Oyster Conservation Volunteers

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION FORM AND SIGNUP
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with The Nature Conservancy NH's Marine Program. Our Marine Team has fantastic opportunities for you to make a positive impact on the health of the Great Bay Estuary by helping with oyster restoration: The NH Oyster Conservationist Program and Spat Counting Volunteers. Descriptions for both positions are listed below. All communications for both will come through email. 

1. Oyster Conservationist Program: As an Oyster Conservationist (OC) you will receive a cage with young oysters (spat) in July and care for those oysters over an 8 week period (Sept). During this time you are asked to check on the cage, clean it, and collect data twice. These oysters are then placed on top of an oyster restoration site in Great Bay in Oct.  Requirements to be an OC include access to water around Great Bay Estuary in New Hampshire. New OC's will be given training during cage deliveries. By selecting this option below, you will be added to the database and contacted in April-early May for the next season. If you have any questions about participating in the OC program please contact our Oyster Conservation Coordinator Brianna Group, brianna.group@tnc.org
2. Spat Counting Volunteers: Once in July and once in September we have a spat counting week. Volunteers meet at the UNH Jackson Estuarine Laboratory with the Oyster Conservation Coordinator to count and measure young oysters (spat) at the beginning and end of the season. By selecting this option below you will be notified of the dates for each event and directed to Nature Groupie to register for the event once posted. 

Before filling out the form: 

We need you to sign a liability release! After reading the release, you'll be asked to consent. Please do so before continuing! And now, the fine print:

I have volunteered to assist The Nature Conservancy (“the Conservancy”), a District of Columbia non-profit organization, and the University of New Hampshire (“UNH”), an academic institution, organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Hampshire, with work on behalf of the Conservancy and UNH in the state of New Hampshire.

I have volunteered my time and services because of my support for TNC and UNH and because of my desire to participate actively in the furtherance of their work.  I understand that my activities as a volunteer may entail a risk of physical injury or death, and I may be exposed to hazards including, by way of illustration but not limitation:  weather, travel over bodies of water, unimproved topographic hazards such as cliffs, ravines, caves, loose or falling rocks, poisonous insects reptiles or plants, wild animals, fire (including intentionally set fires for biological management) and hazards associated with strenuous manual labor.  I understand and assume all such risks.  Because the assertion of claims against TNC and/or UNH for personal injury occurring during my volunteer service would be antithetical to my support of TNC and UNH and it’s the accomplishment of their respective goals, I am granting this release.

I agree to abide by all rules and regulations of TNC and UNH regarding safety and use of any and all equipment.  I understand that no drugs or alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by volunteers during volunteer activities and that I will be asked to leave the premises if suspected to be under the influence of same.On behalf of myself, my estate and the personal representative thereof, my heirs and assigns, I hereby forever release The Nature Conservancy and the University of New Hampshire, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, from any and all costs, claims, losses, liabilities or damages arising from or in any way related to my service as a volunteer for the above-described event.  I intend this release to be effective, regardless whether the claim of liability is asserted in negligence, strict liability in tort, or other theory of tort recovery.  For myself, my estate and the personal representative thereof, my heirs and assigns, I covenant and agree to make no claim, nor to institute any suit, action or proceeding against The Nature Conservancy or the University of New Hampshire, or their respective officers, directors, employees and/or agents, relating to any accident, incident or occurrence arising out of or in connection with, my volunteer activities.

I grant the Conservancy permission to take photographs and video recordings of me and any minor children accompanying me and to display, publish or otherwise use any photographs, video recording, or any other media associated with the stewardship activities, including any media which contains my image or likeness, for the Conservancy’s purposes.  I also consent to the use of my name in connection with such images.  I release, indemnify and hold harmless the Conservancy and its officers, directors, agents and employees from any and all claims which may result at any time by reason of the use of my image and name, including, without limitation, claims of privacy.  My heirs, executors, administrators and assigns shall be bound by this consent and release.
 
If I am signing below as the parent or legal guardian of a minor child, I hereby agree to the above terms individually and on the minor child’s behalf. I further agree that I will be responsible either for personally supervising the minor child at all times or for making arrangements for supervision of the minor by another responsible adult.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, all TNC volunteers are required to have health insurance. Please check the box below to participate.