Volunteers
We are always looking for dependable, responsible people to keep the mission of environmental education and land stewardship alive.

Volunteers are a vital part of our association. 
They maintain trails; build hawk cages, fences, retaining walls; meet and greet visitors; care for our education animals; teach programs; raise funds; oversee large projects; write and distribute publicity; sell raffle tickets; create displays, get the picture?

Age requirements:
Volunteers who are 14 years old and older may work independently. Any volunteers under the age of 14 must work with an adult.

Scouts:
Scouts working on merit awards and community service projects must be supervised by leaders or parents while volunteering at the Nature Center. For more information on scouting volunteer projects click here.

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Year-Round Volunteer
Positions

Volunteer Coordinator:
Schedule volunteers, maintain a database (PC, Access file) of current available volunteers, their contact information, and number of hours volunteered each year, and plan recognition events.

Animal Care:
Help care for TNC's small collection of live animals, used for education. Feeding, watering, cleaning cages/tanks are some of the things needed to be done on a weekly basis.
Weekly basis, 3-month commitment required!

Annual Public Programs:
Work with the staff and help with each individual program's activities. Nature Day, Haunted Forest, Maple Sugaring, and Apple Cidering are just a few of the annual public programs that would not be possible without the help of a few volunteers. Check in participants, assist with marketing/mailings, and much more. Volunteers will also need to be present either before the program begins and/or after to help with cleanup and setup.

Clerical:
Represent TNC to the public by answering the phones, registering participants for programs, meeting and greeting visitors, answering questions, give directions, and handing out trail maps & membership information.

Displays:
Create/update artwork, write/edit new texts, and create seasonal/monthly exhibits.

Gardeners: 
Help maintain TNC's model backyard habitat: planting mulching, weeding, trimming, etc. If you like gardening come volunteer to maintain TNC's garden for the children.

Invasive plant removal:
Plants from around the world have been introduced into natural areas. This is a problem when the introduced species out competes the native plants and reduces/wipes our the native plants. Help control the invasive plants by learning to identify them, then pulling them out of the ground and cutting them down. This is best done when the ground is thawed.  Great for group and family projects.

Library:
Shelve returned books, straighten book shelves, assist librarian, call borrowers who have overdue books.

Newspaper PR Hunt:
Help keep track of our activities promoted in local papers by clipping articles and occasionally mailing them or dropping them off for our staff.

Pond Maintenance:
Needed to remove floating Spatterdock roots from the Pond using the canoe and rowboat.
Summer time job. Great for small groups.

Press Releases/Publicity:
Create and distribute flyers on upcoming TNC events. Update our PR listings and help us get the word out.

Public Programs/Walks:
Lead a group hike through the TNC/Lost Brook Preserve. Utilize your knowledge to present a public/family program on an environmental topic that you are familiar with. Some topics in the past have included: Art, Gardening, Nature Photography, Wild Edibles, Pond Life, Birds, and Wildflowers.

Research and Writing:
Research and write articles for the quarterly TNC newsletter, create self-guided trail brochures complete with natural history information (can be done in multiple languages), complete flora and fauna checklists, or meet with the Education Director to discuss any other possible research projects.

Teaching Aide:
Help a TNC teacher-naturalist with their environmental education programs such as our children’s after-school classes, school groups, scouts, and birthday parties.

Trail Maintenance:
Adopt as section of trail--great for groups and families.
Or work on whichever area needs attention.
Clear blow-downs, spread woodchips (great for groups), repaint blazes, repair broken signs, remove excess vegetation from pond, erect bird/bat houses, repair boardwalk, etc.

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Seasonal Volunteer
Positions

1. Public Programs: Each season we hold various public program and can always use help with any and all of them.  To view a list of upcoming public programs for volunteering opportunities please CLICK HERE.

2. Earth Day Cleanup: April 20, 2008 (10 am - noon) Stand up and do something for our natural resources this year.  Spare just two hours for the environment! Help with outdoor projects on the trails and at the pond: groom trails by adding woodchips, pull invasive species (removal on land) along trails and near Pfister's Pond. Rather work indoors? Stuff envelopes and work in the office! No experience needed. Bring your friends and family!

3. Summer CIT Program: Instead of being bored at home this summer come and play. During Nature Day Camp, Counselors-In-Training (CIT's) gain valuable experience working with children and the environmental education specialists. The CIT's assist the staff with the students by helping to prepare and run activities, and to clean up. For more information on this volunteer opportunity please CLICK HERE.

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