Indian Springs Environmental
GET INVOLVED
Volunteering Opportunities
We are always looking for people who would like to share
their time in helping make the
Volunteer opportunities fall into four general categories:
1.) Education Volunteers - If you like
working with children, spending time outdoors, and looking closely at nature,
this is the job for you! We are looking
for folks who can commit to helping out at least twice a month in the spring or
fall, to accompany staff in teaching students how to use equipment in field
studies and laboratory studies, guide student groups (along with their teacher)
as they travel from activity to activity, and help oversee times when students
are in unstructured activities such as lunch or self-guided building
tours. We will provide training. School field trips range in length from two
to four hours and occur on weekdays between
2.) Indoor Volunteers – If you enjoy
interacting with people and want to be involved on days when we have field trip
events, but prefer the indoors to the outdoors, then this may interest
you. On days when we are especially
busy, we need someone to greet people, take phone messages and answer general
questions at the front desk. You may
also help us in creating and maintaining displays, and setting up equipment for
students to use. We will teach you
anything you need to know. School field trips range in length from two to four
hours and occur on weekdays between
3.) Outdoor Volunteers – Depending on your background and interests you may be interested in helping out in the following areas:
Gardening (late spring through autumn)
Including planting, weeding
and watering of native plants that have been transplanted to various areas.
Habitat Restoration Research (summer)
Including
surveying the plants and birds in areas that have been restored with native
plants. It’s a great way to be
involved in research and learn more about native plants.
Seed Collecting (summer and autumn)
Collecting
the seeds of prairie grasses and forbs in the late summer and fall. This is a great way to learn about our native plants,
and a good excuse to take a nice walk!
Once you know how to identify the plants we are collecting seed from,
you may come out to the park at your leisure to do this.
4.) Special Events Volunteers – Help set
up, greet visitors, answer questions, and clean up on days when we have events
such as open houses or festivals.
We will train you to do any of these activities and they are all a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy nature! Weekend and weekday opportunities are available.
Benefits of Volunteering
The benefits of volunteering vary depending on the amount of time volunteered. Volunteers working less than 24 hours receive free entry into the park on the day(s) they are working. Volunteers working 24 hours or more receive an Annual Vehicle Entry Permit for the year that work is done and an annual appreciation lunch. Volunteers working 64 hours a year or more receive a Certificate of Appreciation and a Metroparks Annual Vehicle Entry Permit for the following year and a Metroparks volunteer polo shirt. Volunteers working 200 hours a year or more are eligible to attend the HCMA Recognition Dinner with a spouse or guest under the same guidelines as an employee. One volunteer (with a guest) will be selected from each park/parks unit to receive recognition as “Volunteer of the Year” and to attend the Recognition Dinner for free. They also receive a Metroparks volunteer jacket.
Procedures for Volunteering
Please email us at edc@metroparks.com or call 248-625-6640 to sign up or if you need more information.
Making Donations
The following is a list of
possible donation items:
Taxidermied mounts –
Specimen freezer/refrigerator
Artwork –
nature/environmental themes
Mastodon skeleton cast
Ficus trees for lobby area
Mineral and Fossil specimens
If you have the ability to provide
any of these items or wish to make a monetary donation to our center, please
contact the EDC staff at 248-625-6640.
Donations are tax deductible.