Volunteer Programs

Each year, the CRC works with approximately 2,000 volunteers to perform vital park maintenance work and ensure permanent improvements in the parks. Volunteer events are a great way to get outside, learn more about the river, have fun working with friends, coworkers, and neighbors, and help restore the centerpiece of Greater Boston’s urban park system.

Since 2002, more than 37,000 CRC volunteers have contributed over $2.4 million of donated labor to improve the health, safety, and beauty of the Charles River parks. We are grateful to our 2023 Corporate & Foundation Supporters who have enabled this continued work.

OPEN VOLUNTEER EVENTS

Our open volunteer events welcome individuals and community members to spend a few hours working on projects and cleaning up the parks along the Charles River. Please email Sasha at svallieres@thecharles.org to register.

  • Saturday, March 30, 10 am – 12 pm: We will be working in Herter Park, Boston raking leaves and removing debris.

SCHEDULE A VOLUNTEER DAY

We hope you will join us for a safe and fun way to get outside and give back to the parks that have given us so much! See an overview on our 2024 flyer, view our 2024 availability, and reserve your day with us!

Volunteer Projects:
We work with volunteers in the parks from Cambridge to Watertown Square. Location and projects vary based on maintenance needs, time of year, and size of group.

  • Invasive plant removal
  • Bench, fencing, and picnic table painting
  • Planting and maintaining garden beds
  • Mulching
  • Raking leaves
  • Removing litter and debris

Event Sponsorships:
Sponsoring an event pays for supplies, plants, staff time, and helps keep the parklands active, attractive, and accessible for all in the community. We ask our corporate and institutional volunteer groups to support our volunteer programs with a tax-deductible donation to the Charles River Conservancy. View our flyer for our 2024 donation rates. Please reach out to Sasha (svallieres@thecharles.org) if you are a community group.

Reserve Your Day:
Volunteer days typically take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. You may also contact Sasha at svallieres@thecharles.org to request additional dates and times that work best for your company or group.

To schedule a community service work day for your group or business, contact CRC Volunteer Program Manager Sasha Vallieres at svallieres@thecharles.org. Events book quickly, especially in the spring and fall, so please reach out at least one month before you would like to schedule an event.

“I had a lot of fun spending time with my co-workers while picking up trash and cleaning up the park. It was very rewarding in the end to see how much progress we made.” – 2023 Volunteer

“Our guide was excellent and taught us about the river!” – 2023 Volunteer

“The location and list of tasks were perfectly suited to our group.” – 2023 Volunteer

Lead photo by Aaron John Bourque.