Needs From: Volunteer OBX

Please join us for a beach clean up at Glenmere Access in Kill Devil Hills! Enjoy a beautiful morning cleaning the beach, learning more about the Outer Banks Relief Foundation, and leaving a note in the Little Red Mailbox, if you wish. We hope to see you there! 

It's that time of the year again...time for the Soundside FunFair! Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County (CYP) receives a generous portion of the proceeds from this event.

We need your help! Our organization is in change of the parking at the Soundside Event site during the carnival and we need volunteers. We would greatly appreciate any individual or team of volunteers to help us with the parking. A free "all-you-can ride" wristband is available for our volunteers. The wristband can be used on any one night of the fair.  

See details for our volunteer needs. We will follow up to confirm once you have registered through this site. Volunteers must be 18 years or older. 

Event Dates: Thursday, June 4 through Sunday, June 7, 2026

Tater Day takes place at Island Farm on Wednesday, June 17 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Come learn about all aspects of the harvest and cooking of a quintessential staple crop: the Irish potato! Volunteers have opportunities to get down and dirty through either: potato digging in the garden along with our historical interpreters or frying potatoes with staff in the cookhouse. Volunteer with Island Farm to learn about the historic foodways of Roanoke Island and cultural traditions practiced throughout the year.

Volunteer shift(s) are 8:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. OR 11:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. Training is provided the day of the event.

Please bring a snack, work gloves (if desired), close-toed shoes, a reusable water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothing (a hat and sunglasses are recommended). We’ll provide everything else you need for a productive and enjoyable day on the farm.

Admission to the event is included with your volunteer contribution – enjoy kettle cooked potato chips, visit with our Banker ponies, and explore the magic of an 1850s homestead! This is family/club, corporate, and group friendly volunteer event.

FAQ

Where will activities take place?
All activities will take place outdoors

Are volunteer shifts family-friendly?
Yes. Volunteer shifts are family-friendly. All volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a legal adult.

Are volunteer shifts accessible for those with mobility challenges?
Yes. Some volunteer roles can be performed while seated and can be adapted for individuals with mobility challenges. Please email the Administrative Coordinator for additional details.

Questions?
Please email the Administrative Coordinator at jane@obcinc.org.

Celebrate Independence Day — 1850s style — at Island Farm! On Friday, July 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Farm will welcome visitors for a lively historic holiday featuring musket fire, traditional games, and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Island Farm will be bustling with energy and celebration, and we invite volunteers to help bring this special day to life in the following roles:

Chicken Tender
Volunteers will provide scratch feed to visitors and offer guidance on how to safely feed and interact with our friendly farm chickens.

Craftsman
Paper hats were a popular and accessible form of festive headwear in 19th-century America, often worn during patriotic celebrations, parades, and community gatherings. Creating paper hats reflects the ingenuity and hands-on craftsmanship of the era, using simple materials to mark special occasions. Volunteers will assist staff and visitors in making paper hats, offering a fun, family-friendly activity that connects creativity with historical tradition.

Bubble Blowing
Using our special bubble wands, volunteers will help visitors create bubbles up to 15 feet long. This role includes demonstrating bubble techniques and assisting younger visitors as they learn to use the wands and enjoy a bit of old-fashioned outdoor fun.

All activities will take place outdoors. Volunteers should bring a snack, wear close-toed shoes, and bring a reusable water bottle. Feel free to bring any additional items that help make your time at Island Farm festive and enjoyable.

Volunteer Shifts:

8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

11:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

THREE volunteers are welcome for the morning shift and Three for the afternoon shift. Please arrive promptly to receive a brief site orientation before the event.

Admission to the event is included with your volunteer contribution — blow bubbles, feed chickens, and make paper hats as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday!

Where will activities take place?
All activities will take place outdoors.

Are volunteer shifts family-friendly?
Yes. Volunteer shifts are family-friendly. All volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a legal adult.

Are volunteer shifts accessible for those with mobility challenges?
Yes. All volunteer roles can be performed while seated and can be adapted for individuals with mobility challenges. Please email the Administrative Coordinator for additional details.

Questions?
Please email the Administrative Coordinator at jane@obcinc.org.

Join the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, the Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) and local community partners as we do our part to enhance environmental stewardship on the Outer Banks.

In the spirit of The Outer Banks Promise – a destination pledge designed to inspire visitors and residents to help protect the area through more responsible behavior and actions – the Bureau has adopted Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach Access Ramp 1 as part of the National Park Service Adopt-a-Beach Program. This one-mile stretch of beach covers the pedestrian access ramp immediately south of the homes in South Nags Head and extends down to Ramp 2 at Coquina Beach.

Arrival: Please arrive a few minutes early for check-in (all volunteers must sign a waiver) and a quick safety briefing.

Getting There & Parking: Parking is available at the beach access, which is located on South Old Oregon Inlet Road (where it intersects with National Park Service Road), approximately five miles south of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore's northern entrance in Whalebone Junction. If traveling via NC 12, be on the lookout for a Bodie Island Maintenance / South Old Oregon Inlet Road sign prior to the turn.

What to Bring: Reusable water bottle, weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection (hat, sunscreen) and a positive attitude! Cleanup supplies will be provided.

Questions: Please email community@outerbanks.org.

The Aquarium Projects Team consists of local volunteers that assist with various projects that do not require working with visitors. The nature of available projects will vary based on the needs of the aquarium and the skills of the volunteers that are a part of the Aquarium Projects Team. Projects include, but are not limited to sewing, education prop creation, language translation service, A/V projects, graphic design, 3D printing, fabrication, engineering, plumbing, carpentry and general maintenance tasks.

Projects will be assigned to Aquarium Projects Team volunteers based on those volunteers’ unique skillset and availability.

Please apply here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1883075603

Join us for one of our public beach clean-ups!

Join us for a beach clean-up to celebrate World Ocean Day!

We are seeking enthusiastic and engaging local volunteers that are wanting to be helpful by doing the following tasks:  safely operating a golf cart on Aquarium property to transport customers with mobility needs; directing traffic in the parking lots (main lots and the grass overflow lots) on busy days; assisting VS & Security staff in the ticket line directing customers to appropriate ticket windows; working the Guest Services desk in the main lobby to answer guest questions, sign out wheelchairs, and allow entry to the Privacy Room; Assisting guests with completing membership applications when possible; answering VS phones as needed. Please apply here: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1883075603

We're seeking local volunteers to help staff the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Rodanthe. Volunteers will greet and provide information about local refuges, walking trails, wildlife, programs and events, and answer guest's questions. Volunteers may work independently or be paired with another volunteer. Responsibilities include opening/closing the visitor center, answering phones, using a cash register for the visitor center gift shop, and providing educational content. Birding and other wildlife knowledge is a plus! Please reach out for further information.

We're seeking local volunteers to help staff our National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Manteo. Volunteers will greet and provide information about local refuges, wildlife, programs and events, and answer guest's questions. Volunteers may work independently or be paired with another volunteer. Responsibilities include opening/closing the visitor center, answering phones, using a cash register for the visitor center gift shop, and providing educational content. Please reach out for further information.

Volunteer with Island Farm for our 15th annual Pumpkin Patch! This year’s Pumpkin Patch will feature plenty of pumpkins – grown locally in Chowan County by a descendant of Island Farm in Manteo, North Carolina.

Visitors will enjoy historic games, doll crafting, candle making, samples of apple cider and popcorn, giveaways from the blacksmith. Additional activities include a nail-driving contest, jumbo bubbles, and opportunities to feed livestock.

Pumpkin Patch is 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — volunteer shifts are 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. or 11:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Pumpkin Patch dates are the first four Saturdays in October — Oct 3, 10, 17, and 24. Please indicate the date of your preference when signing up. 

We can’t wait to see you there! 

The Outer Banks Relief Foundation is excited to invite volunteers who enjoy being out in the community to help represent OBRF at local events throughout the year.

These opportunities might look like attending a concert, comedy show, resource fair, school event, or creative workshop. No two events are quite the same, and new opportunities pop up often.

By joining this volunteer group, you’ll be part of a friendly, caring community that shows up for our neighbors and helps spread the word about how OBRF supports local families when unexpected tragedy strikes.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please sign up here to be added to a special email list for community event opportunities with the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.

What volunteering may include:

Picking up supplies from the Relief Foundation office

Setting up a simple information table at the event

Attending the event and engaging with the community

Thanking the event host on behalf of OBRF

Returning supplies to the Relief Foundation office

Thank you for considering this opportunity and for being part of the work that helps our community care for one another.

Volunteers are the gold of GO FAR! This program would not exist without the dedication and passion of volunteer mentors. Mentors are with the participants every step of the way throughout the program. The time, effort, and support given by your generosity are what inspire and educate the youth to GO FAR. The opportunity for a healthier living is possible because of you.

WE NEED

SKILLS 

NEED TO KNOW