Volunteer at Hawk Mountain

Volunteer Opportunities

Visitor Services - March through November; especially September through November during fall migration season

• Keeper of the Gate - Check member cards and tickets; promote and sell memberships; provide information to visitors at trail entrance (training required).
• Membership Recruitment - Help keep the Sanctuary fiscally sound by promoting the Sanctuary on and off grounds.
• Bookstore - Assist bookstore staff with merchandise/membership sales; provide information to visitors (training required).
• Parking/traffic control - Special events and fall weekends; direct arriving visitors and provide basic information (on-the-job training with experienced volunteers)
• Information/Hospitality - Provide information about all aspects of Sanctuary, i.e., membership, facilities, trails, etc.; indoors, but outdoor option on fall weekends (training required)

Office Support - All year, mostly weekdays

• Fundraising - Assist staff with obtaining items for auction, raffle, sponsors for events and food donations 
• Phone contact - Call members to thank them for their support, recapture calls to lapsed members
• Data Entry/Computer - Entering general and scientific data, knowledge of WORD and Excel beneficial
• Mailings - General membership services i.e., folding, collating, stuffing envelopes on designated dates
• General Office - Copying, filing, and miscellaneous tasks for administration, education, and research

Education - Spring and fall  (training required)

• Group Program Assistant - Assist staff with guided school or civic group hikes and programs for children and adults; weekdays and weekends
• Weekend programs - Present live raptor* and special programs to visitors
• Group Greeter - Greet arriving visitors and groups; present ten minute talk about  Sanctuary trails and trail etiquette
• Native Plant Garden Walks - Inform visitors about the use of native plants on their property to benefit wildlife and the environment; weekends
• Group introductions - Present history of Hawk Mountain and overview of migration dynamics to visiting student and public groups; weekdays

* Opportunities to handle live birds may be available to volunteers who are at least 18 years of age and complete training and apprenticeship.               

Research - All year, mostly weekdays

• Biological survey - Spring, summer, and winter; usually early morning; knowledge of birds and their songs is required
• Data management - assist staff with research data

Stewardship and Facilities - Spring and summer weekends and weekdays

• Native Plant Garden - Mostly weekdays; knowledge of native plants or must work with knowledgeable and experienced volunteers
• Invasive plant control - Remove invasive exotic plants, i.e., Garlic Mustard, Asian Stilt Grass, Barberry, Honeysuckle, etc; good project for volunteer groups
• Grounds/Trails - General maintenance of property and trails; most trail work is done in spring

Miscellaneous - Occasionally as needed 

• Library - Maintain library in the Acopian Center. Weekdays only.
• Photography - Our need for specifics is sporadic; but we always need candid shots of volunteers at work and visitors.