Opportunities From: Mass Audubon

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.

Celebrate Earth Month with a day of service at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary!

Spend your morning with us to "wake up" our gardens and get ready for spring as part of Mass Audubon's Statewide Volunteer Day.  We will be working on our Food Forest and Bird Gardens pulling weeds, removing dead growth from last year, pruning, and tidying up the gardens.

Before getting to work, start the day with a cup of coffee and breakfast snacks as you take in the beauty of nature, get to know other volunteers, and learn about the importance of the work you will be doing. After your work in the morning is done, enjoy free admission to the Sanctuary for the remainder of the day and hit the trails.

Bring your own water bottle to stay hydrated.

This opportunity is for adult volunteers aged 18 and older.

How to Register

To sign up to volunteer, click the “Respond” button. You can then sign in using your existing volunteer account with Mass Audubon, or, if this is your first time using the volunteer system, you will be prompted to create a new account before signing up. Make sure to click the Submit Opportunity Response button on the next page and look for the green banner – and an email - indicating you have completed the whole process.

Families or small groups can sign up by clicking “Respond as Group.” Only one person in the group will need to create a volunteer account: you will then create a name for the group, click the “Add Me” button to add yourself to the group, and use the “Add Volunteer” button to enter the first and last names of each additional group member. Finally, designate yourself as the group leader (look for the checkbox) and click Finish. Look for the green banner – and an email – indicating you have completed the whole process.

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: