Take action for clean water and a healthy Neponset.
NepRWA offers year-round volunteer opportunities for all ages, abilities, and schedules — whether you have a few hours or a full day, love getting outdoors, or prefer hands-on projects close to home.
Looking for a team-building experience? Plan a volunteer service day for your business or organization and make a real impact in the watershed. Training and supplies are provided.
For any questions, please email NepRWA Greenways Program Coordinator Suzanne Hinton.
Stay up-to-date
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Seeking Substitute Water Samplers for the Community Water Monitoring Network (CWMN)
We’re looking for substitute water samplers to step in as needed at local monitoring sites when openings arise. This role involves visiting one assigned site and collecting three samples, along with basic water quality measurements.
Sampling takes place between 6–7 AM, with samples dropped off to the coordinator by 7:30 AM.
For more information, email NepRWA Environmental Science Fellow, Paloma Silva-Navarro at silva-navarro@neponset.org
Mural Restoration Project
Along the Neponset River Greenway with the Neponset River Greenway Council
We could use volunteers on these dates:
- Saturday, September 12 | 11 AM – 4 PM
- Saturday, September 19 | 12 PM – 4 PM (following NepRWA’s Fall Cleanup)
- Sunday, September 20 | 11 AM – 4 PM
No skill needed—everyone is welcome! Volunteers will work alongside Dorchester-based fine artist Vincent Crotty.
To register, please email NepRWA Greenways Program Coordinator Suzanne Hinton.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on. We’ll provide all materials, guidance, and snacks. (Bring your own water bottle.) The event requires dry weather and temperatures of at least 50°F. If weather conditions are unfavorable, we’ll decide by 8 AM and notify participants by email.
Seeking Middle School Educators!
NepRWA and Greater Boston Trout Unlimited are developing a standards-based curriculum that uses brook trout populations in MA as a lens to reflect human impact on our local waterways.
We’re looking for educators to help pilot this program in their middle school classrooms. The program length is approximately 2 hours.
For more information about this program, please contact NepRWA River Restoration Director Sean McCanty.
General Volunteer Opportunities
Trail Work: Help remove invasive plants or work on trail maintenance.
Watershed Cleanups: Every year, we host two major cleanups along the Neponset River, tributaries, ponds, and parks. Learn about our volunteer cleanups.
Corporate/Group Cleanups: Help your team build new connections while making an impact in the community. Learn about our corporate volunteer program.
Water Samplers: Needed annually for our Community Water Monitoring Network (CWMN), May through October. Learn about CWMN.
River-Crossing Construction: Learn the basics of bridge construction alongside experts from the Norwood Trails Committee as they lead construction of the Tiot Trail—a 17-mile contiguous trail circumnavigating the Town of Norwood. (This work occurs in all weather conditions and can be physically demanding.)
Mural Restoration & Maintenance: Work with a local artist on the mural crew to help restore the dozen murals and maintain the surrounding landscape along the Neponset River Greenway Trail.
Storm Drain Marking: Help place educational storm drain markers around your neighborhood to help reduce polluted stormwater runoff and keep our local streams clean. Learn about stormwater.
Photographers/Videographers: Capture the Watershed—its people, wildlife, landscapes, and challenges—or help document our events.
Public Outreach Events: Attend various community events and monitor an information table to help showcase NepRWA’s work in the Watershed. Check out our events!
Advocacy: Join NepRWA’s advocacy efforts to help clean and protect the Neponset. Assist with lobbying or connect with one of our neighborhood or regional partner groups focused on advocacy and activism.
Get Involved in Climate Resilience: Join a community group to learn, share input, and guide local climate projects—no science background needed! Learn about our climate program.
Join a Committee: Assist with projects and planning (Advisory) or fundraising support (Development)—and help shape our work for the future. No experience needed.
Mailings: Help us stuff, stamp, and send! A few times a year, we have big mailings and could use an extra set of hands (or two).
