Opportunities From: Mass Audubon

About the Event: Duck Derby is a Mass Audubon annual event and fundraiser for which participants purchase entries of racing rubber ducks in support of vital restoration efforts at Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary and the surrounding region (Conservation Projects at Allens Pond). As part of the fun, staff and volunteers will host a booth at the South Coast Harvest Festival in Westport, MA (Sept 27-28) for a community-centric day filled with nature games, wildlife crafts and more. Activities and displays are geared towards raising awareness about the wildlife, habitats, and conservation work underway at Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary and across the region.

Why Volunteer with Us? Volunteering with Mass Audubon offers you a chance to connect with your community and get to know our organization! By volunteering for one 4-hour shift, you will have free admission to the South Coast Harvest Festival on the day you volunteer.

How You Can Help: During the shift you sign up for, we'll ask for your support with:

event setup

leading wildlife games

assisting at Mass Audubon's designated table

Your support will be greatly appreciated in ensuring the success of our event and ultimately in helping us achieve our wildlife restoration goals.

Next Steps: If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer or learning more about the event, please click "respond" to this opportunity! Here, you can make a profile and view and sign up for volunteer shifts. Please also, feel free to reach out to Nicole Kirkos, nkirkos@massaudubon.org if you have any questions or need more information.

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 Allens Pond's 9-mile trail system and report any issues, such as fallen trees or rough trail conditions, that you encounter. Allens Pond's trails meander through wetlands, woodlands, and uplands, along boardwalks, 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.

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.