Current Volunteer Opportunities

Hold the Date(s) for our Upcoming Volunteer Events in 2026!

Stream Cleanup – Saturday April 18th

Shedfest Music Festival- Sunday June 7th

Ride for the River – Saturday July 11th

Lantern Walk – November 8th (Rain Date November 15th)

Stream Cleanup Inventory – Volunteer Service Opportunity, Saturday February 7th

RHA is seeking volunteer help on Saturday, February 7th from 10:00am-2:00pm. Volunteers will receive service hours for helping inventory and sort supplies stored in the barn for our 36th Annual Stream Cleanup Event scheduled for Saturday April 18, 2026. Please dress in warm layers as we will be working in the nature classroom and the main barn. High School students welcome. We hope you can join us! Click here to sign up. For additional questions, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org

LOCATION:
Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve
2121 Larger Cross Road, Far Hills 07931

Additional Site Leaders Needed for 36th Annual Stream Cleanup

If you are 16+, in need of service hours, or have a few extra hours to spare this spring, the Stream Cleanup Team needs your help! RHA is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us LEAD A GROUP of volunteers on the day of our Stream Cleanup event scheduled for Saturday April 18, 2026. Site leaders would need to attend a brief, virtual training in March, would need to pick up a supply bin the week prior to the event, would give instructions to a group of volunteers at an assigned site on the day of the event, and would need to return the supply bin and data collection cards the week following the event. Having your help would ensure that RHA could target municipalities where cleanups are not currently being done. If you are interested and would like to help, the Stream Cleanup team would be very grateful! Please reach out to Rachel Garcia at: streamcleanup@raritanheadwaters.org with any questions you may have, otherwise please click here to sign up.

Sites in need of leaders include:
Site 23: Far Hills Helen Woodman Natural Area/ JM Blecher Fairgrounds in Far Hills
Site 36: Mine Hill Beach in Mine Hill Twp
Site 67: MacGregor Preserve in Chester Twp
Site 76: Walmart Supercenter in Roxbury Twp
Site 84: Kenvil Black River in Roxbury Twp

Organize and Pack Bins for Stream Cleanup Event – Saturday, March 7th

Every year RHA holds a watershed-wide event to remove trash from local streams. Having the right supplies allows each team to do the best job possible. The Stream Cleanup Team needs help organizing and packing supplies in anticipation of our 36th Annual Cleanup scheduled for Saturday April 18th. Click here to sign up.

Organize and Pack Bins for Stream Cleanup Event – Monday, March 9th

First Day of Spring Stewardship Event @ Fairview Farm – Saturday, March 21st

Join RHA’s Land Stewardship Manager, Edward Whitehead for his First Day of Spring Stewardship event on Saturday morning, March 21st. Ages 14+. Tasks to include cutting, lifting, and removal of invasive species. Please dress for the weather and for working in an area with briars, tall grass and shrubs. Long sleeves, pants and sturdy shoes recommended. Volunteers 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For additional questions, please contact Ed at ewhitehead@raritanheadwaters.org or Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org Click here to sign up.

Spring Cleaning Volunteer Day at Fairview Farm – Saturday, April 11th

Volunteers ages 16+ are needed by RHA’s Education Team to help set up new garden beds, clear plants and debris from the sensory garden trails, and help air out and tidy up the classrooms in anticipation of the 2026 season. High School students welcome. We hope you can join us! Click here to sign up. For additional questions, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org

LOCATION:
Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve
2121 Larger Cross Road, Far Hills 07931

Rain Barrel Prep Event – Thursday, April 23rd

Join RHA’s Education Team at Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve for an afternoon of rain barrel prep work in anticipation of several upcoming Rain Barrel workshops this spring/summer. Please dress in clothing and shoes that can get messy. Volunteers will meet at the Raritan Room classroom a little before 3:30pm. Volunteers under 16 require an adult chaperone. To sign up click here. For additional questions, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org

Arbor/Earth Day Stewardship Event @ Fairview Farm – Saturday, April 25th

Join RHA’s Land Stewardship Manager, Edward Whitehead for an Arbor/Earth Day event on Saturday morning, April 25th. Ages 14+. Tasks to include cutting, lifting, and removal of invasive species. Please dress for the weather and for working in an area with briars, tall grass and shrubs. Long sleeves, pants and sturdy shoes recommended. Volunteers 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For additional questions, please contact Ed at ewhitehead@raritanheadwaters.org or Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org Click here to sign up.

Saturday Stewardship Event @ Fairview Farm -Saturday, May 9th

Join RHA’s Land Stewardship Manager, Edward Whitehead for a Stewardship event on Saturday morning, May 9th. Ages 14+. Tasks to include cutting, lifting, and removal of invasive species. Please dress for the weather and for working in an area with briars, tall grass and shrubs. Long sleeves, pants and sturdy shoes recommended. Volunteers 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For additional questions, please contact Ed at ewhitehead@raritanheadwaters.org or Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org Click here to sign up.

Start of Summer Stewardship Series – Watershed Wellness Wednesdays – Wednesday, June 24th

Join RHA Land Stewardship Manager, Edward Whitehead for the Watershed Wellness Wednesday program beginning June 24th at 9am. Watershed Wellness Days will take place every Wednesday morning throughout the summer and will be held rain or shine (barring any thunderstorms). Tasks will include helping Ed maintain RHA’s trails and meadows and to help remove invasive species where needed. Join us for one of more of these events throughout the summer – no commitment or prior experience is required. Ages 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. All events will take place at Fairview Farm unless otherwise denoted. For additional questions, please contact Ed at ewhitehead@raritanheadwaters.org or Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb at dnewcomb@raritanheadwaters.org Click here to sign up for the June 24th event. To view the entire summer series, visit the events page by clicking here.

Summer 2026 Nature Day Camp – Junior Counselor Opportunities

Do you love nature? Do you love working with children? If so, then this amazing opportunity is for you! RHA’s Education Team is seeking nature-enthused volunteers (ages 13+) at Nature Day Camp beginning June 29th. There are six sessions to choose from. Click here to learn more and to sign up – scroll down to June-August to view opportunities for Weeks 1-6.

Volunteers must be able to commit to one full week and be available from 9:30am-2:30pm during the week selected. Volunteer waiver forms must be completed and returned via email at the time of registration. We hope you will consider joining us! Spots fill quickly – sign up soon!

Corporate Volunteer Groups

If you are a corporation interested in a volunteer day of service, please visit our corporate page to fill out an inquiry form. RHA’s Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Newcomb will respond to you with a list of suggested projects catered to your groups needs.

RHA Watershed Engagement Team Ambassadors Needed

Raritan Headwaters Association is looking for volunteers to join our Watershed Engagement Team (W.E.T.)! W.E.T. Ambassadors are a group of volunteers with expertise in RHA’s programs, mission, and activities. These ambassadors work alongside RHA scientists and staff to engage with the community at local fairs, green festivals, and other events around central New Jersey.

This is a unique opportunity to receive high-level training, share your knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm for watershed protection, meet interesting, like-minded people, and have fun engaging with the community! You will receive a certificate, build your resume, and have access to RHA program director’s expertise. Join our team of fun and friendly professionals!

To join this team you must be age 18 or older and have reliable transportation. Click here to learn more about this exciting new initiative and to fill out an application form today.

Scout Projects

Eagle Scouts (and other local troops) are needed to help with the following projects. Please contact Stewardship Manager, Edward Whitehead if interested.

Deer fencing implementation at Fairview Farm (large or small exclosure fences to keep deer out of strategic locations)
Interpretative sign creation and implementation
Park Bench construction and installation
Creation and implementation of eel mops and fish ladders to allow eels and fish to travel upstream.
Making one of our nature trails more accessible for disabled visitors. This would include plans to make the trail more ADA friendly, enrichment stops along the path involving senses stimulating activities, and other ideas TBD.
Propose your own project idea