Amid escalating climate and biodiversity crises, public engagement in conservation is more vital than ever. Beyond its scientific contributions, citizen science offers broader benefits, enhancing well-being, scientific literacy, and environmental stewardship. This study examines the psychological impacts of participation in ecological restoration, focusing on self-perceived well-being, stress, self-efficacy, and connection to nature. In October 2023, we conducted a seaweed restoration event on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, recruiting members of the public as citizen scientists in our ‘Seaweed Squad’. Using a cross-sectional approach, we administered psychological measures at three time points to assess participants’ experiences. Participants who attended exhibited significantly higher baseline nature-in-self scores than non-attendees. This score increased post-participation but returned to baseline after two weeks, suggesting short-term benefits. While small changes in psychological outcomes were observed, further research is needed to explore these trends. Overall, our study underscores the potential of citizen science as a catalyst for marine restoration and deeper human-nature connections, fostering a shared sense of environmental responsibility.