Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the core of many important programs at The Ridges. Over 150 dedicated individuals assist our permanent staff (2-fulltime & 4-parttime) in many different areas. Volunteers are invaluable in running programs like the Festival of Nature, Ride for Nature, a ’round for The Ridges, Natural Christmas, Great Waffle Breakfast, and others. They also assist with education program, bird programs, surveying species, monitoring streams, maintaining trails and attacking invasive species. Not the least of their efforts is staffing the Nature Center throughout the busy summer season. In 2010, Volunteers donated over 4,000 hours to The Ridges Sanctuary! Several new and exciting projects are developing at The Ridges, and YOUR help will be greatly appreciated!
Nature Center Staffing:
If you like to work face-to-face with people, this is the job for you! Volunteers greet and orient visitors to the Sanctuary, collect trail fees, and staff the Nature Store. You’ll learn about the Sanctuary and meet lots of interesting people. Shifts are 9 AM-12:30 and 12:30-4 PM or Noon – 4 PM on Sundays. Come one day or once a week! Work with a friend or make new friends! Be the first to know what’s blooming at The Ridges! Get a discount at the Nature Store when you work! Play with the microscopes! Call Pam G if you’d like to learn more – 839-2802.
Wednesday Crew:
This dedicated group of men and women meets weekly throughout the year to work on a variety of projects: trail construction and maintenance, repair and upkeep of buildings and boardwalks, and many other duties necessary to keeping the Sanctuary’s properties and facilities in great shape.
“Other Skills” Volunteers:
Do you have a unique ability, such as fundraising, photography, writing or computer skills, that might be used to benefit the Sanctuary? We may be able to put your special talents to good use on a Ridges project or program. Your skill might be as simple as knowing you way around the county. We need people to put up flyers to announce some of our many programs and events or to scan old pictures to the computer – many needs that the staff can’t seem to get to.
Barberry Pirates
(a.k.a. “Invasive Plant Control”): Several species of unwanted, non-native plants threaten the ecological integrity of the Ridges. In an effort to control them, The Ridges needs volunteers to pull these invaders of the Sanctuary. Barberry Pirates can work independently or in small groups. No special skills are required – just a willingness to help and a love of natural areas.
Surveying & Monitoring
Are you interested in searching for and recording various species found in the Sanctuary? You can help us gather information for long-term studies on butterflies, dragonflies, birds, and plant species as well as water quality changes.
Youth Programs Volunteer:
Your interest in and love of the outdoors can be shared with dozens of children who attend our youth programs each summer. No teaching experience is necessary.
Special Events:
If you have a flair for planning and conducting “events,” we have a place to apply your skills! Much volunteer help is needed for some of our most exciting events, including the Festival of Nature, Lighthouse Walk, Ride For Nature, and Volunteer Recognition.
Lighthouse Keepers: 
A new volunteer group at The Ridges! Like the Wednesday Crew (which works on trails, grounds, and building projects) we’ll do hands-on work. But we’ll refurbish aesthetic elements of The Ridges: gardens, some landscape design, inside painting and papering. Next summer’s project is designing, planting and tending cottage gardens around the Upper Range Light building.
If you are interested in helping with any of these projects, click here to fill out an online form, or call The Ridges Sanctuary office at 920-839-2802.
