Volunteer Opportunities at SAC

Volunteers are highly valued as an integral part of the success of the SharonAudubonCenter and Miles Wildlife Sanctuary.  We are looking for volunteers to help with several aspects of the Center’s operations and programs.  No experience is necessary for any of our volunteer opportunities and all interested volunteers will be trained accordingly by Audubon Sharon staff.  Due to the intensity involved in some activities, some may not be suitable for children.  Regular volunteers at the Center receive a 20% discount in our Nature Store. 

Environmental Educator/ Naturalist

Our first priority at the Sharon Audubon Center is to teach about the importance of the environment and our natural surroundings.  Volunteer educators work with SAC staff in helping children and adults gain a better understanding and respect for the natural world.  Volunteers will be trained in SAC curriculum material by SAC staff.  Some popular subjects include:  Pond Study, Insect Insanity, Bird Study, Adventure in Senses and Discovery Walks. Programs typically run about an hour in length. No previous experience is necessary, but volunteers must be willing to work with children in an outdoor setting and have a desire to expand their interest in nature and wildlife.

Reptile Curators

Our resident animals are a big part of the Center.  We now have a large family of Reptiles including two Ball Pythons, two Corn snakes, a Black Rat snake and several species of turtles. Our turtles need to be fed twice a week and snakes are fed once every 1-2 weeks.  It is also important to keep the tanks and aquariums clean with fresh water on a weekly basis. The animals need cleanliness to remain healthy.  Volunteers will feed the reptiles, as well as completely clean out tanks and add fresh water for turtles.  Care for snakes, turtles, or both.  No experience is necessary.  SAC staff will train volunteers on handling and feeding procedures. 

 Raptor Curators

The Sharon Audubon Center is home to many non-releasable birds who serve as education ambassadors.  All of our birds are permanently disabled and need care every day. Our hawks and owls are used in a large number of Raptor Programs and need socialization so that they will be more comfortable around people. Volunteer duties include removal of old food and waste, cleaning cages, and providing fresh food and water.  Interested volunteers can be trained to handle the birds so that they may be taken for walks outside in the sunlight.  Space is limited for this position.  Volunteers must be responsible and aware of the risks involved when working with raptors.

Baby Bird Feeders

Each Spring and Summer, the rehab room becomes filled with dozens of hungry, delicate baby birds.  Many times, these birds need to be fed every 15 minutes for 12-14 hours a day.  Volunteers are desperately needed to care for birds while Center staff teach programs or are away from the building.  Several workshops are held in the Spring for interested volunteers and one of these workshops must be attended before beginning to feed.  Anyone under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult while caring for the birds. No previous knowledge or experience handling birds is necessary. Interested potential CT wildlife rehabilitators may receive volunteer hours through the Sharon Audubon Center.

Nature Store Clerk

The Nature Store at the SharonAudubonCenter offers a complete line of field guides on all topics, educational books, children’s toys, gift items, t-shirts, and much more.  Shelves are constantly stocked with new merchandise.  This is a great opportunity for volunteers interested in sales and meeting people.  In addition to helping with the bookstore during busy events, volunteers will help greet visitors and answer questions about the exhibits, current activities at the Center, trails, wildlife sightings and National Audubon Society information.

Maintenance/Trail Work

The SharonAudubonCenter offers 11 miles of trails throughout the Sanctuary.  Trails often need cleared of fallen limbs and other debris in order to maintain easy access.  Bridge repair, painting, grounds work, wood chopping, fixing up aviaries and other special projects often require the help of enthusiastic volunteers.  SAC searches for volunteers to help complete these tasks and have a fun time while doing it. Volunteers are also needed for summer maintenance, such as mowing.  Building or trail maintenance skills are helpful, but not necessary.

Gardeners

Various gardens provide beautiful aesthetics throughout the property.  Gardeners are needed to aid in planting, watering and weeding of our butterfly, hummingbird and other gardens located on the grounds.  Our butterfly garden includes a wide variety of wildflowers.  These flowers need to be labeled on stakes adjacent to the patch so that all visitors can learn which species to plant to attract wildlife to their own gardens.  Layout maps of plants in each garden also need to be sketched out for future reference.  A knowledge of plants and gardening is helpful, but not necessary.  Volunteers can work at their own pace to relax and enjoy the experience of creating a beautiful garden.

Special Events/Festival

The SharonAudubonCenter now hosts 4 major events each year: Maple Fest, Kids’ Day, EnchantedForest, and the Summer Festival.  There is a lot involved behind the scenes of these very successful events.  Volunteers are needed to help with information booths, assembling tents, cooking, parking, collecting donations for prizes, advertising, etc.  Each event requires specialized help, so please call for information on each individual event.

Maple Sugaring

Each year, the SharonAudubonCenter taps hundreds of Sugar Maple trees to begin our Maple Syrup production.  Volunteers are needed to tap trees, put up or replace old pipeline on the Sugarbush, collect and empty sap buckets, and keep the fire stoked in the sugarhouse.  Tapping usually begins in mid-February and the “Season” ends in late March.  Sap is boiled constantly for Maple Sugaring Programs for school children as well as late into the night.  Fires need to be supervised at all times to assure prevention of burning boiling pans, sap overflow and stray hot ashes.

If you are interested in learning more about one of these exciting volunteer opportunities please contact us at the Sharon Audubon Center!