Volunteer
Contact Us
Nature Center Hours
VINS Nature Center
10am to 5pm Daily
Wild Bird Rehab is Open
Accepting Calls Only
802.359.5000 x212
8am to 5pm
Become a Volunteer
From environmental education and avian rehab to gardening and office support, volunteers are the lifeblood of VINS. Our message of environmental stewardship is more effective and reaches more people because of the special talents and generosity of this amazing group of people!
Turn your enthusiasm for the natural world into action!
A variety of opportunities are available year-round. Explore the possibilities below, and, if your interest is piqued, complete the Volunteer Application.
For more information, please call 802.359.5000 x221 or email volunteer@vinsweb.org.
Administrative Support
Assist administrative staff with office duties such as general research, data entry, assembling educational packets, filing, bulk mailings, photo-copying and collating, and hanging special event posters in surrounding towns.
Animal Care
Share your passion for wildlife by assisting the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation with daily animal care, answering questions from public visitors, and helping with facilities maintenance.
Bird Rescue & Transportation
Can’t make a weekly commitment to volunteer at VINS? Then this position is the perfect way for you to share your love and concern for wildlife by assisting with rescue and transport of birds that need rehabilitation.
Note: Training is required for transportation volunteers. Transportation times will vary, depending on the location of a bird rescue.
Buildings & Grounds and Jack-of-All-Trades
Assist in maintaining the facility through mowing, weeding, trash removal, and any maintenance-related tasks.
Guest Services
Greeting and orienting groups of visitors to the VINS Nature Center includes describing the campus and exhibits, introducing events and programs, and suggesting the benefits of membership and adopt-a-raptor programs. Also, meet and greet our guests during special events on the VINS campus and off-site.
Research
Are you passionate about research? Assist VINS Research staff in field work throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.
Learn about VINS Research Projects to see if a specific project interests you.
VINS Afterschool Program
Are you passionate about environmental education? VINS is looking for part-time (once per week) volunteers to assist with facilitating our weekly afterschool lessons.
Tasks include:
- Working with VINS staff to implement lesson plan for each day
- Assisting VINS staff in group management
- Helping to set up and put away teaching materials for each lesson
Commitment: Sessions run weekday afternoons for 4 – 5 weeks at a time, March – May & September - October
VINS Nature Camp (June to August)
Leaders-in-Training (L-I-T) Program for Teens
VINS’ Leaders-in-Training program involves teens in our camp program by offering the opportunity to work closely with children, peers, and adults in a fun, recreational setting while providing experiences for participants to develop their leadership skills.
For more information visit our Leaders-in-Training page.
VINS Nature Center Docent
Share your passion for the natural world by engaging visitors to the VINS Nature Center. Docents are most active May through October, and are trained to interpret our Forest Canopy Walk, raptor exhibits, and trails using educational props.
After a year of service you may also be trained to work with live animals. Training and a commitment of 40 hours a year is required.
VINS School Programs
Are you passionate about education? The VINS School Programs team is looking for a part-time (once per week or once per two weeks) volunteer to assist with the following tasks:
General VINS School Programs:
- Helping to make and gather teaching supplies
- Helping to put away teaching materials
- Preparing all of the discount cards we hand out to schools
- Photocopy, cut, label and organize for Science Educators
- Helping to keep materials in the Education Closet organized
Field Trips:
- Greet and orient groups for Explore VINS
- Helping to set up room, gathering materials, putting away materials and cleaning up room for Field Trip lessons
- Helping to run a station for some of the Field Trip lessons such as Animal Adaptations
Corporate Volunteer Opportunities
Contact us at volunteer@vinsweb.org to learn more about how your company or organization can help.