Volunteer Opportunities for Visitors in Fort Myers
Find volunteer opportunities and local events that support conservation and wildlife preservation when you give back on your trip to Southwest Florida.
Enrich your vacation by giving back to local causes that matter to you. For more than 50 years, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation has been dedicated to protecting local wildlife, preserving the land and monitoring water quality. As a volunteer, you’re invited to join the Coastal Watch crew for beach cleanups, oyster and mangrove restoration, and other sustainability projects.
Keep Lee County Beautiful hosts beautification and greening projects throughout Southwest Florida, with volunteer-friendly events taking place all year round. Participate in a tree planting activity or join a coastal cleanup and help remove monofilament fishing lines and other debris from the region’s mangroves.
At ECHO Global Farm, teams help to combat worldwide hunger through innovative and sustainable farming practices over seven different settings. Join the mission as a short-term volunteer, whether that’s getting your hands dirty through outdoor work or supporting administrative work indoors.
You can also help out by timing your visit to attend an event that helps to support important local causes.
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) hosts the annual Taste of the Islands in March. Leading up to the event in the last week of February is Restaurant Week, where you can sample dishes from participating restaurants. Taste of the Islands takes place at Sanibel City Hall for an afternoon of food, beverages and music as attendees cast their votes for the People’s Choice award.
Don’t miss out on February’s Burrowing Owl Festival, hosted by Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW). Cape Coral’s tiny bird of prey is the star beneficiary of a day of wildlife tours, photography excursions and educational talks. A suggested donation of $5 or more helps protect these beloved creatures.
At ECHO Global Farm, the annual Global Food and Farm Festival in March brings sustainable farming to life for visitors. Learn about growing urban farms and creating seed banks, practice techniques like pressing sugarcane or grinding peanuts, and walk through a look-alike rainforest to see how ingredients are grown.
In May, the annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament honors the refuge where the first recorded tarpon was caught on rod and reel. Join the friendly competition where proceeds benefit the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge.
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation holds several signature events during the year to raise money, including Wines in the Wild, Beer in the Bushes and Cause on the Causeway. Be a part of the festivities while gathering with locals and supporting a worthy cause.
