Opportunities From: Mass Audubon

Volunteer Naturalists are frontline volunteers whose primary function is to enhance visitor experience through basic conversational and interpretive interactions about nature, wildlife, and Mass Audubon’s mission. As such, they are members of a region’s engagement team, working under the supervision of visitor services staff and/or volunteer management staff.   

Responsibilities:

1.      Activity Carts/Kits/Tables: Facilitate educational hands-on activities designed to highlight Mass Audubon’s education and conservation objectives.

2.      Floater/Greeter: Welcome and engage with visitors, provide general site orientation information, natural history/animal info.

Commitment:  One shift (9am-12pm) pr week from June 29- August 30.

Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary is looking for volunteers to “adopt” a wildflower garden plot along our Butterfly Mosaic Interpretive Trail!

The Butterfly Mosaic Interpretive Trail consists of 10 native wildflower “plots” located along a ¼ mile trail in our open field habitat.  Each plot consists of the most utilized nectaring and host plants for native butterfly species.  Using native plants is the ultimate environmentally-friendly garden practice. Wildflowers use fewer resources because they are adapted to tolerate normal regional conditions, and they don’t require intervention with pesticides and fertilizers. Native plants are a part of the local food web and provide nectar for insects, shelter for birds, and food for wildlife. 

The purpose of Long Pasture’s Butterfly Mosaic Trail is to:

1.      Educate through the establishment of an inspiring habitat feature suitable for educational programming.

2.      Increase biodiversity:  Enhance the habitat value of our open fields through the establishment of native wildflowers, thus supporting species in decline such as butterflies and other pollinators such as bees and birds.

3.      Inspire the community to become environmental stewards and provide an enhanced visitor experience.

Responsibilities:

1.      Volunteers will “adopt” a 12’x30’ plot and be responsible for the care of that plot.

1.      Ensuring plants receive adequate water

2.      Weeding to reduce encroachment of surrounding vegetation

3.      Mulching around plants to maintain moisture

4.      Ensuring visibility and proper location of plant ID tags

5.      Plant propagation and movement of plants to ensure visibility and function

Commitment: Two 2-hour visits pr month (evenly spaced) from May through September.

About the Position:

Mass Audubon is seeking volunteers with biological field experience and commitment to rare amphibian conservation biology to carry out seasonal responsibilities for the Spadefoot Toad Conservation and Wetland Restoration Project at Mass Audubon's Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Under the direction of the Project Coordinator, volunteers will assist with a variety of field surveys and monitoring efforts focused on the Massachusetts state-listed spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii), from native and translocated populations on Cape Cod. Activities include ongoing population monitoring, documentation of breeding activity, wetland habitat management, and data entry duties. Monitoring will primarily be conducted after dusk often during inclement weather conditions. In addition, volunteers are sought conduct weekly water quality measurements in breeding pools.

Qualifications:

Candidates with post-secondary level education are preferred and students pursuing academic degrees in related fields are encouraged to apply. Experience with amphibian monitoring or other field biology techniques will be considered. Knowledge of Cape Cod ecology and natural history is encouraged. Familiarity with MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook) is preferred. The position requires a valid state driver’s license and daily access to a vehicle.

Additional Information:

A minimum commitment of at least two days per week (either one morning or afternoon for water quality work AND/OR one evening for monitoring) is required for this position. The position starts immediately and runs through September 2026. This is a volunteer position without salaried compensation and Mass Audubon is willing to work with student candidates to obtain academic institutional course credit, if desired.

To express interest in this volunteer position, please click the “Respond” button and in the Response Notes, include a few sentences about why you are interested in this role and why you’d be a great fit. Make sure to click the “Submit Opportunity Response” button at the end to complete the process. Our volunteer coordinator will reach out to share more about the program and next steps.

As a Trail Steward volunteer, you will monitor Long Pasture's 3-mile trail system and report any issues, such as fallen trees or rough trail conditions, that you encounter. Long Pasture's trails meander through beachfront, woodlands, and uplands, along sandy trails, and across beautiful landscapes. Volunteers will have the opportunity to get to know the sanctuary's trail system well and observe changes throughout the seasons.

Trail Stewards play a key role in helping Mass Audubon maintain safe, welcoming, and pleasant trails for visitors by alerting staff of priority areas to address along the trails. This volunteer position is a great fit for someone who loves spending time outdoors, hiking, and making trails and natural spaces both welcoming for visitors and protected for wildlife. It is also a great fit for someone looking for a flexible volunteer opportunity to do on their own schedule.

As a volunteer, you will be responsible for:

Hiking along trails on your own schedule when the sanctuary is open and submitting a report to staff with your findings

Clipping intrusive brush and branches, moving small-to-medium sticks and debris, and/or removing trash along trails as needed

Entering the hours you volunteered in our online volunteer portal with a phone or computer

Virtual training will be provided and required.

Submit and successfully clear CORI/SORI background check

Watch Trail Steward volunteer training

Be age 18 or older or always accompanied by parent/guardian when volunteering  

Commit to:

Hiking along at least one sanctuary trail at least once a month

Completing report form after each visit detailing what you found on the trails 

Responsibly using the provided Trail Steward equipment and alert Mass Audubon staff if any equipment needs replacing

Demonstrating and modeling responsible behavior on trails

Volunteers also agree to log their completed volunteer hours in our online volunteer portal. This can be done on a personal phone, computer, or tablet. Training on how to enter hours will be provided as part of volunteer orientation. 

Maintaining a safe work environment is a priority of Mass Audubon. Volunteers should dress in appropriate outdoor clothing for the weather and sturdy shoes and bring a snack and water if you plan to be out on the trails for an extended period of time. Additional safety will be covered in the training. 

Trail Stewards can volunteer by hiking the trails at any time the sanctuary is open; dawn to dusk. Volunteers are asked to walk the trails at least once a month.

Trail Stewards offers a flexible and independent volunteer experience, but there will also be the opportunity to collaborate with other Trail Stewards and schedule times to work together.

To express interest in this volunteer position, please click the “Respond” button and in the Response Notes, include a few sentences about why you are interested in this role and why you’d be a great fit. Make sure to click the “Submit Opportunity Response” button at the end to complete the process. Our volunteer coordinator will reach out to share more about the program and next steps.

Visitors Services Volunteers perform day-to-day duties of greeting our visitors to Long Pasture and ensuring an overall positive, welcoming, enriching and safe experience to all members and visitors.  This includes providing excellent customer service while greeting and registering visitors in person, providing orientation to the sanctuary, directing visitors throughout the property and trail systems, answering questions about events and programs, introducing visitors to the many benefits of Mass Audubon membership, and generally educating guests about Mass Audubon.

Visitor Services volunteering is a great opportunity for you to get involved in your local Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary and local community; meeting, engaging, and getting people excited about Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary and everything we have to offer here!   

Responsibilities: