Volunteering at the Schuylkill Center is fun and rewarding. You'll learn new skills and make new friends, all while supporting our mission of connecting people with nature. Whether your passion is nature, wildlife, education, or art; whether you want to work outside or are a whiz with a computer; whether you want to volunteer a few hours a month or once a week, there's a meaningful volunteer opportunity to suit.
Become a volunteer today! Just fill out this form and send it back to our Volunteer Coordinator, Paulina Le (paulina@schuylkillcenter.org). Feel free to contact Paulina with any questions either by email or by phone (215-482-7300).
Here's a sampling of volunteer opportunities by program and department.
Wildlife Clinic
The Wildlife Clinic treats most native Pennsylvania species of small mammals, birds, raptors, reptiles, and amphibians, and relies heavily on our team of dedicated volunteers to maintain our facility and provide high-quality, consistent care for more than 2000 injured, ill, and orphaned wild animals each year. With only a small staff, we can't do this work alone, and with the support of our community we can make a difference for so many wild lives.
Wildlife rehabilitation is a challenging, rewarding, demanding, exhilarating, and exhausting field, and it is not for everyone. Volunteers wishing to work at the Wildlife Clinic require so much more than just a love for animals.
Regardless of your area of interest, previous experience level, or current skill set, there may be a place at the Wildlife Clinic for you. If you support the work we are doing and want to be a part of our team, please carefully review the volunteer roles currently available before applying.
Wildlife Clinic applications can be completed online. Applicants must also read and sign our volunteer agreement, attend an Information Session, and complete online ethics and safety courses before beginning any work at the clinic. For more information about our volunteer program and requirements, please carefully review the below sections.
To learn about specific volunteer positions, click here.
Toad Detour
The Toad Detour protects the local toad population of the Schuylkill Center and the surrounding Roxborough, Philadelphia neighborhood as the toads migrate to and from their breeding grounds each spring. When the toads emerge from hibernation in the early spring, hundreds of them cross Port Royal, Hagy's Mill and other nearby roads to mate in the Roxborough Reservoir or the Schuylkill Center's ponds. The Detour's volunteers erect barricades and help divert traffic during busy toad crossing in the evenings, saving hundreds of toads from being hit by cars. More on Toad Detour here.
Administration, Fundraising & Membership
The Schuylkill Center depends on our internal volunteers to assist with the flow of the organization so that it functions efficiently. Tasks include managing our receipt program, managing files, data entry, assisting with direct mailings, assisting with the front desk and other office-related duties.
Environmental Art
Our cutting edge environmental art program incites curiosity and sparks awareness of the natural environment through contemporary art. Responsibilities include assisting with special events and art tours, helping directly with artists to fabricate and install artwork or supporting us behind the scenes, with organizing and researching projects in the art office.
Land and Facilities
With 365 acres, help us preserve the quality of our woodlands, meadows, ponds and streams.
Volunteer Positions
The Native Planters assist with our seasonal plant sales and maintain our native gardens. Volunteers are needed from spring to fall. This is a great opportunity to socialize with other native plant enthusiasts and learn about the beauty of plants native to our region.
Restoration Volunteer Workdays occur on the third Saturday morning of each month in the spring, summer and fall. Tasks include care and maintenance of native plants within our restoration sites, removal of invasive species, maintaining deer fence and trail upkeep.
The Land Stewardship Trail Team assists with property maintenance by mowing, making small repairs to enclosures, pressure washing and snow clearing.
Nature Preschool and Kindergarten
The Nature Preschool at the Schuylkill Center welcomes volunteers who can share their expertise and love of nature with our 3, 4, and 5-year-old children. That might include accompanying a class on a hike and sharing your knowledge of trees or animals and their habitats, foraging for edible plants and making tea from them or working on a nature craft.
Story sharing, particularly from the perspective of those people who once lived on and with the land here at the Schuylkill Center, is especially appreciated. Any interaction with children in Pennsylvania requires PA state clearances and criminal background checks. Additionally, an interview with and approval of the director of Nature Preschool is required.
Public Events
The Schuylkill Center hosts three family fun events each year - Winterfest (January), Naturepalooza (April) and Halloween Hikes (October). Responsibilities include working with children to make crafts, leading hikes, encouraging visitors to become members, assisting with guests’ needs and other tasks.
The Center hosts three citizen science events each year - Winter Birding (January), Nesting Birding (June), and the Butterfly Census (July). Knowledgeable birders and butterfliers are needed to lead groups to obtain data.
Photography
We welcome your photographs when visiting our grounds to showcase the beauty of our forest, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of anything you capture digitally. Photographers will work directly with our Director of Communications to determine parameters and style of photography. Photos submitted will credit the photographer and be used at the discretion of the Schuylkill Center for publication and social media purposes.
Senior Environmental Corps
The Senior Environment Corps (SEC) program enlists senior citizens (over age 55) as active stewards of our environment. The Schuylkill Center's SEC meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month to monitor stream health and water quality at local streams in the Schuylkill River watershed. They are also dedicated to environmental education, and regularly volunteer with the annual Philadelphia County Envirothon competition for high school students.
