Opportunities From: Mass Audubon

Visitor Center Volunteer

Opportunity Description

North River Wildlife Sanctuary Visitor Center Volunteers play an important role in welcoming visitors to Mass Audubon's North River Wildlife Sanctuaries. They assist staff in providing excellent customer service, supporting engagement operations, and ensuring an overall positive, enriching and enjoyable experience for members, visitors and program participants.

Specific tasks include:

Offering assistance with information about the sanctuary, visitor center, programs, events, the surrounding area, and Mass Audubon in general, making referrals as appropriate to the Mass Audubon webpage.

Distributing sanctuary maps, information, and trail suggestions.

Collecting and processing admission fees.

Checking membership status and recording visitation statistics.

Understanding and introducing visitors to the benefits of Mass Audubon membership. Processing new memberships and assisting with renewals.

Assisting in the gift shop and processing gift shop sales.

Using a Point-of-Sale system, cash register or credit card machine for sales and admissions.

Answering phone calls and providing information, guidance, and direction.

Answering general nature-related questions or making referrals for more information.

Helping to keep the visitor center, lobby, front desk, and shop neat and organized.

Helping to maintain displays and bulletin boards.

Assisting occasionally during peak periods such as holiday weekends or special events, such as working a greeting table outdoors, etc.

Assisting with other program support, where appropriate.

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 North River's 2-mile trail system and report any issues, such as fallen trees or rough trail conditions, that you encounter. North River's trails meander through forests, woodlands, and uplands, along boardwalks, and across open meadows. 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.

Responsibilities

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.

Requirements

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. 

Safety 

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. 

Schedule

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.

Next Steps

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.