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Volunteer Opportunities

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Volunteer with the City of Carlsbad to enrich your community and yourself. Join the team of more than 2,000 volunteers who make Carlsbad an even better place to live. Whether you are a resident wanting to give back or a local business looking to create team building opportunities for your employees, the city has many ways to get involved.

One-time opportunities

Ongoing opportunities

By helping out one or two times each week at a specific department, you become a part of the team and see the city from the inside out:

You can learn how to prepare for emergencies, including wildfires, and respond effectively when disaster strikes by becoming a CERT volunteer. CERT, or Community Energy Response Team, teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities, provides basic disaster response skills and a meaningful opportunity for Carlsbad residents to serve their neighborhood. The CERT Academy is free and meets in the spring and summer. Email Kim.Young@carlsbadca.gov to be added to the 2026 interest list.  

The city offers two programs for community members to peel back the curtain on our day-to-day operations: Citizens Academy and the Citizens Police Academy.  

Citizens Academy is a seven-week course that gives residents an inside look at how city government works, from public safety to planning, parks, utilities and more. The academy, which meets weekly in the fall, combines presentations, hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes tours to help you understand city services and explore ways to get involved. 

The Citizens Police Academy brings residents behind-the-scenes into how the Carlsbad Police Department protects and serves our community. This program, also seven weeks but in the spring, is designed to strengthen police-community partnerships and provide an in-depth understanding of our Police operations and initiatives. 

Serving on a city board or commission is a fantastic way to make a difference for the issues you’re passionate about, from arts to environment to recreation and seniors. The City Council appoints the members to each board and commission, which generally meet once a month. You can see the list of current vacancies on the City Clerk’s webpage.   

Carlsbad City Library’s volunteer program offers numerous ways to give back to the community. Volunteer opportunities include tutoring adults to improve their reading and writing, helping students with homework, delivering books to those who can’t get to the library and more.  Volunteers play an integral role in making Carlsbad City Library a terrific place to learn, read and connect with others. Sign up to volunteer at the library.

Do you enjoy the outdoors or family-oriented activities? 

  • Special Events - Engage the community by assisting with games, activities, crafts, setup/teardown, and more during community events throughout the year. Sign up to volunteer with Parks & Recreation Special Events.
  • Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Do you know Carlsbad's hidden gem of a park with the style of an old California Rancho, a Hollywood connection and the omnipresent peacocks? Lead adult tours, assist school groups or greet visitors at this unique piece of Carlsbad history. Sign up to volunteer with Leo Carrillo Ranch.

Get involved at the bustling Senior Center by assisting in the dining room, computer room or by teaching a class. Sign up to volunteer at the Senior Center.

If your resolution is to spend more time outdoors while giving back, becoming a City of Carlsbad trail volunteer is a great place to start. Our volunteer team helps keep Carlsbad’s 67-mile trail network clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone. Volunteers take part in activities such as light trimming, removing litter and improving trail surfaces. Those who want a larger role can apply to become trail captains, and everyone gets to make new connections over a common goal. Sign up to volunteer for the Trails program.

The city reserves the right to decline volunteer placement or terminate volunteer services at its discretion, including but not limited to, failure to meet position requirements, incompatibility with organizational values, or safety concerns.