America’s Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal
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America’s Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal |
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Find a Volunteer Opportunity
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SEARCH RESULTS 8 Opportunities Found
Opportunity Description: Purpose: Youth today are less connected to the natural world then ever before. Help educate and inspire elementary school students to learn about local ecosystems and participate in stewardship activities.
Responsibilities: Present one of three mini-classes to students. These classes include learning activities or stewardship (planting and weeding) activities. Presentations will be made before groups of between 5-25 students from the 4th-6th grades. Volunteers should be comfortable leading children, but teachers and parental supervisors will be present as well. Please note – at this time we do not have volunteer housing available.
Qualifications: Educators must be friendly, have excellent communication skills and enjoy working with youth. (Curriculum will be taught to the educator beforehand.)
Time Commitment: Weekdays during the fall, winter and spring seasons. Shifts last for 3 hours and there are approximately 15 shifts per season. (Other educator opportunities are available during the summer.) Volunteers then may sign up for their preferred activity for as many shifts as they like. We prefer a conservation educator sign up for a minimum of 3 shifts per season.
Training/Materials: New volunteers should attend the Mighty Acorns training session at the beginning of each season. Returning volunteers are also encouraged to attend, as certain activities may change from year to year. Beginners may shadow an experienced educator.
Benefits: Pass your love of the natural world on to the next generation. Learn interesting facts about prairie life. Enjoy participating in stewardship activities along with the children. Midewin Volunteer Staff receive the bimonthly Prairie Telegraph and an invitation to the annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet.
Opportunity Description: Purpose: Assist Midewin’s Ecologist and Horticulturist with natural areas management and restoration activities on the nation’s largest tallgrass prairie restoration project. Biodiversity must be protected and restored because there is only 0.01% prairie habitat left in the so-called ‘Prairie State.’
Responsibilities: Tasks may include planting native plugs in habitat restorations, brush cutting, harvesting and cleaning seed, weeding and other activities. Please note – at this time we do not have volunteer housing available.
Qualifications: An interest in gardening and love for the great outdoors. Outdoor workdays will require volunteers to bend, pull and walk on uneven terrain in various weather conditions.
Time Commitment: Volunteers can choose from scheduled Wednesday (10-3:30) or Saturday (9-2:30) workdays. There is no need to commit in advance but a one-day notice will allow us to better accommodate the group. Punctuality is necessary for us to leave together and drive to various sites through locked gates.
Training/Materials: Each workday will begin with instructions and safety information for the day’s activity. Project leaders offer interpretation about the history and mission of Midewin and specific projects.
Benefits: Learn about native plants and natural resource management through experience. Get your hands dirty! Our restoration workdays present great opportunities for families and individuals of all ages to work together. Midewin Volunteer Staff receive the bimonthly Prairie Telegraph and an invitation to the annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet.
Opportunity Description: Purpose: Make Midewin more user-friendly by improving hiking trails and protecting habitat from woody and invasive encroachment.
Responsibilities: Perform trail maintenance duties such as mowing, removing brush, repairing structures and installing signs, benches and tables. Report any trail improvement needs as we transition Midewin trails from interim to permanent. Please note – at this time we do not have volunteer housing available.
Qualifications: Physical strength and endurance and ability to travel certain distances of trail.
Time Commitment: Commitment is flexible but we encourage a consistent routine. Let us know if you are interested in “adopting” a trail and working on your own schedule.
Training/Materials: A thorough orientation and consistent communication of responsibilities is available. Safety gear, equipment, tools, and materials will be provided by Midewin. Benefits: Feel ownership in Midewin natural areas and trails and improve recreational opportunities for visitors. Choose your favorite section of trail to manage and be proud of. Midewin Volunteer Staff receive the bimonthly Prairie Telegraph and an invitation to the annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet.
Opportunity Description: Purpose: Preserve local history and restore Midewin’s five cemeteries
Responsibilities: Repair and clean headstones, mow grass and remove weeds and woody invasive brush detracting from the sites. Research and document family histories.
Qualifications: Respect for Midewin history. Indoor and outdoor opportunities are available. Outdoor workdays require traveling to sites on uneven terrain in various weather conditions. Please note – at this time we do not have volunteer housing available.
Time Commitment: Group workdays are held infrequently, typically 3-5 Saturdays in the spring or summer for 5 hours. Individual jobs are available year round. There is no minimum commitment.
Training/Materials: Orientation and safety information provided at the start of each workday. Necessary equipment is provided. Benefits: Share your love of history with fellow enthusiasts. As involvement increases, volunteers may participate in Heritage Association monthly meetings. Midewin Volunteer Staff receive the bimonthly Prairie Telegraph and an invitation to the annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet.
Opportunity Description: Campground Host: Host position available at the Crab Orchard Lake Campground. The campground includes 80 campsite sites, public swimming beach, two shower houses with restrooms, and a boat ramp. Crab Orchard Lake Campground Site Host Position Description Fish and Wildlife Service provides the site host with: • RV hook-up station: water, power (electricity) and sewer. • Volunteer uniform items. Host site is located in Crab Orchard Lake Campground. The site host is responsible for the following duties: Visitor Services / Public Contact • Welcome visitors, provide information about the area, inform them of the rules/regulations, and help them register for campsites • Help take reservations for campsites. • The most important job as a Campground Host is to provide an enjoyable camping experience for the public and help campers feel welcome. The Host is the first and sometimes the only contact with campground users. Visitor-Use/Resource Monitoring • Record visitor-use levels and other reports as requested (forms will be provided). • Fee collection and management of fees. Maintenance • Routinely clean restrooms. • Grounds-keeping as requested (weed eating, raking sand at beach). • Collect garbage from cans and place in dumpsters. • Pick-up litter along campsites, roadways, parking areas, beach and boat launch as needed. • Clean fire rings. • Perform other minor maintenance tasks and recreation projects as requested. Management Support / Site Presence • Inform FWS staff and law enforcement of violations, emergency needs, and other circumstances that require attention. The site host is not responsible for enforcement. • Site host is required to live on site and must be present and available to the public at least 8 hours per day, 4 days per week between the hours of sunrise and sunset including weekends. Schedule will be determined by the Volunteer Supervisor. Additional Requirements • Pets must be kept on a leash or otherwise physically restricted and well behaved. You will be responsible for cleaning up after your pets and their behavior. • Host site must be kept clean and neat with a minimal amount of personal possessions outside of the host’s trailer/RV. Storage of personal possessions within or adjacent to FWS facilities (storage building) is generally not permitted, but may be authorized on a limited basis by the Volunteer Supervisor. • Attend volunteer training as requested by the Volunteer Supervisor including: Basic First Aid/CPR, Defensive Driving, Blood borne Pathogens Awareness, Safety, etc. • Have good people skills for dealing with campers and able to handle disputes diplomatically. • Host must be physically able to perform some weed-eating, raking, shoveling, sweeping, lifting and shower/restroom cleaning. • Change in days off or additional time off will be communicated to Volunteer Supervisor. • Length of stay in campground by any campers, including friends and family, is 28 days maximum. Four (4) host couples needed.
Opportunity Description: Mowing Volunteer- This position requires the maintenance and operation of a commercial riding mower and a gasoline powered line trimmer. This equipment will be used to mow and trim approximately 19 acres in the Opossum Creek Recreation Area or approximately 17 acres in the Lone Point recreation Area. Cleaning Volunteer- This position could require the cleaning of comfort stations, shower houses, picnic shelters, and litter pickup depending on the campground facilities. This work can be divided into two tours: one for the weekend (Saturday – Sunday) and the other is for weekdays (Monday – Friday). The purpose of this schedule is to divide the workload so that no one has to work more than approximately 20 hours per week. There may be the opportunity for two volunteer couples to share the cleaning and mowing work. A campsite will be provided to volunteers that include water, sewer and a 50 amp electrical hook up. All campground rules and regulation will apply to volunteers while staying in the campgrounds. The campgrounds will be open from May 1 to September 2, 2010. Please call 217-774-3313 for more information or email Matthew.M.Miller@usace.army.mil (Updated 08/28/2009)
Opportunity Description: Park Ranger Assistant - A Park Ranger Assistant (PRA) assists with all programs managed at the Illinois Waterway Project Office. These programs include, but not limited to interpretation, recreation management, Natural Resources Management and Administration. Each day will generally start at the Illinois Waterway Project Office. However, reporting station may change with different work assignments. Working hours are very flexible and can range from a few hours each week to full time. (Updated 08/28/2009)
Opportunity Description: Visitor Center – Couples needed to volunteers between May 3, 2010 and October 11, 2010. Greet and assist visitors upon their arrival. Advise visitors of brochures, interpretive displays, and programs available to them. Answer phones and messages in a timely manner. Track visitation in notebook and compile monthly data. Operate videos and slide show in theater upon request. Keep brochure rack in lobby properly filled with supplied brochures. Pick up any litter or debris around visitor center, clean display glass, and straighten up lobby furniture during slack time. Plant, water and weed flower beds around visitor center. Couples will work together. A full hook up campsite will be provided. (Updated 08/28/2009)
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Administrators
