Volunteer

Baby birds require a tremendous amount of care, sometimes needing to be fed every half-hour all day long!  Help VINS' Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation care for hundreds of orphaned or abandoned birds this summer.

Baby bird feeder volunteers care for patients from 8 AM - 8 PM every day of the week from May to August.  The day is split into three shifts 8 AM- 12 PM, 12 - 4 PM, and 4 - 8 PM.

Open to youth ages 10 to 17 with an adult mentor alongside them during all shifts.  Adults are also welcome to participate in this program on their own.

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Requirements:  In the height of summer there is a very high volume of baby birds needing care.  Baby bird feeding requires the ability to stand and crouch frequently.  It is not suitable for adults or children who become easily overwhelmed.  Baby bird feeders must also have the dexterity to hold and use tweezers and small syringes properly for feedings.

Commitment:  Requires a weekly commitment of 4 hours from May - August (up to 2 scheduled absences allowed).  Adult mentors should plan to cover for the child during the end of the school year and if the child is away at a summer camp.

Assist administrative staff with general office duties such as data entry, assembling educational packets, filing, bulk mailings, and photocopying.

Interested in sharing your passion for the natural world with the next generation?  VINS is looking for volunteers to assist with facilitating our weekly afterschool lessons.  Volunteers will work with a VINS educator to implement lesson plans for each day, assist VINS staff in group management, and help set up and put away teaching materials for each lesson.  

Commitment:  Once per week, weekday afternoons from September – October and/or March – May.

Share your passion for wildlife by assisting the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation with daily animal care.  Duties include but are not limited to cleaning enclosures, feeding resident animals, and interacting with visitors. 

Note:  This position is for exhibit animal care only.  All rehabilitation patients are cared for by VINS staff. 

Requirements:  Animal care is physically demanding and requires the ability to stand for long periods with frequent bending and crouching.

Commitment:  Requires a weekly commitment of 4 hours, year-round.  

Can’t make a weekly commitment to volunteer at VINS? 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.

Commitment:  As needed.  Transportation times will vary, depending on the location of a bird rescue.

Requirements:

• Reliable vehicle
• Willing to drive your own vehicle and provide fuel
• Travel round trip to VINS from your area or travel from VINS to bird and return
• 18 or over
• Willing to sign off on a Volunteer Acknowledgement of Risk

Transports generally occur within Vermont state borders or Grafton County, NH

Note: Gas mileage is not reimbursed by VINS.

Assist in maintaining the VINS Nature Center by weeding and tending flower gardens and/or removing trash, picking up litter, and checking facilities.

Are you passionate about environmental education? The VINS School Programs team is looking for volunteers to assist during the busy field trip seasons.  Field Trip Guides will:

• • Greet and orient school groups upon arrival
  • Help VINS educator set up lesson materials (if applicable)
  • Guide school groups through their schedule of planned experiences & lessons
  • Facilitate an educational station for a field trip lesson (if applicable)

Commitment: Once per week, weekdays September – October and/or May - June.

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.   Open to youth ages 14 - 17.

For more information visit our Leaders-in-Training page.

Share your passion for the natural world by engaging visitors to the VINS Nature Center.  Docents are most active from May through October and are trained to interpret our Forest Canopy Walk, raptor exhibits, and trails using educational props.  After a year of service, Nature Center Docents may also be trained to work with live animals.

Commitment: Once per week, a commitment of 40 hours a year is required.

Interested in getting hands-on experience and assisting VINS Research staff in fieldwork throughout Vermont.