“When you wage war against a city,…do not destroy its trees."

(Deuteronomy 20:19)

Caring for the Earth

Bal Tash-hit

Our tradition tells us that when God created the world, God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility to care for it.  This mitzvah, which literally means, “Do not destroy,” gives human beings the responsibility to maintain and preserve the Earth throughout the generations.

Adopt-A-Park Program

www.ocparks.com/adoptapark/default.asp

1 Irvine Park Rd.
Orange, CA 92862
(714) 973-6871

County of Orange, Harbors, Beaches and Parks

Volunteer Opportunities (need to be with parent if under the age of 15): removal of non-native plants, creek clean-up

City of Newport Beach: Beach Clean-Up

(949) 718-3462

Volunteer opportunities: We keep track of the beach areas that need maintenance. Call for available dates to sign-up a group of people to clean-up a specific portion of the beach. 

Community ReLeaf ... for gardens, trees and kids!

http://dir.gardenweb.com/directory/releaf/

1426 East Vermont Street
Anaheim, CA 92805

(714) 765-6916 (Gardens are in Long Beach)
Community ReLeaf is a an educational, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in our cities by planting, protecting, and promoting our most vital natural resources; our tree heritage and urban garden.

Volunteer opportunities: WE NEED YOU! Come join us and let's all dig in the dirt together. We have 4 wonderful gardens to serve you and we also are looking for folks that not only want to learn but want to help us lead the way for a greener future. We plan on having fun harvest festivals, fun plant sales, and fun whatever ideas we all come up with.

Earth Resource Foundation

www.earthresource.org

230 E. 17th Street, #208

Costa Mesa, CA  92627

(949) 645-5163

Volunteer opportunities: Participate in monthly "Keep Costa Mesa Beautiful" program, nature restoration, tree planting, and survey watershed with naturalist

Heal the Bay
http://www.healthebay.org/

3220 Nebraska Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 453-0395, ext. 145

Heal the Bay was founded in 1985 to fight for a "swimmable and fishable Bay." We are an environmental group working to make Santa Monica Bay and Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy again for people and marine life.

Volunteer opportunities: (go to website for applications) Beach clean-ups—if you get a group of 15 or more then we send out a speaker with supplies: bags, gloves, data cards

For high school students: can also help with stream restorations, community outreach at festivals and events, and our speaker’s bureau for teens

Oak Canyon Nature Center

6700 East Walnut Canyon Road

Anaheim, CA  92807

(714) 998-8380

Contact: Volunteer Coordinator for City of Anaheim at (714) 765-4427

Age: 12 and older

Volunteer opportunities: Canyon Keepers Program 2nd Saturday of each month—trail maintenance; help staff and work booths for various community nature events

For a more complete listing call the volunteer coordinator, and she will forward all the paperwork, schedule and necessary information to you.

Rancho Mission Viejo Land Conservancy

www.ranchomissionviejo.com

P.O. Box 1209

San Juan Capistrano, CA  92693

(949) 240-3363

Volunteer opportunities: Trail maintenance, removing non-native vegetation; assisting with mailings; fundraising; Earth Day projects

Shadetree Partnership

www.shadetreepartnership.org

P.O. Box 57000

Irvine, CA  92619

(949) 453-5670

Provides trees and volunteers to plant trees at schools and parks around the county

Volunteer opportunities: Plant trees

Surfrider Foundation

P.O. Box 6010

San Clemente, CA  92674

www.Surfrider.org

Over 50 chapters dedicated to protection and enjoyment of coastal environment

Volunteer opportunities: Blue Water Task Force; Beachscape Program

Trails 4 All

www.trails4all.org

(714) 834-3136

Volunteer opportunities: trail building and maintenance (check website for schedule)

Ocean Institute

www.ocean-institute.org

Orange County Marine Institute

2420 Dana Point Harbor Drive

Dana Point, CA  92629

(949) 496-2274

A community-based marine education facility

Contact: Linda Blanchard, Youth Volunteer Group Coordinator

Age: 14 and older to volunteer; 16 and older to work on boats

Volunteer opportunities: (request a one year commitment)

Assist in the lab at the Touch Tank educating visitors on the weekends;

Assist the biologists on the research vessels when they go out on cruises for the community; Work in the gift shop;

Community Watch—monitors the tide pools educating visitors about the habitat;

Pilgrim—Help crew the Institute’s Tall Ship during one of its yearly cruises to San Diego, The Channel Islands, or Catalina.

Do not follow where the path may lead;

go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bureau of Jewish Education
of Orange County
One Federation Way, Suite 205
Irvine, CA 92603
Phone: 949.435.3450 Fax: 949.435.3456
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.bjeoc.org/