Volunteer with Audubon

Audubon's special events and nature programs are fun ways to connect with nature and the community! Opportunities vary with the seasons:

Spring

Camouflaged Egg Hunt: Audubon offers a fun alternative to the same old Easter Egg Hunt! Assist with hiding eggs, helping children find eggs, handing out prizes, and staffing the craft table.

Spring Craft Fair: Audubon's Spring Craft Fair, held at Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in Smithfield, RI, is a fun way to connect with the community! Volunteers may assist with parking/directing guests or attracting visitors by dressing up in fun costumed animal characters.

Summer

Raptor Weekend: Help make New England's largest celebration of raptors a success! From games, to crafts, first aid and more, there is a place for you at this exciting event!

Fall

AuduBonfire: A laid-back evening where we celebrate Audubon Members. Help greet/register members, assist with set-up/break-down, tend to the fires, or help make s'mores (yum!)

Pumpkin Party: Join Audubon for a different kind of fall celebration and find out just how much fun a pumpkin can be! Assist with the pumpkin painting craft, pumpkin games and greeting visitors/handing out prizes.

Winter

Holiday Craft Fair: A favorite annual event in Smithfield! Help with set-up/break-down, greeting visitors, registration, attracting more visitors as a costumed character and general support.

Maple Sugaring: Step back in time at the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge to experience the history of maple sugaring! Volunteers will assist with car parking and/or leading small groups from station to station (outdoors). Knowledge of maple sugaring is not required.

Year-Round

Free Family Fun Days: Join the fun at Audubon's Nature Center and Aquarium, typically on the first Saturday of each month. Volunteers assist with nature-based crafts, activities and nature walks from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm. Each month there is a different theme and the Center is open to the public for free, thanks to Citizens Bank!

School Vacation Activities: (December, February and April) A variety of fun nature-based activities will be offered each day of school vacation. Volunteers will help with setting up/breaking down activities, assisting families and children at craft tables and assisting staff with nature walks or other programming.

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Term Length:
Long term

Location:
Audubon Society of Rhode Island Headquarters - 12 Sanderson Rd. Smithfield, RI 02917

Qualifications:

• Experience and/or Strong interest in amphibians /reptiles/arthropods and wildlife husbandry
• Ability to work both independently and in a team
• Willingness to work at least 1 or 2 weekly shifts regularly
• Must have a tolerance to handling non-venomous snakes, turtles, frogs, hissing cockroaches, and feeding dead mice to snakes.
• Mature Individual Preferred, Retirees and Seniors welcome!

Description:
The Animal Care Volunteer is responsible for assisting with the care of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Education Animals. These animals include reptiles, such as snakes and turtles, amphibians, such as frogs and Salamanders and arthropods, such as hissing cockroaches, crickets, and fishes used for feeding. Animal Care Volunteers are responsible for the daily care, cleaning, and maintenance of the education animals. This would include food preparation, and feeding, cleaning of tanks, record keeping, and maintenance of equipment. They also assist with training and handling of education animals, environmental enrichment, behavior observations, general physical exam and medical care and public education. This position works as an integral part of the education team.

Learning Opportunities:
The Audubon Society animal care volunteer will learn:

• In depth raptor and reptile biology, natural history, especially of the common eastern species.
• The basics of feeding, housing, equipment, and training amphibians and reptiles for education.
• Basic amphibian/reptile handling and transportation techniques for public education.
• General maintenance and medical care of small animals.
• The basics of interpretation and education for the general public.

Hours:
Minimum schedule of 1 shift: Each shift requires at least 2 hours commitment. This would be anytime between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday – Friday with a preference for the beginning of the week and/or the end of the week.

Contact:
Tracey Hall, Education Coordinator; thall@asri.org or 401 949-5454 x 3011

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Calling all gardeners! This volunteer position assists the Caretakers and Garden Coordinator in maintaining the Pollinator Rose Discovery Garden at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol, RI. Gather with fellow gardeners, to help tend the garden, including watering, weeding, planting and other landscaping. Position may also entail assistance in maintaining trails, additional gardens and border of the property depending on need. This is a great opportunity to make new friends, as you will be working with many of the same people at each workday. Workdays will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Location:
Audubon Society of Rhode Island Nature Center & Aquarium, Bristol RI

Employment Status:

• Volunteer position
• Internship available
• Work study students welcome
• Service learning or course work requirements welcome

Requirements:

• Must be 16 years old or older.
• Must be able to work alone or in a group.
• Interest in gardening, pollinators and/or botany.
• Responsible and hardworking.
• Work requires physical exertion and/or physical strain and the ability to lift 35 lbs.
• Work environment may involve exposure to disagreeable elements such as summer heat.
• Willingness to take direction, accept feedback and ask questions.
• Have reliable transportation to and from Bristol location.

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Are you experienced in a trade or other service and looking to give back? Audubon outsources and pays for many different types of work to help keep our land and other property maintained. We may be able to use your help! Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, landscapers and beyond are welcome to apply to volunteer their expertise.

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Join the team at our Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol, RI. Naturalists support the general operations of and guide visitors through the exhibits and trails, focusing on the local flora and fauna found on the refuge. You will also support the Center's education programs, special events and more, depending on your skills and interests. Training is provided but basic knowledge of the natural world is requested.

Please have a love of nature and a willingness to interact with the public. We request a weekly commitment of three hours per week, for at least three months. A variety of shifts are available. Please be 18 or older.

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Refuge monitors visit public Audubon Wildlife Refuges on a regular basis to ensure the trails and parking lots are clear and safe for visitors. Following each visit, monitors submit a summary report.

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Fulfill your community service with Audubon! We offer service opportunities for school-based, court-ordered, faith-based, family and corporate service needs. Service opportunities are typically conducted at our headquarters in Smithfield or our Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol.

Image: Citizens Bank Volunteers

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Get outside while giving back! Audubon welcomes businesses of all types and sizes from Rhode Island and surrounding communities to partake in team-building projects on our Wildlife Refuges.

Image: FM Global Volunteers

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Audubon is looking for enthusiastic young adults (ages 16+) with experience working with children for our Junior Counselor positions. A love of nature, the outdoors, and science is important. Positions are available at both camp locations - Bristol and Seekonk. For more information, contact Tracey Hall at thall@asri.org or 401-949-5454, x3011.

What are the qualifications for being a Junior Counselor?
Junior Counselors must be 16 years or older with experience working with children and experience working at camps or in an outdoor setting- a love of nature and science is important! Junior Counselors must attend a Training Day.

What are the duties of a Junior Counselor?
Junior Counselors are an important part of the Camp Staff. You assist the Instructors in all aspects of camp and help monitor the needs and safety of the campers. You play a key role in playing games, setting up materials and craft projects. JC’s are invaluable in helping with daily camp chores such as sweeping the camp area, washing paint brushes, and putting craft materials back. Most importantly, you are an extra set of hands, ears and eyes, in helping the Camp Instructor make sure camp runs as smoothly as possible for our summer campers.

Do Junior Counselors get paid?
No, Junior Counselors are now a volunteer position. This is a great way for youth to get community service hours. It is a fun and rewarding experience to work with children in an outdoor setting. Many of our Junior Counselors were campers at our camps and then go on to become full time paid Camp Staff when they get older. Also, our Junior Counselors use the experience at our camps to help them in getting future jobs, and for pursuing admittance into higher education.

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Gain practical experience with a well-established environmental conservation, education and advocacy organization!

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