Meet new friends, spend time in the great outdoors, and expand your environmental knowledge at SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve.

To begin your volunteer journey with SHADOW:

1. Review the volunteer positions at the bottom of this page

2. Select up to as many positions as you are interested in, but make sure to look at the commitment requirements below

3. Fill out the Volunteer Inquiry Form

4. Shadow staff will be in touch to schedule with you!

Volunteer Inquiry Form:

Open Volunteer Positions – Job Descriptions

RESTORATION

Restoration Assistant – Work independently during the week to help complete special restoration projects at SHADOW. You will be trained on noxious weed removal, native tree/shrub planting techniques, & other restoration related activities. (6-month commitment required)

Restoration Work Party Volunteer – Join our Restoration Work Party on-call list, held most Saturday’s from 10 am to 2pm at SHADOW.  (no commitment required)

Native Plant Garden Attendent – Help SHADOW care for our Native Plant Garden by caring for native plants and doing light weeding. Training is provided, no experience necessary. (3-month commitement required)

EDUCATION

Environmental Educator  – Help lead environmental education activities for K-12 groups coming to SHADOW for field trips. You will learn how to give guided bog tours tailored to youth and how to lead education activities here at SHADOW. No experience required, we will train you! This volunteer job is on-call, weekdays, and typically in the morning and early afternoons.

Community Class Host – Interested in sharing your passion with the community? Create and host a Community Class at SHADOW, offered to both adults and/or youth. You can lead a Bird Walk, teach the community how to help pollinators or how to build a bat box! Classes are held Weekday evenings or Saturdays. Classes can be held virtually. Experience in an environmental/naturalist field is a must.

Guided Nature Walk Lead – Lead ONE Guided Nature Walk a month on a variety of nature related topics. These nature walks are a loose structure walk designed to engage the community in the outdoors and SHADOW. A background in an environmental field of study is a plus! (6-month commitment required)

EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENT

Event Volunteer – Have fun and help SHADOW have successful events! Be on-call to assist SHADOW with major events including a Summer Fundraiser, seasonal events, and our annual Frog Frolic. (On-call; committed to helping at at least one event per year)

Fundraiser –Help SHADOW raise critical funds for our programs by assisting with their silent auction, campaigns, fundraisers, & other development work. No experience required, can be done remotely! (3-month commitment) 

OPERATIONS

Maintenance Helper – Have some maintenance skills or wanting to learn? Help SHADOW maintain its grounds, office, and more. (No commitment)