Frequently Asked Questions

Event leaders always strive to ensure that participants are organized, informed, and equipped for a successful and safe volunteer project. A typical volunteer event lasts 2-4 hours and is scheduled in the following way: Check-In: volunteers arrive at the designated meeting point, specified on the registration page to sign in. Welcome and Introductions: a brief introduction to the day's activities is shared by the leader. Distribution of Supplies: volunteers receive necessary tools and materials to complete the activity. Safety Briefing: yey safety points to keep in mind during the activity are covered including potential hazards, and guidelines for working in the designated area. Project: an overview of the project, including its goals, significance, and expected impact is shared. Volunteers are then instructed on how to contribute and begin the project.

You must be 13 or older. If you are 12 or under, an authorized adult will need to create a team and register you both for a volunteer project.

SOLVE projects are a fantastic way to complete community service, school credit and other volunteer hours you may need verified. Print SOLVE’s community service log before attending your first event to track the volunteer hours you need verified. The event leader will then sign off on your form at the completion of the event. We recommend having a SOLVE account so that you can also access and request hour verification online.

SOLVE hosts a diverse range of volunteer projects, each aimed at addressing specific environmental challenges and positively impacting local communities. Some common types of volunteer projects organized by SOLVE include neighborhood trash cleanup events, invasive plant species removal projects, beach & river cleanups, and habitat restoration events. SOLVE manages a wide range of programs throughout the year, encouraging and supporting volunteerism throughout our state. You can volunteer for a single day at an event or make a longer commitment through our Adopt-A-Beach or Adopt-A-River programs.

When an adult creates a team with youth participants, they will be prompted to complete a youth permission waiver, thus consenting to all youth on the team. Team captains under 18 are not allowed to consent for fellow youth on their team. Minor volunteers will either need to create their own online SOLVE account prior to the event, or bring a printed waiver signed by an authorized adult. Review event registration pages for age restrictions. To download and print a youth waiver, go to the next question.

We highly encourage signing up for our newsletter, which is the best way to stay in the loop on what’s happening monthly at SOLVE. Other ways to stay engaged are by viewing our events calendar, and following us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

SOLVE will provide essential event supplies, and we encourage you to bring your own personal items, such as work gloves and buckets. This helps us conserve resources. Please wear closed-toed shoes, dress for the weather (rain or shine), and carry personal belongings in a backpack for a hands-free experience. Additionally, bringing a reusable water bottle ensures hydration and contributes to our eco-friendly efforts during the event.

Absolutely! SOLVE encourages individual volunteers and groups to become event leaders so they can lead projects that they are passionate about. Visit our Lead an Event page to get started.

First, you will need to create an online account by following this link or selecting ‘Log In’ in the top right corner of the SOLVE website. Next, find an upcoming opportunity on our events calendar. To sign-up select ‘Register’ if you are an individual select, ‘Register’ or sign up a group by selecting ‘Register as a Team.’

Yes. SOLVEvolunteer events offer a unique and fulfilling way to complete your court-ordered obligations while contributing to the well-being of our communities and environment. Visit the Court-Ordered Volunteer page for step-by-step instructions before registering for an event.

First, you must either login to your account or create one by selecting ‘Log In’ in the top right corner of the SOLVE site. You will see ' My Teams ' from the ‘My Account’ drop down for additional information and to get started.

If there are spots available, you are welcome to arrive at the event without registering online. Please note, leaders use online sign-ups to determine supply needs, so supplies may not be available and you will not be notified if an event is cancelled. As a courtesy, please email the contact on the registration page.

A team could be your family, friends, coworkers, classmates, or community group. By creating a team, you will become a team captain with SOLVE and can sign multiple people up for an event. If registering a minor 12 and under, or a teenager without a SOLVE account, the best and easiest way to do so is to create a team.

No problem! Download the adult waiver or our youth waiver, which is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Somali, and Ukrainian. Please give the signed copy to the event leader at check-in.

First, you must either login to your account or create one by selecting ‘Log In’ in the top right corner of the SOLVE site. You will see ' My Teams ' from the ‘My Account’ drop down for additional information and to get started.

Some events are exclusively for volunteers age 18+ and will be indicated accordingly on the event description page. For example, all events labeled as ‘Urgent Need’ are exclusively for volunteers 18 and older due to safety concerns.

An authorized adult is permitted to register a youth or youth group that they will be supervising during a SOLVE event by registering as a 'team.’ This will streamline the registration and waiver process and is recommended for adults who wish to sign up their children to volunteer alongside them, for teachers who wish to volunteer with their students, and for supervisors leading youth organizations. The steps are simple. First, create a team, then register the youth volunteers as team members, and lastly, sign up everyone all at once for an event. See additional details below on how to create a team.

We highly recommend creating a team and registering youth in advance. If there are open spots at the event, however, you are welcome to arrive without registering. We ask that you please contact the event leader so they can prepare the proper number of supplies for the project.

Most SOLVE events are open to volunteers of all ages. Each event registration page lists its own age restrictions and supervision requirements. Make sure to read the information and restrictions carefully before registering.

Teenagers ages 13-17 can organize and lead their own private volunteer events under the supervision of an authorized adult. Visit our Lead an Event page to get started!

Volunteers ages 13-17 can create their own accounts or have an adult create one for them. At registration, there will be a requirement to include the email address of an authorized adult. An email with a youth permission and waiver form will be sent to that address. Once that form is electronically signed, the youth can explore the SOLVE event calendar and register for age-appropriate events.

If you are unable to consent to the liability waiver for youth in your team but will be chaperoning them at the event, please receive signatures on a SOLVE waiver from parents and guardians prior to attending. These signed forms should then be brought to the event and given to the event leader. We have copies available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Somali and Ukrainian.

Yes. SOLVE works closely in collaboration with many different youth organizations including schools, scouts, environmental clubs, leadership programs, community service organizations, conservation corps, outdoor programs, and science education organizations. You can sign up a youth organization for an existing event by creating a ‘team’ or lead an event for your youth organization as an event leader.