Get Involved
Get Involved
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Community Science Institute is a community-oriented organization, meaning we want your input and participation! Our volunteer water monitoring programs are designed to incorporate and respond to community concerns so that we adapt to what our community needs and wants from us.
Want to join our community to make a difference in your watershed? There are many ways to get involved, starting with joining our mailing list!
Volunteer With Us!
We have various volunteer opportunities, so no matter what your capacity, we probably have something for you! We have virtual volunteering options, get-your-feet-wet volunteering opportunities, and everything in between.
Visit our Monitoring Partnerships page to learn more about our four water quality monitoring partnerships. Or, go straight to our Volunteer With Us! page for a full list of opportunities and a sign up form.
Monitoring Partnerships
What can water tell us about the health of our local waterways? Thanks to a network of more than 250 volunteers across New York State, CSI is helping find the answers. Through three distinct volunteer monitoring partnerships, community scientists generate long-term water quality datasets, investigate community concerns, track Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) trends on Cayuga Lake, and assess the ecological health of local streams.
Learn more about each program on our Monitoring Partnerships page. Curious about what our volunteers have discovered? Explore our water quality database to view trends through interactive graphs or download data for your own research and analysis.
Our data are publicly accessible for anyone to use. We simply ask that you credit the Community Science Institute as the data source when using our data in presentations, research projects, or publications.
Outreach and Education
At CSI, we believe that scientific literacy empowers people to make informed decisions and become active stewards of their environment. To support this goal, we offer a variety of educational opportunities, including free summer programming for local children, Water and Community events exploring topics of local interest, our annual Water Bulletin newsletter, and participation in local, regional, and statewide events. We also provide free educational materials on our website for anyone interested in learning more about water quality and environmental science.
One of our signature programs, Journey of Water, is a free, hands-on learning series featuring 12 programs offered each June through September. Children and their families are invited to explore how water moves through our lives—from local streams and creeks to the tap and back again.
Donate
At CSI, we depend on the generosity and dedication of the individuals who support our mission. Donations ensure that we can further our mission to partner with communities to protect water. Your gift will support our existing programs – such as the Cayuga Lake Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) Monitoring Program and the Journey of Water program – and will fund new initiatives to shed light on the Finger Lakes’ most pressing water quality issues.
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