunteer programs range from building oyster reef builds, to helping researchers sample local fish populations, to teaching families how to saltwater fish. All volunteer programs are based on project needs and can be limited due to fieldwork logistics and staff compacity. The Marine Resources Division Volunteer Program is growing, and more single volunteer events are becoming available.

Current Volunteer Opportunities Include:

• South Carolina Oyster Shell Recycling and Enhancement Program (SCORE):
• Community Outreach and Enhancement- Volunteer activities include bagging shells, building manufactured wire reef cages, building oyster reefs, planting marsh grass, greenhouse maintenance, picking trash out of large oyster piles, fish sampling, and monitoring oyster populations. View the SCORE Event Calendar to volunteer. If you’re interested in a group volunteering, email score@dnr.sc.gov directly.
• Oyster Recycling and Planting- Volunteers will assist with delivering empty bins to roasts/restaurants and/or picking up shell bins and transporting them to SCDNR recycling locations. SCDNR will provide a landscape trailer and other needed supplies but will not provide a vehicle. If you’re interested, email oystershellrecycling@dnr.sc.gov directly. *Volunteers are needed in the Charleston, Beaufort, and Greenville area!*
• Saltwater Fishing Outreach Programs:
• The Saltwater Fishing Outreach Program certifies volunteers to become Certified Saltwater Fishing Instructors. This program is coast-wide, and volunteers are needed from every coastal county. Fishing instructors can participate in the fishing clinics, Walk the Pier program, and helping with kids fishing tournaments and rodeos. All programs cover the basics of saltwater fishing from knot tying and casting to rigging and fish handling. Volunteer requirements include a mandatory certification training, passing a background check, and volunteering for at least two fishing events a year. If you’re interested, email corwinp@dnr.sc.gov directly.
• ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) Programs:
• ACE Basin Volunteers will help enrich visitors experience and understanding of the ACE Basin’s cultural history and ecology by assisting with the education and outreach programs at the multiple locations within the ACE Basin NERR including Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Edisto Environmental Learning Center and McKenzie Field Station. Volunteer activities can include participating in citizen science projects, educating, and enhancing visitors experience at Botany Bay through the Education Kiosk, assisting with nature tours and other public outreach events, and helping with reoccurring property maintenance days.
• Marine Education Volunteer Program:
• The Marine Education program teaches K-12 along the coast, either teaching from the SCDNR campus in Charleston, at the McKenzie Field Station in the ACE Basin or at the Edisto Environmental Learning Center. Volunteers will assist with the K-12 educational field trips, teaching salt marsh exploration, squid dissections, sea turtles, oysters, and occasionally helping with offsite events like career days and tabling at festivals. Help is primarily needed on weekday mornings between 8:30AM-1:00PM during the school year. Volunteer requirements include passing a state background check. If you interested, email marineeducation@dnr.sc.gov directly.
• Inshore Fisheries:
• Inshore Fisheries conducts year-round trammel net and electrofishing sampling along the SC coast from Winyah Bay to Port Royal Sound. Volunteers will meet at the SCDNR campus in Charleston to load gear, launch from either the boat slip or trailer boats to survey locations, and unload/clean gear at the completion of the day. Volunteer requirements include being 16 years or older, comfortable working on boats in potentially harsh weather conditions without shade for up to 7 hours with field days lasting between 8-12 hours on average. Volunteers must be comfortable and willing to handle fish, able to swim, and able to assist with manual labor of pulling in trammel nets and/or scooping fish quickly with long dip nets.

All volunteers will receive the appropriate training and will be provided all the tools necessary to complete the tasks at hand.

If you have any questions about volunteering, please email Olivia Bueno at Buenoo@dnr.sc.gov. If you’re interested in staying in touch with our volunteer programs, subscribe to the monthly Coastal Events and Volunteer Opportunities newsletter. This is the best way to stay up to date with our programs!

Unfortunately, the Marine Resources Division is no longer accepting individual job shadows request. Learn more about other educational opportunities, including free K-12 school programs, homeschool programs, High School Career Explorers Clubs, and a Career Toolkit. If you’re 18 years or older, and interested in interning with SCDNR, view our internship programs. Note, internship applications open at different times throughout the year.