1. Think about what matters most to you.
How do you decide where to volunteer and what to do? Think with your head and your heart. If you want to explore something new, look at the conservation groups in your area and see which group has opportunities for you to explore something different. If you’ve always wanted to work with kids, you might volunteer at a zoo or nature center and learn how to conduct education programs. If you care about global warming, research groups that are working on it and see if any have volunteer opportunities that fit your skills. Whether your interest lies in taking political action, or in education, or in hands-on restoration, there’s no wrong way to volunteer. You’ll be a happier and more productive volunteer if you’re working for something that matters to you.
2. Think about how you would like to volunteer for conservation.
There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities just waiting for your talents. Some are inside, some are outside. Some involve people. Some involve writing. You can pick a group you love and find out how you can help, or start with an issue you care about and find out more about where you can make a difference. Here are some ideas to get you started:
On-the-Ground Conservation
- Paint the walls of a visitor center at a sanctuary
- Fix the irrigation system at a botanical garden
- Construct an erosion control structure on a hiking trail
- Help a biologist with bird banding
- Repair a deck or walkway in a park
- Build bird nesting boxes
Educating Others
- Lead a bird walk at a local nature center
- Give a public talk on the history of a nearby protected area
- Become an expert on your community’s recycling policies
- Read nature stories to children at your local library
- Be an assistant to an educator at a nature center, zoo or aquarium
Technology Talents
- Repair the computers at a nonprofit environmental organization
- Conduct internet research for a conservation project
- Setup or improve an out-of-date website for an environmental group
- Create an e-newsletter with information on environmental activities
- Blog for the environment
Communication and Marketing
- Design and illustrate a t-shirt for an upcoming conservation event
- Take photographs to use for promotional materials
- Create or edit a newsletter for an environmental justice organization
- Send out action alerts for grassroots networks
- Help with design work for posters and brochures that promote green practices
Policy Work
- Attend a town meeting when environmental issues are at stake
- Volunteer for an environmentally conscious candidate
- Begin a campaign or a petition for an issue of conservation concern
Business Savvy
- Do the bookkeeping for a green organization you care about
- Manage a database that inventories local plants or animals
- Provide tax assistance to a non-profit that is working for conservation
- Offer Pro-bono consulting to citizen groups who are fighting threats to a habitat
- Organize volunteers at an environmental event
3. Think about what you want to learn.
Volunteering can be as rewarding for you as it is beneficial to the environment. Approach volunteering with an interest in learning, and you won’t be disappointed. Here are some areas of interest that you can learn about by volunteering:
- The local environment (including specific species and habitats)
- Nonprofit management
- Handling wildlife
- Natural resource management
- Water testing
- Grant writing
- Fundraising
- Construction
- Scientific research
- People management
- Teaching outdoors
4. Decide how much time you have to give.
You know your schedule and your goals better than anyone. It’s important to decide how much time you can commit to so that you don’t over-promise. For example, there are many groups that would be thrilled to have volunteers once a month; others are looking for more regular support. Decide how much time you want to commit and then see if you can match your availability with the organization that shares your values and goals. If you volunteer for something long-term, there may be some training involved. But there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer once a week, once a month, or once a year. The bottom line is to give what you can and what feels right for your life.