Conservation at Crystal Cove Conservancy
Protecting Crystal Cove’s natural resources through science, stewardship, and community partnership.
Crystal Cove Conservancy works in collaboration with California State Parks, colleges and universities, and regional partners to study and care for the park’s coastal and backcountry ecosystems. Our conservation programs focus on understanding how these habitats are changing over time and engaging the community in protecting them through applied science and hands-on stewardship.
Through volunteer-driven monitoring and fieldwork, community members help track wildlife, identify invasive species, and maintain restored habitats. The information collected through these programs supports data-informed management and contributes to regional conservation efforts across southern California.
Explore Our Work
Monitoring Programs
Community science programs that collect data on wildlife, vegetation, and ecosystem health to inform conservation decisions and support research.
Stewardship Programs
Volunteer opportunities that bring people together to help restore and care for Crystal Cove’s natural areas through regular events and projects.
Natural Resource Summer Internship
This paid summer internship offers undergraduate and graduate students hands-on conservation experience at Crystal Cove State Park while building skills for future careers in natural resources. Learn More>
Get Involved
Crystal Cove Conservancy’s conservation programs are volunteer driven. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, email Jen Mendez, Senior Conservation Manager, at jennifer@crystalcove.org.
Monitoring Programs
Crystal Cove Conservancy leads several ecological monitoring programs that collect long-term data on the health of the park’s ecosystems. These efforts provide important information that helps guide resource management and support conservation research while offering opportunities for volunteers to contribute to long-term datasets.
Current and Emerging Monitoring Efforts:
Volunteers survey butterfly species and flowering plants across backcountry transects to track pollinator diversity and habitat quality.
Conducted with Orange Coast College, these intertidal surveys assess how human activity influences tidepool ecosystems.
Volunteers document natural material that washes ashore to evaluate nearshore ecosystem health and establish baseline data that can support coastal management.
Launching in Spring 2026, the EDRR program will train volunteers to identify and map new invasive plant populations to prevent their spread. Participants will learn field identification and data collection methods.
In partnership with CA State Parks, this program will track nesting activity, species diversity, and habitat use among raptors and other bird species.
Get Involved
Crystal Cove Conservancy’s conservation programs are volunteer-driven. To learn more about participating in monitoring or stewardship programs, contact Jen Mendez, Senior Conservation Manager, at jennifer@crystalcove.org.
Stewardship Programs
The Conservancy’s Stewardship Programs engage community members, schools, and corporate groups in caring for the park’s native habitats. Volunteers help with invasive plant removal, native planting, seed collection, and site maintenance – hands-on activities that directly support ongoing restoration and conservation projects.
No prior experience is required, and all materials are provided.
Stewardship Saturdays:
Stewardship Saturdays are open public volunteer events where community members join Conservancy and State Park staff for a morning of on-the-ground habitat care. Depending on site needs, activities may include weeding, planting, seed collection, or other restoration tasks at one or more locations within the park.
2026 Dates:
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026
To register for Stewardship Saturday, please visit our Events page.
Corporate & Group Stewardship Days:
Corporate and group stewardship days are customized volunteer experiences for companies, schools, and community organizations. These events combine hands-on conservation work with an introduction to Crystal Cove’s habitats and restoration goals, offering groups a structured way to contribute to active projects while learning about local ecology and land management.
To request a private stewardship event, please contact contact Jen Mendez, Senior Conservation Manager, at jennifer@crystalcove.org.