Volunteer

Can you spare a few hours for Five Rivers?

Even more vital than monetary support, the Friends of Five Rivers provides volunteer help for Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. Friends' volunteers enable Five Rivers to offer more programs and services and bring community involvement to the Center. If you would like to share some of your time with us, please fill out the volunteer form at the end of this page.

Ways to Volunteer

Volunteer Instructor

Volunteer instructors are people from all walks of life who enjoy nature and children. That's it! No degrees required. The volunteer instructors are like you and me in that they are busy, busy, busy with only a few sporadic hours to spare. And that's OK! Once trained, volunteer instructors set their own schedules.

There are three steps to becoming a Guided School Program volunteer instructor:

• Attending “Basic Training”
• Attending “Lesson Specific Training” and
• Co-Teaching.

Each training session is held at Five Rivers in the classroom beginning at 9:30 and ending at 12:00. Coffee and bagels are ready at 9:15 on training days. The last step, Co-Teaching, is set by you, when your schedule allows.

Currently there are four training sessions a year. Each session focuses on the lessons that are appropriate for the given season. Fall and Spring trainings are held in September and April/May respectively. Explorers, Insects, Animal Signs, Stream Life and World of Pond are the lessons we offer in the Fall and Spring. Winter trainings are held in January for Winter Challenge and Snowshoeing. Finally, Marvelous Maples training is held in March right about the time of the thaw.

If you would like further information regarding how to become a Friends of Five Rivers' volunteer instructor or specific training dates, please email the Guided School Program Coordinator.

Assistant Naturalists

These volunteers accompany staff naturalists on weekend and evening public programs. They assist by being responsible for equipment, helping to locate wildlife and making sure all participants are able to share fully in the program. In time Assistant naturalists who are interested in leading public programs may be asked to do so.

Greeter

Greeters staff the Five Rivers exhibit area on weekends to meet and greet the public. Greeters answer phones, sell books, and talk with the public, answering their questions and making them feel welcome at the Center. Five Rivers will provide all necessary training.

Wildlife Gardeners

Gardeners maintain the Center's Wildlife Garden, which is designed to attract wildlife, especially butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Basic gardening skills are helpful but not necessary; it's a learning experience for all. Five Rivers provides gardening tools. The Wildlife Gardeners meet throughout the growing season for short work sessions at the convenience of the members of the group. There is no minimum commitment - any time that volunteers can give is very welcome. Join us!

Clerical Help

These volunteers help the Friends' administrator in tasks like preparing newsletter mailings, stuffing envelopes, answering phones, copying and collating copies.

Hospitality

Volunteers are needed to help set up, serve and clean up at social functions.

Please tell us how to reach you!

If volunteering at the Center with the Friends of Five Rivers sounds good to you, please tell us how to contact you to discuss your areas of interest.