Volunteer at Owl's Hill!
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Owl's Hill has a very small paid staff, but we are fortunate to have a strong, active volunteer staff. Most volunteers serve as Trail Guides for school and scout programs, but many also assist with gardening, woodwork, nestbox trail monitoring, weekend programs and many other activities. Currently, most of our volunteer opportunities are for weekdays only. If you are only available on weekends, but have a special skill - art, woodworking, writing, etc. - that you are willing to use for Owl's Hill, please contact us.
Spring Trail Guide trainees explore the meadow.
VOLUNTEER NOW!
Owl's Hill hosts hundreds of groups each year for interpretive programs involving everything from trees to Bluebirds. Tours are led by our trained Trail Guides, Naturalist Docents and Master Naturalists. Training sessions for new Trail Guides are held twice a year, in September and January. Each session includes three meetings which combine a short lecture/discussion class with a hike. Volunteers may also begin at any time during the year by arranging to shadow experienced guides and then attending the next training session. New Guides receive an Owl's Hill notebook with articles covering various nature topics and the Sanctuary policies.
Potential Trail Guides should have a love of the outdoors and a desire to share that love with others. The physical ability for light to moderate hiking is desirable, although not necessary. Many programs have lecture, craft or literary components which can be led by volunteers who do not wish to hike. Of course due to the responsibility involved, all Trail Guides must be at least 21 years old and agree to a background check.
Trail Guide Trainees in a winter class stop for a lesson on tree identification.
To maintain an active status as a Trail Guide, volunteers must lead 8 weekday tours or 6 weekday tours and 1 weekend program in the autumn and again in the spring. Guides choose their own assignments to suit their personal schedules and interests.
Trail Guides with additional training may qualify for the Naturalist Docent and Master Naturalist designations.
Although new Guides are added year round, we do ask that each one attend a Trail Guide training program as soon as possible. This program is offered in mid-September and again in mid-January. The next Trail Guide training program is January 12, 13, 14 and 15 of 2010 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Bring your lunch and plan to attend all sessions.
VOLUNTEER NOW! Anyone interested in volunteering may contact us by e-mail or at 615-370-4672 to find out how to blend into our programs before the training session.
Nestbox trails are monitored weekly during the nesting season which begins in March.
VOLUNTEER NOW!
While Trail Guides make up the majority of our volunteers, many people help in other ways. During the nesting season, our nestboxes must be monitored on a weekly basis and the information forwarded to the Cornell Nestbox Project. Volunteers have assisted with this project since its inception, including the building and cleaning of boxes.
Owl's Hill maintains several garden areas around the Visitor Center and a Butterfly Garden at the edge of the meadow. Much of the maintenance in these gardens is done by volunteers. Other projects handled by volunteers include "spring cleaning", bulk mailings, and preparing new teaching exhibits.
It requires many skills to keep a nature sanctuary operating smoothly. We welcome your assistance.
Page last updated December 11, 2009.
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