The Dune Squad team, assists with planting native coastal plant species and removing invasive plants from the dune preserve area that is part of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan.

The Dune Squad learn to propagate and plant native coastal plants, manage invasive plant populations, and educate the public about native and invasive plant species for mitigation efforts.

RISE offers paid jobs to local residents interested in being a part of the team. Plants are grown in the new Native Plant Nursery at Beach 44th Street, for planting in the Rockaway dune preserve later in the season. To learn more about this work, read Leila Belgaid's article "Restoring the Rockaways: The Dune Squad in a Scarred Landscape."

The dune squad positions have been filled for 2026, but anyone, age 18+, who is interested in helping with the project, can sign up now for a volunteer shift.

Check out our upcoming dune cleanups and plantings at Events.

E-mail programs@riserockaway.org to learn more about this work

Watch The Sinking Rockaways, a documentary short by Sahar Sedaghat, who followed Dune Squad Member,  Quinn Robinson, and RISE Alum, Jocelyn Dicent, to chronicle RISE's stewardship efforts.