We have opportunities available in maintenance of grounds and buildings, office work, teaching drop in visitors, astronomy, crafts and in animal care. Our volunteer work force is 150+ strong who have worked more than 8,000 hours assisting us with our mission of conservation and education! We are looking for individuals who are 15 and older and willing to work 4 hours each month.

If you are interested in assisting us please print the following volunteer application, fill it out and return to the Volunteer Coordinator.

Click here for Volunteer Application

Volunteers needed in the following areas:

Land Management: Ranger volunteers assist with trail maintenance at both Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods Nature Centers. Trail maintenance includes trimming trees and shrubs as well as maintaining the signs and the visibility of the trails. Rangers also help with restoration of prairies and oak savannahs, and maintaining our teaching gardens. We have several options available to those interested in this area. The Land Stewards group meets one Saturday a month for a half a day to work on special projects. Monthly patrols of trails for minor maintenance and litter pickup can be done on a set day each month or to be determined by you and the Site Coordinator. Weekly assistance with trail work must be scheduled with the Rangers. And finally, seasonal garden maintenance can be set up with site managers.

Special Events: For every event we need many hands. Each event is different as are our needs. Generally, we need volunteers to help with greeting the public and giving information out about the event, selling memberships and food, helping with crafts and games and giving guided nature walks. These events are generally on weekends throughout the day.

Bluebird Trail Monitor: Weekly monitoring of bluebird nesting boxes. Boxes are at both Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. Training is required. Spring and summer only.

Building Maintenance: Assist the staff in maintaining the interior and exterior of our buildings. This includes painting, reproofing, deck maintenance, exhibit design and building and many, other yearly maintenance needs.

Animal Care: Weekly help with the care and feeding of captive reptiles, amphibians, mammals and raptors. Training is required. Volunteers must give a consistent set day and time.

If you have other interests and skills that you think can help us in other areas such as website and web security please call the Volunteer Coordinator at 731-3140.

Teacher-Naturalists: Education Volunteers assist us everyday. They help with pre-K and school programs as well as with the drop-in visitors and prescheduled group hikes. The education volunteers are required to go through training in the areas they would like to assist in. You are then required to watch several programs prior to assisting or teaching your program. Science background helpful, but not required. ONLY the desire to learn and teach others about the world around them is required.

Training includes handling our resident critters, giving guided walks to children and to adults, using one of our nature discovery kits and on-going training about the habitats, animals and plants found on our properties.

Astronomy: Astronomy volunteers assist with public viewing of the night sky. This can include using the telescopes, telling stories of the stars, moons, planets, nebulas, etc... and may also include checking visitors in. Training is required.

Administration/Visitor Services: Assist the staff with mailings, phones, selling memberships, filing, store sales, welcoming and assisting visitors. We occasionally need assistance at the Hitchcock Wetlands Learning Center as a receptionist, assisting drop-in visitors with check-in and trail information as well as selling memberships. These can be either weekly, or on an as needed basis.

Apple Pies: Make apple pies to sell in the gift shop. Meets mornings as needed, mainly in the fall.