Volunteer Opportunities

Please find below a list of volunteer positions with job descriptions and frequency. Should you have any questions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time. While this list includes volunteer positions, if you have a special interest in a certain area not noted below, please feel free to inquire about volunteer opportunities associated with your special skills and interest. Click here for a downloadable application form for the positions below.

Special Events Assistant

ERCA hosts a number of special events throughout the year at various conservation areas throughout the Essex Region. In addition to general assistance during these special events, please find below specific positions for the Hillman Marsh Shore and Songbird Celebration, and the Holiday Beach Conservation Area Festival of Hawks.

Hillman Marsh Volunteer Opportunities

Location: Hillman Marsh Conservation Area on County Road 37 and Concession 2, (Oak St.) Shore and Songbird Celebration held the second weekend in May.

Visitor Information and Gift Salesperson at the Hillman Marsh Nature Centre
Job Description: Greet visitors to the nature centre. Invite them to sign the guest book, and offer them information about Hillman Marsh, the wildlife displays, daily bird sightings, directions to local attractions, stores, B&Bs, hotels and restaurants. Sell refreshments and nature products, and gifts.
Season & Hours: May, 3 to 3.5 hours per day volunteered.
Children's Nature Crafts Helper
Job Description: Show children how to do the different nature crafts offered during the Spring Shore and Songbird Festival.
Food Booth Server
Job Description: Help prepare, barbeque and serve the food at the Spring Shore and Songbird Festival.
Bird Hike Leader
Job Description: Lead visitors on a bird identification hikes. Bird identification is essential.

Holiday Beach Festival of Hawks Event Volunteer Opportunities

Location: Holiday Beach Conservation Area on County Road 20 just south of Malden Centre. Event dates & Hours: 2nd through 4th weekends in September, from 10am to 3pm (3 hr. shifts)

Children's Nature Crafts Helper
Job Description: Show children how to do the different nature crafts, fill the paint trays and change the water.
Food Booth Server
Job Description: Help prepare, barbeque and serve the food at the Festival.
Visitor Information and Gift Salesperson
Job Description: Greet visitors to the nature classroom. Invite them to sign the guest book, and offer them information about Holiday Beach, the bird migration displays, daily bird sightings, directions to local attractions, stores, B&Bs, hotels and restaurants. Sell nature products and gifts.
Bird Hike Leader
Job Description: Lead visitors on a bird identification hikes. Bird identification is essential.

Friends of Watersheds Volunteer

There are currently Friends of Watershed groups in 8 watersheds across the Essex Region. These groups conduct watercourse clean ups and tree planting events in the spring and summer months. Interested in volunteering? There are two ways to get involved in Friends of Watersheds groups. These groups generally meet monthly to plan actions to improve the water quality in their local watercourse, then participate in the planned events. You can become a Friends of Watershed volunteer by contacting Caroline Biribauer at 776-5209 ext. 245 to determine in what watershed you are located, then join your local Friends of Watersheds group.

Another option would be to be become the Friends of Watersheds Assistant.
Job Description: Assist the Friends of Watersheds Organizer in planning meetings and events by organizing equipment, assisting with mail outs, phone call, graphic design for posters, etc.
Frequency: Weekly or bi-weekly.
Supervisor: Caroline Biribauer, Friends of Watersheds Organizer ext. 245

Office Assistant/ Community Relations Assistant

Job Description: Data entry for various departments, including Geographic Information Systems, Community Relations, etc., assisting with media clipping files, organization of photographs and videos, photocopying, assisting with displays and other. Frequency: Weekly or Bi-weekly
Supervisor: Danielle Stuebing, Director of Communications and Education ext. 352

Essex Region Conservation Foundation Assistant

Job Description: Assisting with fundraising for the Essex Region Conservation Foundation, which raises funds for the acquisition of significant natural resources in the Essex Region. Duties could include special events such as our dinner or golf tournament, developing new 'Friends of Conservation', and other opportunities as they come up. Frequency: Weekly or Bi-weekly
Supervisor: Danielle Stuebing, Director of Communications and Education ext. 352

John R. Park Homestead and Conservation Area Volunteer

Click here for downloadable information.