VOLUNTEER

Classroom Instructors Serve as an instructor for one or more classrooms alongside Institute staff and AmeriCorps members. The ten-week commitment includes training, either by attending the a weekly Volunteer Training Series or on-the-spot training, teaching a one-hour lesson once a week for eight weeks, spending a day in the field as a naturalist or group leader (preferred), and attending the family showcase event, usually held in the evening at the school.

Field Naturalists
Spend a day out in the field as a naturalist, teaching students about the ecosystem concepts they've only heard about in the classroom, or as a group leader, helping the student-groups from station-to-station. Field trips are generally held for two weeks in October and on dates from April through mid-June. See current calendar for details.

Other Volunteer Opportunities
As with other non-profit organizations, there are many ways to get involved behind the scenes to support the work of the Institute. Writers compose and edit newsletter articles, artists donate their work to publications, and software engineers keep the computer network up and running. If you have a special skill or area of expertise, please contact us to find your niche in our community of volunteers.

Screening
The Institute carefully screens our volunteers who work with students. Volunteers must comply with a background check, including submitting fingerprints to the Sheriff's office, prior to teaching in the classroom or out in the field.