Volunteers mark lake sturgeon at the NYSDEC Oneida Hatchery
Does the USGS use volunteers to collect data?
Volunteers assist on some USGS projects. In all cases, the volunteers are carefully trained and are supervised by a federal employee while they work. To ensure quality-control, data collected by volunteers are checked by USGS supervisors. Volunteers must abide by the same rules, regulations, policies, and laws as employees.
Some USGS volunteer opportunities are advertised at Volunteer.gov. Most of those involve working from home or reporting observations that you make on your own time.
The USGS also collects data through volunteer citizen science programs.
Related Content
Can I volunteer with the USGS?
Volunteer.gov is the best starting point for volunteer positions with the USGS and other federal agencies. However, many USGS volunteer positions are not formally announced, so they do not appear on that site. You can contact a local USGS office directly to ask about possible volunteer opportunities. Another way to get involved in USGS science is through one of our Citizen Science programs or...
Do you have any citizen science programs in which my students can participate?
Absolutely! The USGS has partnerships with several citizen science programs that are appropriate for classroom projects, for individual students, or for anyone who wants a fun and rewarding activity. See the Citizen Science page on our USGS Education website .
Can I join the USGS?
As a science agency for the United States government, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves all United States citizens. The USGS can only be “joined” by its employees, but citizens can get involved in USGS research through its Citizen Science programs . Some USGS Citizen Science opportunities are also listed at Volunteer.gov . In addition: Keep up with the latest USGS science by subscribing to...
Where can I find information on employment with the USGS?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a Federal science agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable...
Do you have internships, summer positions, or volunteer positions for teachers or students?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) does not have any positions specifically targeted to teachers, but motivated teachers can sometimes find volunteer positions by contacting a local USGS office directly, or by looking through the Volunteer.gov website. Student internships are designed for college-level students and recent graduates. The USAJOBS website has a section for Students & recent graduates...
How do I get USGS data?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) provides data on many different science topics. Most of it can be downloaded for free from our website. Our Science Data Catalog is a good starting point. Also try using your browser's search engine and including the keyword "usgs.gov". If you are looking for a particular data set and cannot find it through Internet searches or our Science Data Catalog...
Volunteers mark lake sturgeon at the NYSDEC Oneida Hatchery
Volunteers mark lake sturgeon at the NYSDEC Oneida Hatchery
USGS Volunteer Student at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum
The Smithsonian Natural History Museum offers hands-on learning experiences.
The Smithsonian Natural History Museum offers hands-on learning experiences.
USGS volunteer observes/counts members of a large bison
USGS volunteer, Halle Poppaw, observes/counts members of a large bison group on TNC’s Medano Ranch. USGS photo by Kate Schoenecker.
USGS volunteer, Halle Poppaw, observes/counts members of a large bison group on TNC’s Medano Ranch. USGS photo by Kate Schoenecker.
Nature's Altered Seasons
Early cherry blossoms and flower blooms and record high temperatures nationwide highlight a phenomenon everyone already seems to know, but science has confirmed -- spring is coming earlier in the year almost everywhere. During this lecture, Dr.
By
Early cherry blossoms and flower blooms and record high temperatures nationwide highlight a phenomenon everyone already seems to know, but science has confirmed -- spring is coming earlier in the year almost everywhere. During this lecture, Dr.
By
Volunteer helps HVO staff complete maintenance on a monitoring site
A volunteer helps HVO staff complete maintenance on a monitoring site on Kīlauea Volcano.
A volunteer helps HVO staff complete maintenance on a monitoring site on Kīlauea Volcano.
Eskimo Volunteers Helping with Banding
Two Yupik Eskimo students from Chevak, Alaska holding a tundra swan cygnet. These student volunteers were helping with an annual USGS waterfowl banding program along the Kashunuk River near the Bering Sea coast in western Alaska.
Two Yupik Eskimo students from Chevak, Alaska holding a tundra swan cygnet. These student volunteers were helping with an annual USGS waterfowl banding program along the Kashunuk River near the Bering Sea coast in western Alaska.
USA-NPN Citizen-Scientist Lucille Tower
USA-National Phenology Network citizen-scientist Lucille Tower records the one millionth observation on maple vine in the large nature database.
USA-National Phenology Network citizen-scientist Lucille Tower records the one millionth observation on maple vine in the large nature database.
Related Content
Can I volunteer with the USGS?
Volunteer.gov is the best starting point for volunteer positions with the USGS and other federal agencies. However, many USGS volunteer positions are not formally announced, so they do not appear on that site. You can contact a local USGS office directly to ask about possible volunteer opportunities. Another way to get involved in USGS science is through one of our Citizen Science programs or...
Do you have any citizen science programs in which my students can participate?
Absolutely! The USGS has partnerships with several citizen science programs that are appropriate for classroom projects, for individual students, or for anyone who wants a fun and rewarding activity. See the Citizen Science page on our USGS Education website .
Can I join the USGS?
As a science agency for the United States government, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves all United States citizens. The USGS can only be “joined” by its employees, but citizens can get involved in USGS research through its Citizen Science programs . Some USGS Citizen Science opportunities are also listed at Volunteer.gov . In addition: Keep up with the latest USGS science by subscribing to...
Where can I find information on employment with the USGS?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a Federal science agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable...
Do you have internships, summer positions, or volunteer positions for teachers or students?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) does not have any positions specifically targeted to teachers, but motivated teachers can sometimes find volunteer positions by contacting a local USGS office directly, or by looking through the Volunteer.gov website. Student internships are designed for college-level students and recent graduates. The USAJOBS website has a section for Students & recent graduates...
How do I get USGS data?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) provides data on many different science topics. Most of it can be downloaded for free from our website. Our Science Data Catalog is a good starting point. Also try using your browser's search engine and including the keyword "usgs.gov". If you are looking for a particular data set and cannot find it through Internet searches or our Science Data Catalog...
Volunteers mark lake sturgeon at the NYSDEC Oneida Hatchery
Volunteers mark lake sturgeon at the NYSDEC Oneida Hatchery
Volunteers mark lake sturgeon at the NYSDEC Oneida Hatchery
USGS Volunteer Student at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum
The Smithsonian Natural History Museum offers hands-on learning experiences.
The Smithsonian Natural History Museum offers hands-on learning experiences.
USGS volunteer observes/counts members of a large bison
USGS volunteer, Halle Poppaw, observes/counts members of a large bison group on TNC’s Medano Ranch. USGS photo by Kate Schoenecker.
USGS volunteer, Halle Poppaw, observes/counts members of a large bison group on TNC’s Medano Ranch. USGS photo by Kate Schoenecker.
Nature's Altered Seasons
Early cherry blossoms and flower blooms and record high temperatures nationwide highlight a phenomenon everyone already seems to know, but science has confirmed -- spring is coming earlier in the year almost everywhere. During this lecture, Dr.
By
Early cherry blossoms and flower blooms and record high temperatures nationwide highlight a phenomenon everyone already seems to know, but science has confirmed -- spring is coming earlier in the year almost everywhere. During this lecture, Dr.
By
Volunteer helps HVO staff complete maintenance on a monitoring site
A volunteer helps HVO staff complete maintenance on a monitoring site on Kīlauea Volcano.
A volunteer helps HVO staff complete maintenance on a monitoring site on Kīlauea Volcano.
Eskimo Volunteers Helping with Banding
Two Yupik Eskimo students from Chevak, Alaska holding a tundra swan cygnet. These student volunteers were helping with an annual USGS waterfowl banding program along the Kashunuk River near the Bering Sea coast in western Alaska.
Two Yupik Eskimo students from Chevak, Alaska holding a tundra swan cygnet. These student volunteers were helping with an annual USGS waterfowl banding program along the Kashunuk River near the Bering Sea coast in western Alaska.
USA-NPN Citizen-Scientist Lucille Tower
USA-National Phenology Network citizen-scientist Lucille Tower records the one millionth observation on maple vine in the large nature database.
USA-National Phenology Network citizen-scientist Lucille Tower records the one millionth observation on maple vine in the large nature database.