Events
Calendar
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Calendar ✹
For a list of events:
Annual Events
Viva la Sound Environmental Festival
2025: September 13th
Every September, we host Viva la Sound—a free, family-friendly festival celebrating community and environmental stewardship. The event features interactive booths from local environmental partners, food from local restaurants, plus hands-on activities like face painting, mural-making, live music, book readings, and more. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Water Jubilee
2025: August 2nd
The Water Jubilee is our annual fundraiser that brings the community together in support of important initiatives. This exciting event features a lively kayak race, the Nautilus Cup sailing regatta, and a festive reception complete with food, drinks, and a silent auction. Whether you're joining the action on the water or simply coming to enjoy the celebration, the Water Jubilee offers something for everyone—and we hope to see you there.
Malcolm Campbell Movie Nights
2025: July 12th
Join CIOR for a special outdoor movie night on Long Island Sound in memory of Malcolm Campbell. Enjoy hot dogs, popcorn, sweet treats, and drinks with friends, family, and neighbors. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and help us celebrate community, connection, and the future of the Sound. All proceeds support CIOR’s programs and operations.
Volunteer Opportunities
Become an
eco-volunteer!
Community involvement is core to our mission, and none of our efforts are possible without our eco-volunteers. Check our calendar to sign up as a volunteer.
If you’d like to get involved but don’t have time to commit regularly, we still encourage you to join us. Whether it’s once or for an entire season, your help makes a difference!
There’s a role for everyone—see how you can help!
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Help collect oyster and clam shells, which are crucial to our reef-building efforts, from our City Island Shell Collective partner restaurants. Although the work does not take long, it can be strenuous and a little dirty at times.
Shell collection takes place May through November.
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Get hands-on with our Oyster Monitoring Sites. Learn how to properly measure an oyster, how to identify biodiversity, and how oyster reefs contribute to the health of the coastal ecosystem. Great for all ages! Bring a water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
OMS monitoring takes place May through September.
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Learn about water-quality monitoring and how water-quality parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, pH, and turbidity, affect oysters. Great for all ages! Bring a water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
Water-quality monitoring takes place May through September.
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Divers survey the City Island shoreline and nearby areas, documenting bottom conditions, topography, and the presence of live oysters. Volunteers’ dive skills and credentials need to be assessed before participating in dive surveys.
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Remove invasive species and marine debris at our outdoor education center. Great for all ages! Bring a water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. You may bring your own gloves, but they will be provided.
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We host annual community events and fun fundraisers that connect people to the water. Join us in organizing or hosting these events, or simply participating!
“Working with CIOR is rewarding because of the involvement and interaction with members of a diverse and multigenerational community. Working together on the boat or on the shore fosters a great team spirit and a feeling of personally making a difference in creating a better environment.”
Ellen Grace and Russell Heath, Eco-volunteers
“As the Scoutmaster of Scouting America Troop 211 on City Island, I have found the City Island Oyster Reef to be an amazing sponsor. Through them, our Scouts have been afforded many opportunities for community service, while also learning about science, ecology, and the environment. Our kids get to work out on the water and be part of a team that is much bigger than themselves and that will have a positive impact on Long Island Sound and our entire ecosystem for years to come.”
Greg Clancy, Scoutmaster
Internships
Join the CIOR Team!
Our internship program plays a crucial role in training the next generation of environmental professionals. Interns are actively involved in various aspects of our work, including water-quality monitoring, shell collection, dive surveys, and data analysis from our oyster research stations. These young professionals gain hands-on experience in environmental science, contributing to our restoration efforts while developing valuable skills in marine conservation, public speaking, and advocacy.
Inquire about available positions!
