Community Science is…
The collaborative practice of engaging residents in meaningful scientific efforts to explore, understand, and protect their local environment.
OCCA currently has 5 volunteer-led Community Science programs that are designed for people who want to make a difference. Committed volunteers regularly come together in the field to collect meaningful data that helps with watershed protection, restoration, and climate resiliency. Make a big splash and become a volunteer!
Community science is about more than data collection and participating in science, it’s about building stronger, more connected communities where people feel empowered to shape and restore the future of their natural surroundings. By bringing together different groups of varying ages and backgrounds, community science fosters environmental stewardship, collective learning, and a shared sense of responsibility for the places we all inhabit.