America 250th Airshow Volunteer: Become a Plover Steward (Friday)

Help protect Piping Plovers and other protected shorebirds at Jones Beach by stewarding their habitat during the America 250th Airshow.
About this Event

Do you want to watch the Memorial Day Airshow and protect threatened and endangered shorebirds at the same time? Well, you can! Become a volunteer steward with New York State Parks for a day (or days) and help us keep our protected foraging and nesting habitats safe from patrons who are coming to enjoy the festivities. If you're interested, here is what you need to know:

1. Meet on the south side of the pavilion at Field 1 at Jones Beach by 9am. Please stay for the whole show which ends approximately at 4pm.
2. Let the booth staff know that you are a volunteer, and you will not be charged a parking fee. Parking permits for volunteers will be emailed out via Eventbrite the day before the event in case access to Field 1 is restricted.
3. As groups of volunteers arrive, they will be assigned a group leader and a certain location on the beach. You must fill out a Volunteer Service Agreement if this is your first time volunteering with New York State Parks and sign-in for the day. If you have already filled out a Volunteer Service Agreement this year during the Memorial Day Drone Show, you do not need to fill out a second one.
4. The job of each volunteer will be to act professional, courteous, and polite to all patrons. Volunteers will look official in “Protect Piping Plover” Hats and will be an important mechanism to keep patrons from entering protected shorebird areas. In many cases just being present is enough to deter anyone from crossing into protected habitats. On those extremely rare occasions where a difficult patron is encountered, a group leader will be there to assist. Volunteers are NOT law enforcement.
5. Volunteers are encouraged to enjoy a day at the beach and to enjoy the show. Although being “on duty” comes first, volunteers may bring beach chairs, blankets, umbrellas (if they can be secured) and coolers. Family and friends are welcome, but please NO frisbees, balls, pets, or kites! Pets are not allowed, and all other items can cause problems for nesting birds.
6. Parks will provide a box lunch and refreshments, but volunteers should bring their own sunscreen and be prepared for wide ranges of temperature. Bring shade and sunglasses!
7. Contacting everyone for an event of this size will be difficult. If the weather appears doubtful due to rain, fog or any other condition that would be unsafe for patrons or pilots, check the media and Eventbrite for announcements.

This Event is available for all ages with adult supervision.

Piping Plovers are an endangered shorebird that migrate to Jones Beach every Summer to breed and raise their young. Areas that have important nesting and foraging habitat at Jones Beach are marked with orange string fence to keep patrons from disturbing them and other shorebirds.