Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer - it's your nature!

Volunteer opportunities vary throughout the year and there are always new ones being developed.  For a comprehensive overview of the current volunteer opportunities available, please plan on attending our next New Volunteer Orientation.

Regular Volunteer Opportunities are year-round, unless otherwise noted, and include:

• Audubon Docents are often the first impression visitors have to Audubon and its sanctuary grounds.  On weekends during the spring and summer months, Docents greet visitors, answer natural history questions, assist with bird identification, and just be a helpful presence for our visitors.  (Weekends only during the spring and summer months)
• Backyard Habitat Certification Program volunteers help with data entry, follow-up calls to see how the program's homeowners are coming along toward their certification, and (with specialized training) do yard evaluations.
  

• Citizen Science volunteers fill one of Audubon’s greatest needs for volunteers.  Every spring our Conservation staff trains and organizes 75-100 volunteers to monitor local bird populations.  Their work helps keep an accurate census on viable populations of several bird species in the metropolitan area often including Peregrine falcons.  (Primarily during spring months) Citizen Science Volunteer Opportunities

• Clerical and Data Entry volunteers are always needed to help with membership and Wildlife Care Center data.  

• Conservation Activists continue to support Audubon’s more than 100 year history of leading successful conservation campaigns. While a few Conservation Activist volunteers help research conservation issues, prepare materials, and attend meetings on key environmental issues, most are needed for grassroots, “put up the lawn signs and make the phone call” campaigns.  

• Native Plant Team volunteers insure that everything is ready year-round to make our annual Native Plant Sale a success.

• Nature Store volunteers interact with the public as they browse through the collection of nature books, binoculars and scopes, bird feeders and food, and gifts and toys.  Our store staff will train you to operate the cash register and help you learn the basics of binoculars and scopes so you can better help customers.

• Audubon’s Receptionists are all volunteers who represent Audubon to callers and visitors.  (Weekdays only)

• Sanctuary Restoration and Work Party volunteers help keep the extensive trail system and sanctuary grounds beautiful for our guests and the native wildlife that calls it their home.

• Sanctuary Tour Guides are volunteers who share our sanctuary and nature with school groups.  They help local children discover animals living in and around the protected Balch Creek watershed, the sanctuary pond, and a stand of old-growth forest nestled at the back of Audubon’s sanctuary.  (Weekdays only, primarily in the fall and spring)

• Tabling Team volunteers represent Audubon at various events and places in the Metropolitan area with the Audubon display board, brochures, and other materials.  They sing the praises of Audubon to the community.

• Wildlife Care Center volunteers help over 3,000 native injured animals every year!  They also help educate our visitors and callers to help them live with urban wildlife.  (Note:  There is almost always a wait list for the Wildlife Care Center.  It’s a good idea to become involved in one or more of our other volunteer opportunities so you become more familiar with Audubon and its mission while waiting for a WCC shift to open.)