Volunteer

• Overview

Volunteer

Service learning and volunteering is an essential part of keeping our communities strong. The generous investment of volunteer time and talent of individuals, school groups and corporations is critical to Riverbend’s ability to successfully realize our mission. We are grateful for the simple willingness of so many who share their gifts and support our vision to be recognized as a model environmental learning resource for children and as a unique and significant destination.

Volunteers are integral to Riverbend's success. If you want to make a difference for children, the environment and your community we have an opportunity for you to help. Hours are flexible depending on availability. Find the volunteer opportunity that's right for you:

Positions Currently Available:

• Education
• Administrative Support
• Special Events
• Habitat and Facilities
• Animal Care Volunteer
• Marketing Intern
• Alec Williamson Bird Observation Area Manager
• Camp Junior Volunteer Program

 

 

 

Education

Impact a child's experience directly!

• Education Intern
  Work side-by-side with our educators in a variety of ways depending on interests and availability. Assist weekday mornings during the school year with visiting school children for our 1-2 hour classes. Teaching assistance opportunities are also available with our Nature Clubs, weekly groups of children between 2 and 6 years of age.
• Summer Camp
  Junior high students (13 years old and up) assist staff educators with our summer camp exploration program. Help with hands-on learning activities, nature crafts, hikes, games and more. Session runs from June to August.
• Year-Round Camp
  Junior high students (13 years old and up) assist staff instructors with our year-round camp program offered during school holidays. Help with hands-on learning activities, crafts, games, hikes and more on Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day, as well as spring or winter break days.

 

Administrative Support

Help reduce our overhead costs!

• Data Entry
• Mailings
• Filing, copying and collating

 

Special Events

Help make fun memories!

Shiverfest (one day in late October):
You can contribute before, during and after the event:

• Set up decorations including carving pumpkins
• Be a "Creepy Critter" or "Ghoul"on the Haunted Trail
• Staff entrance tables to greet the public and collect contributions
• Face paint or lead nature crafts and games with children
• Assist at refreshment table

 

Summer Solstice

• Set up decorations
• Staff entrance tables to greet the public and collect contributions
• Lead nature crafts and games with children
• Assist at Refreshment table

 

Habitat and Facilities

• Trail Clean-up and Maintenance
  Mow, weed and mulch trails to keep them safe for hiking.
• Garden Clean-up and Maintenance
  Weed and provide ongoing care for our butterfly garden, Lenape Village garden or various other gardens.
• Habitat Restoration
  Remove invasive plant material from trees, stone walls and other areas.
  

 

Animal Care Volunteer

Help in the upkeep of our live animal collection including reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates used for our programming. Volunteers are needed to come once per week to care for the animals and to clean their habitats. A creative person with experience in aquarium and terrarium keeping can also help to create displays and interpretive material.

 

Marketing Intern – Available immediately

Riverbend Environmental Education Center, located in Gladwyne, PA, seeks to hire a marketing intern to help with marketing, PR and development related tasks. Key responsibilities include:

• Participation in the evaluation of marketing and development plans
• Participation in the evaluation of marketing and PR print materials
• Monthly website updates
• Creation of monthly E-newsletter
• Manage social networking initiatives (Facebook, Twitter)
• Support fundraising initiatives
• Take photographs of children participating in educational programs
• Increase presence on the internet through links on websites with similar missions, goals, and values
• Manage and maintain consistent supplies of printed communications
• Update PR contact list and help with press releases
  
  

 This position requires:

• Excellent communication skills
• Strength in organization
• Creativity
• Solid writing skills
• Ability to work well with others

Sophomore, Junior or Senior Marketing, Communications, or English majors can apply. We seek a commitment on average of 8-10 hours per week.

 

Alec Williamson Bird Observation Area Manager

The AWBOA is a beautiful garden that has a wonderful diversity of native plants and was designed with our feathered friends in mind. It provides food and safe nesting areas for our threatened songbirds. The BOA is also a major milestone for Riverbend. It is a vital component of our mission to provide the best possible educational opportunities for children. The BOA allows children to see a wide variety of native plants and birds they may not ever see otherwise. We need a dedicated group of experienced gardeners to help us care for this sensitive garden.
The duties include:

• weeding invasive plants
• maintaining the bird feeders
• watering plants, pruning, as well as providing your expertise to help us provide the best care possible!
• Ideally, we would like to have about 5 excellent gardeners who are able to dedicate a few hours of their day twice a week from spring to fall.   

 

 

Camp Junior Volunteer Program

Qualifications:   Teens, 14 years old and older, who wish to assist Riverbend’s summer camp program and have a positive impact on the lives and education of younger children.  Teens who are interested will complete an application and interview process in order to be accepted into the program.  The application includes a written portion and must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation.  Space in the program is limited, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Camp Junior Volunteer Program Application Form

Requirements:  Teens who are accepted into the program must complete the following requirements:

1. Six hours of training:  (2) three hour sessions (Part 1 and Part 2)
2. Commitment to volunteer for three full weeks (weeks need not be consecutive) during the summer of 2010, hours are Monday-Friday 8:30-4:00.  Weeks will be scheduled prior to the start of the summer.

Duties:
Camp Junior Volunteers perform a vital role in Riverbend’s summer camp program.  Duties include:

1. Assisting camp staff with assigned tasks that help with the general management of educational groups, primarily for children 4-6 years of age.
2. Providing a role model for the younger children on the appropriate ways to behave at camp and how to successfully explore the natural world.
3. Assist with the leading of Circle Time, Activity Day and the All Camp Activity.
4. Assist with the clean-up of education spaces, including picnic areas, outdoor classroom, supply room and others.

 

Training Agendas:
Training Part 1:
Introduction to Riverbend
Goals of Summer Camp
Goals of the Camp Junior Volunteer Program
Exploring Leadership
Teambuilding Activities (for volunteers and for activities they will lead with children)
What does leadership mean?  How can you be a leader at Riverbend’s camp?
Working with Children 101
Tips and Tricks
What would you do if?

Training Part 2:
A Day in the Life of a Camp Junior Volunteer
Does and Don’ts
Where can I find it?
Who’s in charge?
Being a Role Model
Working with Children 202
Games to Lead
Craft Time
Circle Time Fun
Modeling Behaviors
Questions and Concerns?

Training Dates:
Note: You must select a training date from each category, a Part 1 and a Part 2.

Training Part 1:
Saturday, May 15th  9-12
Sunday, May 23rd 1-4
Thursday, June 3rd  4-7
Tuesday, July 6th 1-4
Tuesday, August 3rd 1-4

Training Part 2:
Sunday, June 6th 1-4
Saturday, June 12th 9-12
Thursday, June 17th 4-7
Thursday, July 8th 1-4
Thursday, August 5th 1-4

Camp Junior Volunteer Program Application Form

 

 

To find out more about any of our volunteering opportunities, or to sign up please contact Chris Wales, Property Manage, at 610-527-5234 ext. 110, or events @ riverbendeec.org

 

 

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