Volunteer for our rivers.
Sign up to be the first to hear about upcoming opportunities to get involved with our work.
We welcome individuals and groups to volunteer with us at Idaho Rivers United. We offer public opportunities throughout the year, or we can coordinate something specific for your group.
Fill out our volunteer sign-up form and you’ll be the first to hear about volunteer opportunities and events!
Current Volunteer Roles & Opportunities
To sign up for any of the following opportunities or to learn more information, please email our Membership & Volunteer Coordinator, Lindsey Paynter at lindsey@idahorivers.org.
Please describe which opportunity you’re inquiring about in your message and we look forward to hearing from you!
Table an IRU booth: This is an opportunity for you to connect with our local communities while informing the public about current issues affecting our rivers and fish. IRU is looking for a few outgoing individuals interested in helping IRU run a booth at our outreach, educational, and fundraising events occurring across the state of Idaho.
Special Event Volunteers: IRU hosts various special events throughout the year where volunteers are needed for a one-day commitment such as our Brewshed and Salmon Festivals, or our Boise River Clean Up. Role descriptions for volunteers vary depending on the event, please see specific events for more details.
Lonesome Larry Costume: Our wild, sockeye mascot costume is a great way to interact with the crowd and engage with guests at various events throughout the year. IRU is looking for “Larry” volunteers, and shifts vary.
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The Urban River Stewardship program is designed to connect residents to their local rivers and surrounding communities.
As an Urban River Steward you will be required to actively participate in three activities that contribute to the overall health of the Boise River watershed. These activities include riverbank clean-ups, conducting water quality tests, and spreading awareness about the program at local events.
Stewards are required to attend a mandatory, in-person training on April 10th from 5:30-7:30PM at Roots Zero Waste Market. This training will equip you with the essential knowledge and tools needed to successfully complete this program. The training will also provide a deep dive into the history of the Boise River, its importance to our local community, and offer you insights about current issues affecting its watershed.
FILL OUT THE 2024 Boise Urban River Stewardship Application HERE
Stay tuned for more details about the URS program expanding to the Twin Falls area summer 2024.
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This is a self-guided stewardship volunteer opportunity dedicated to safeguarding the Salmon River in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA).
As an IRU Salmon River Steward, your role involves actively participating in self-led stewardship activities: riverbank clean-ups, removing invasive plant species, dismantling fire rings, and providing information about preventing the spread of invasive species, protecting fish and their habitat, and Leave No Trace practices.
All stewards are required to complete at least four (4-6 hour) days of activities along the Salmon River in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and must attend a mandatory, in-person training in Stanley, ID on June 8, 2024. This training will equip you with the necessary knowledge and tools needed to successfully participate in the stewardship program and gives you an opportunity to connect with like-minded river and conservation enthusiasts.
This program is offered through a partnership with the Sawtooth National Recreation Area of the Sawtooth National Forest.
To join please fill out the Stewardship Application located HERE or email lindsey@idahorivers.org to learn more about the Salmon River Stewardship program.
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Join the IRU crew on the Boise River Greenbelt to celebrate Earth Day on April 27, 2024!
We will be hosting clean-up stations along the Boise River where an IRU team member will provide you with litter pick-up supplies. Volunteers are more than welcome to bring their own supplies, but IRU will provide maps, trash bags, and gloves at each station.
Starting locations are listed in the sign-up form below.
This event will take place rain or shine!
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This program is dedicated to keeping our adopted section of the greenbelt clean.
Our adopted section of the greenbelt runs through the heart of downtown from Capitol Boulevard to Broadway Avenue. This section is a highly used area and we need volunteers that are passionate about keeping the Boise River clean and healthy to help maintain this section of the greenbelt.
Dates:
May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 18 all from 6-8pm
October 5 from 10am-12pm.
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IRU will be hosting a clean-up on Lochsa Fish Creek on May 26, 2024. Volunteers will meet at the Fish Creek boat ramp with our Communications Associate, Tess McEnroe, at 9AM.
Volunteers are welcome to bring their own supplies, but Idaho Rivers United will be providing trash bags and gloves. Groups will then disperse throughout the Lochsa corridor to camp sites and popular river pull outs to pick up trash.
This event will take place rain or shine!
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Join us for a night of adventure storytelling!
2 volunteers needed to help sell merchandise
Email lindsey@idahorivers.org if you are interested in signing up to volunteer for the festival.
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Join us and our Brewshed partners for our annual local craft beer festival where “great beer begins with clean water.”
We are seeking volunteers to:
Checking-IDs/Wristbands (must be 21+)
Assist at the volunteer check-in booth
Manage ticket sales
Lonesome Larry Volunteers
Set-up & take-down volunteers
Photographer
IRU Booth Volunteers
Email lindsey@idahorivers.org if you are interested in volunteering at Brewshed.
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Join us for a night of adventure storytelling!
2 volunteers needed to help with merch and ticket sales
Email lindsey@idahorivers.org if you are interested in signing up to volunteer for the festival.
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Join us for our annual Sawtooth Salmon Festival, an event to support salmon recovery and education.
Lonesome Larry Volunteers
Photographer
Youth activity volunteers
Food Booth volunteers
IRU Booth Volunteers
Set-up & take-down volunteers
Email lindsey@idahorivers.org if you are interested in signing up to volunteer for the festival.
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Join us for our annual auction and river benefit event.
Set-up & take-down volunteers
Check-in volunteers
Auction flaggers
Lonesome Larry volunteers
Email lindsey@idahorivers.org if you are interested in signing up to volunteer!
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IRU staff’s ambitions are big, but we are a small crew and often require office help from our amazing volunteer team. If you are interested in helping IRU with various administrative tasks around the office, this is the role for you.
