Become a Community Scientist

Community Science is research and informed help carried out by volunteer members of the community - like you!

We have a number of different programs available. Volunteering is possible at any age and from anywhere in North America and Beyond.

Volunteers are active from May until October.

You can volunteer as much or as little time as you'd like. All training is provided for free so you don't need any previous experience to get involved.

Gain skills and confidence helping and handling turtles

Learn about turtle biology

Work with other nature-lovers

Turtles Need Your Help

Turtles play essential roles in keeping ecosystems functioning: They maintain the health of our wetlands by consuming the carcasses of dead fish and animals, removing sources of harmful bacteria; they also eat plants and spread seeds; and they cycle nutrients. Turtles also have cultural and spiritual importance for most Indigenous cultures. However, all of Canada's and 3/4 of the U.S.A's and the world's turtles are endangered of becoming extinct. It can take turtles up to 60 years for a turtle to replace themself once in nature.

Turtles are our best cleaning crews and biodiversity agents - they are our allies in enjoying nature.

Volunteer Opportunities

Click on the links below to find out more about ways to help!

Science and Senior Volunteers

Ages: Adults

NOTE: these are for seasoned volunteers. In person training and a workshop is required. In person training is only available in the spring.

Minimum 8 hours a week

These positions are for serious volunteers who wish to learn more and be responsible for recovery efforts under our Wildlife Permits; measuring and weighing turtles, and for senior volunteers, excavating and incubating eggs.

Turtle Tunnel Assessors

On Call Nest Sitters

Ages: Adults or child accompanied

Time commitment: On Call - Flexible

Turtle nesting season is usually from May to July. Here female turtles are actively laying eggs. Many mom turtles nest on road shoulders, which are dangerous for the adults, nests, and hatchlings. Nest Sitters sit with female turtles in "high risk" areas until a member of the Turtle Guardians staff can come arrive or until the mom is finished and safely escorted back to the wetland from where she came to rehydrate, which is often behind her.

Wetland Watchers

Hatchling Helpers

By application only: Adults only

NOTE: this role is under our wildlife permits and requires advanced training.

Hatchling Helpers cage or carefully excavate vulnerable nests when protection in place is not possible and transport eggs to our incubation unit. They also assist with hatchling releases, helping return young turtles to their home wetlands and lakes once incubation is complete.

These roles require a high level of responsibility and trust. Volunteers must:

• Use their own vehicle for response and transport
• Carefully transport eggs to the depot when required
• Record meticulous field data
• Use our internal dispatch and reporting app (staff and trained responders only)
• Maintain strict confidentiality about turtle locations to prevent poaching or disturbance

Because turtle locations are sensitive and protected under wildlife permits, not all applicants will be selected.

Emergency Responders

Ages: Adults

Time commitment: On Call - Flexible

Turtle nesting season is usually from May to July. Here there are so many threats to turtles stemming from road mortality, but also fishing lures, and even boat strikes. Emergency responders learn about turtle biology and are dispatched to retrieve or guard turtles in distress. Sometimes responders will help transport turtles to the OTCC/hospital.

Road Researchers

Crossing Guards

Do want to volunteer in other ways?

We have needs for turtle care, postering, outreach and more. Contact us!

Steps to Volunteering

Step 1

Register for a Program.

Complete our online registration form, where you'll provide basic details about yourself and the programs you's like to participate in.

Step 2

Complete your online training.

Once registered, we will reach out with options for live-virtual training or online self-guided options. All of our self-guided training materials are offered through easy-to-use, interactive modules! It will take you about 2 hours to complete all your training. You do not need to complete all of your training in one sitting.

Step 3

Start Volunteering!

Once you have completed your training, you can order a volunteer package with high-viz and branded materials. We are always here for support and to answer questions. Then you are ready to start helping turtles!

Ready to help save turtles?

What volunteers are saying...

The Green Herons Road Research Team in St. Catharines tell us about their volunteer experience last summer!

Wetland Watcher Carol tells us about all the wildlife she saw while monitoring a wetland last summer!

"As someone passionate about turtle conservation, I found volunteering with Turtle Guardians to be a really exciting and rewarding way to make a difference and to get outside while I'm at it! Being from Sudbury, a memory I will hold close was travelling to Haliburton and finally meeting other volunteers as well as some scaly and shelled friends at the volunteer appreciation event."

- Michaela, Road Researcher

"Volunteering with Turtle Guardians as a Road Researcher for the past few years has been a very valuable lesson in better understanding how important turtles are and how they fit into the broader ecosystem. Working with turtles also provides perspective from the turtle’s point of view on how vulnerable they are on our roads. It’s a really good feeling helping a turtle safely cross the road, and educating and bringing awareness to the greater public through Turtle Guardians is a very positive experience."

- Toby, Road Researcher

"Last Summer was my first year volunteering as a Turtle Guardian with The Land Between Charity. I participated in their Road Researcher program as well as being a Nest Sitter. I have never felt so lucky to be a part of something so beautiful. I sat with countless Snapping Turtle Mothers as they buried their eggs and almost always assisted them across the busy roadway afterwards. The training provided was both fun and exciting, I have gained a considerable amount of knowledge and hands on experience. Being able to visit the many different turtle species at their office location is absolutely incredible."

- Leah, Nest Sitter and Road Researcher