Volunteer at the Conservancy!
Volunteers are the backbone of the Howard County Conservancy. From trail maintenance to office assistance, we depend on volunteers to help our mission thrive. Hundreds of volunteers help every year with tasks such as…..
Field Trip Hike Leaders
Volunteers lead nature hikes for kindergarten through twelfth grade Howard County students during the fall and spring field trip seasons – late March to June and September to November. Field trips usually take place on weekday mornings from about 9am until 12:30pm. Training sessions are in early spring and late summer. Our next elementary and secondary training sessions start in September! A love of nature and working with children is all that is required – we’ll teach you the rest!
Upcoming Trainings: Elementary field trips 9/1 & 9/8. Secondary field trips 8/31 & 9/7 (see flyer for details and to sign up!).
Habitat Restoration Group (Great for Youth 14+)
The habitat group completes projects such as removing invasive plants, replanting and maintaining planting areas with native species, stream bank restoration, erosion control, trail maintenance, and more. Participants must be 14 years or older. Gloves and tools provided. Close-toed shoes, long pants, long sleeves and a reusable water bottle are required.
Registration is not required. For groups interested in this volunteer opportunity or if you have questions, please contact Tabby Fique to register your group
Fall 2023 Habitat Groups will meet on the following Tuesdays from 3pm-4:30pm: October 3rd, October 17th, and November 14th. This volunteer opportunity is weather dependent and will be canceled in the event of rain.
Office Volunteers/Greeters
Volunteers or “Greeters” are the face and voice of the Conservancy. They help answer phones, greet visitors to the Gudelsky Center, and assist with other clerical duties. They play a vital role in daily life at the Conservancy as they are usually the ones the public interacts with first, whether it be by phone or in person at our Nature Center. Greeters volunteer for AM (9 am – 12pm) or PM (12 pm – 3 pm) shifts Monday through Friday while our Nature Center is open typically on a weekly basis.
To sign-up and learn more email us!
Animal Care
We occasionally need to recruit volunteers to help feed and water our animals and clean their enclosures. We have a diamondback terrapin, grey tree frog, snake, chickens, goats, eastern screech and barred owl. This is a great family volunteer opportunity. Persons over 14 may apply and a one-hour training is required. Volunteers need to be available sometime between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm to have access to indoor animals.
To learn more email us!
Drop-In Wednesday Morning Gardening
Gardening on Wednesday mornings spring – fall starting at 9:00am. All levels of experience are welcome. Gloves and tools are provided. No need to sign up ahead of time – just drop in and join the crew! (Volunteers under 18 – parent signature required prior to volunteering).
Corporate Volunteering Events
Groups of six or more people can schedule a individual volunteering work day with Conservancy staff. Projects included removing invasive plants, maintaining planting areas, stream bank restoration, erosion control, trail maintenance, and more. Gloves and tools provided. Close-toed shoes and long sleeves are recommended. To schedule a work day for your employees or group, please contact Tabby Fique .
Event Volunteers
Volunteers help with special events at the Conservancy. These events typically happen in the evenings or on weekends. Duties include setting up tables and chairs, greeting guests, collecting admission when applicable, assisting with refreshments, and clean up.
To sign-up and learn more email us!
Special Skills
Handy, techy and crafty people (along with other skill sets) are often needed for special projects. We are also always looking for photographers to help document programs, events and spotted creatures on our grounds! These opportunities are on an as needed basis.
To learn more email us!