volunteer & Internships
Join us at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Volunteer Team and help create vibrant outdoor experiences for our community—your time and passion can provide access to recreational trails, environmental education, and the beauty of the outdoors for all to enjoy through many different volunteer avenues and opportunities.
work within our community
Make a difference at the lagoon
The AHLF has a variety of volunteer opportunities available for those who would like to donate a few
hours of their time, whether it be weekly, monthly or a specific number of hours. We offer opportunities from ages 16 - 100 of all walks of life. If your child is under 16 but would like to volunteer, a parent/guardian must always be present. From administrative tasks, to education, to events, to trails and outdoor projects, we are very flexible with schedules and needs. We do provide opportunities for court required hours and service learning. All volunteers must complete an application. Once you submit the application below you will receive an email confirming the application was received. Please do not just show up without confirming via email.
Please do not just show up without completing this registration process.
Due to the increased volume in volunteer applications, it might take up to one week to receive a response once your application is submitted. In the meantime, please fill out the volunteer waiver. This waiver does not negate the application, please still scroll below and complete the application
form.
Current volunteer opportunities
Indoor Opportunities (Admin, Maintenance, Craft Prep, School Prep, Event Prep)
These are quick tasks that allow us to maintain our nature center, and make an immediate impact in foundation and Discovery Center operations. Tasks can include: filing, preparing crafts and mailings, organizing cabinets and documents, cleaning windows, sweeping, vacuuming, helping set-up for events, filling tiki torches, craft and food preparation, and cleaning.
Outdoor Opportunities (Garden at the Discovery Center, Build Oyster Wattles, Fishing Line Sorting, Water Succulents, Sweep, General Maintenance)
Can include: gardening and planting, removing weeds, creating succulent arrangements, watering succulents, cutting back overgrowth, moving rock, building oyster wattles, sweeping, spreading mulch and supplies, filling in ruts, raking, and assisting with facility and exhibit maintenance and improvements. This does not have to be a long term opportunity and can be fulfilled for service learning hours.
Trail Events (Restoration and Conservation)
Spend a beautiful day of field work beside the Agua Hedionda Lagoon helping restore our Carlsbad trails. We suggest wearing and packing long pants, comfortable shoes, clothing you don't mind getting dirty, sunscreen, a hat, and water.
Scope of work varies depending on the season and current trail conditions. Projects include native planting, habitat restoration, building and installing oyster wattles, invasive species removal, brushing and trail maintenance, importing and hauling erosion control structure material, graffiti and trash removal, and trail sinkhole repairs.
Algerian Sea Lavender Removal (Restoration and Conservation)
Get a behind the scenes look at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon by weeding out the invasive Algerian Sea Lavender in an area not accessible to the public! We suggest long pants, comfortable shoes you don't mind getting dirty (If you have your own pair of tall rain boots please bring them with you. We will have some available for those who do not have any of their own), sunscreen, a hat, and water.
Teacher’s Aids (Education Department)
If you like to work with kids, this is the opportunity for you! We need teacher's aids to assist our preschool and Academy teachers (teaching onsite field trips to 3rd - 4th grade). Duties include helping with set up of outdoor classrooms, assistance in crafting, taking students from rotation to rotation, engaging with kids and parents, passing out school supplies, and more.
Bingo Buddies
Are you ready to *pig* out on some fun? Meet Bingo, our adorable mini pig who’s looking for volunteers for weekly shifts to give her some TLC! This sweet girl loves her walks, snacks, and a good bit of enrichment to keep her *snout* in the game. You’ll be helping to clean her home, spoil her with tasty treats, and give her all the attention she deserves on a walk around our Discovery Campus. Bingo's a *squeal*-worthy companion, and she’s *hog-tastically* excited to meet someone who loves pigs as much as she does! If you're ready to jump in on the joy of piggy care, come join us and make Bingo's day a little brighter—and a lot more fun! A Bingo buddy shift involves practicing behaviors and tricks with Bingo, changing water, feeding Bingo, walking Bingo, rewarding with treats, and cleaning the habitat. This is a long-term opportunity and cannot be for limited hours.
Poultry Pals (our Chicken Care Team)
Are you ready to wing it and lend a helping hand? We're looking for dedicated volunteers for weekly shifts to take care of our feathered friends! If you're egg-cited about cleaning coops, giving our hens some tasty treats, and collecting fresh eggs, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Whether you're a seasoned pro or just hatching a love for chickens, your help will make all the difference in keeping our flock healthy and happy. A chicken care shift involves feeding and giving the hens fresh water, cleaning their habitat, giving them treats and interactions, and collecting eggs. The shifts take about 30 minutes to an hour and begin as early as 8am and end as late as 5pm. Every morning an Evening. This is a long-term opportunity and cannot be for limited hours.
Haunted Corn Maze Scare Team (Seasonal)
Get ready for spooky season by volunteering for Agua Hedionda's Haunted Corn Maze hosted at Carlsbad Strawberry Company during the month of October! One our largest fundraisers, which keeps the Discovery Campus operational and allows us to provide recreational access to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
- Dress up in costume (provided) and scare guests. Sign up alone or with a group or team!
- Friday and Saturdays in October and November 1st-2nd 6pm – 11pm (Maze Runs 7pm – 10pm). Pizza is provided at end of night.
- Must be 16 or older and comfortable with scaring people and loud noises.
volunteer Forms
Volunteer Form Up To 20 Hours
Volunteer Form 21+ Hours
Business/Group Volunteer Opportunities
Lagoona Kahuna Team Challenge – Friday May 2nd 2025
Compete against other like-minded companies, to be crowned the Big Kahuna. Your day includes pizza and beer, t-shirts, a lagoon clean-up, and team building activities. Some companies involved include Republic Services, Grand Pacific Resorts, Channelside Water, Charles Schwab. Morgan Stanley to name a few.
See a recap of 2024 Here: https://www.aguahedionda.org/water-waffle-cones
Volunteer Group Project #1: Trail/Exhibit Restoration - $1,000
- Flexible Dates Available
- Typically a 3 – 4 hour time period.
- We will purchase restorative materials such as DG, oyster wattles, sand bags, and other like materials to fill in some ruts on the most loved areas our trails and educational nature nodes around the center. This could include onsite restoration at the Discovery Campus or offsite at our many trails and public access easements.
- We will provide all tools
Volunteer Project #2: Native Garden Refurbishment - $1,000
- Flexible Dates Available
- Typically a 3 – 4 hour time period.
- We will purchase native plants and mulch and have your team plant and spread mulch following the plantings. This allows us to keep our replenish our gardens and keep this major attraction up to date.
- We will provide all tools.
- Includes tour of Discovery Campus and light snacks.
Volunteer Project #3: Exhibit Refurbishment - $500
- Flexible Dates Available
- Typically a 2 – 3 hour time period.
- We have a decent amount of picnic tables, wood structures and exhibits that constantly need re-staining, lacquering and painting. We would identify these and have your team tackle.
- We will provide all tools
- Includes tour of Discovery Campus and light snacks.
Volunteer Project #4: No Budget Required – Sign Up for a Pre-Established Trail or Algerian Sea Lavender Event
We always have needs in terms of projects and refurbishment here at the Discovery Campus and surrounding public access easements. We can curtail a specific project to your group, depending on what we have in the works. We can work with different budget sizes outside of these predefined ranges based on the project needs. We can provide t-shirts at an additional cost or work with you on catering options as well.
We look forward to hosting your group!
Summer 2025 Internships
Below are available summer 2025 internships. These are unpaid internship positions, and can be a combination of one, two or three of the options below. Please reach out to volunteer@aguahedionda.org to apply.
Education Interns:
Assisting with Summer Camp OR Preschool
- Weekly Commitment: 2 Days, Three Days or Five Days (Monday-Friday)
- Time Commitment: 8:30am - Noon, Noon - 3:30pm OR 8:30am - 3:30pm
- Summer Commitment: Minimum One Month Commitment
- What this position looks like:
- Arrive onsite, assist in setting up outdoor classrooms and handwashing stations
- Assist with parent check-in
- Teacher's Aids during the day (crafts with kids, making sure following directions, kids are with group, following rules, support for lead teacher, lunch breaks)
- Assist with check-out
- Assist with tear down of classrooms
Discovery Campus Interns:
Assisting with general campus operations which includes education, animal interaction and guest interaction (heavy on the guest interaction)
- Weekly Commitment: 2 Days, Three Days or Five Days (Tuesday - Sunday)
- Time Commitment: 8:30am - Noon, Noon - 4:30pm OR 8:30am - 4:30pm (Wednesdays has the ability to provide hours until 7:30pm as we are open late for members nights and host adult lecture series) Summer Lecture Series | Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
- Summer Commitment: Minimum One Month Commitment
- What this position looks like:
- Arrive onsite, assist support opening of the Center and general cleaning/maintenance/opening animals
- Assist with helping volunteers with tasks (lead, direct, organize, oversee)
- Assist with animal interactions to support guest interaction
- Assist with educational guest activities (like Terrific Bug Tuesday, Tortoise Trek etc. Provide interaction and educational lessons for guests)
- General sanitation throughout heavily touched campus exhibits and doors
- Assist with closing campus
Trails Conservation Interns:
Assisting with weekly trail maintenance and restoration including Discovery Campus Gardens
- Weekly Commitment: 2 Days, Three Days or Five Days (your choice Monday - Sunday)
- Time Commitment: 2 hours to four hours shifts work best for this position
- Summer Commitment: Minimum One Month Commitment
- What this position looks like:
- Changing Trail Kiosk Flyers
- Removing overgrowth on trails
- Weekly trail monitoring check
- Assisting in Trail Restoration Events (admin and event planning included and leadership of a certain task during event)
- Algerian Sea Lavender Removal Project (invasive species in the lagoon we work with USFWS to remove)
- Oyster Wattle Creation (erosion structures that help us on the trails)
- Changing Doggy Pot Stations
- Trash Haul
- Removal of Ghost Fishing Line on trails
- Native plantings
- Watering