Long-term volunteering is a great way to gain deeper professional experience, get to know the seasonal changes of our plant and wildlife neighbors in Debs Park, and strengthen your relationship with the local community.
All long-term volunteers receive additional training from Center staff in areas like native plant maintenance, habitat restoration practices, conservation science, environmental education, or facilities maintenance depending on the position.
Each position requires a commitment of at least 6 hours per month in 3-hour shifts for a minimum of 6 months, but specific positions may have increased commitment requirements. Recruitment for these positions changes throughout the year depending on the fluctuating needs at the Center.
Here are our open positions for long-term volunteers:
- Nestbox Monitoring Assistant: The Audubon Center at Debs Park is entering its second year as part of a nestbox monitoring program to learn about the breeding success of songbirds in Debs Park. Nestbox Monitoring Assistants will support the Nestbox Monitoring Lead in collecting data about nestbox occupation on Wednesday mornings during the monitoring season (typically March-July). Assistants must be available for a training on Wednesday morning, February 19. Volunteers must be comfortable hiking moderate distances for up to 2 hours.
- Marking Monarchs Lead: The Audubon Center at Debs Park has been facilitating a monarch butterfly data collection program (called “Marking Monarchs”) since 2023 as part of the larger Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) community science project throughout North America. We are looking for one lead volunteer who can commit to weekly monitoring of milkweed plants for caterpillars and eggs on Thursday mornings starting in June and going through October (or until the monarchs are no longer present). The lead volunteer will go through a training with the Audubon Center’s Senior Education Coordinator, will supervise assistant volunteers in data collection, and must be comfortable with very mild hiking and squatting and/or sitting on the ground to examine plants outdoors.
- Marking Monarchs Assistant: Under the supervision of the Marking Monarchs Lead, Marking Monarchs Assistants will examine milkweed plants to count monarch caterpillars and eggs as part of the larger Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) community science project throughout North America. Volunteers must be comfortable with very mild hiking and squatting and/or sitting on the ground to examine plants outdoors.
- Please note: this position does not require a firm commitment or onboarding. If interested in this position, we will add you to our monthly Marking Monarchs email blast where we provide the signup links to support the lead volunteer. You can join as little or as much as you are able!
- Special Events Support Volunteers: The Audubon Center at Debs Park is in need of volunteers to support special events throughout the year. This includes seasonal festivals, summer Community Movie Nights, fundraising events, or other partner events. If you have volunteered with the Center before and enjoyed it, and if you’re interested in helping to make events at the Center a success, this is the position for you! Work could include facilitating a craft table, running an activity station, staffing a check-in table, or helping to set up/break down equipment.
- Please note: this position does not require two 3-hour shifts per month; instead, we ask that you volunteer for at least 3 special events throughout the year as you are able.
If you’re interested in applying, or if you have any questions, please email debspark@audubon.org and we’ll connect.
Do you have an idea for a specialty project that you’re interested in exploring? Do you have expertise or specialty skills that might be helpful at the Center? Email debspark@audubon.org and let us know how you’d like to contribute!
