We are always looking for great people to VOLUNTEER!

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Volunteer Opportunities:

March Volunteer Day in Cornwall:

  • Saturday, March 16

  • 9am-1pm (any time you can volunteer is appreciated!)

  • Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC) 120 Muser Drive, Cornwall NY

HHNC needs your help on Saturday, March 16 to get the Outdoor Discovery Campus (ODC) in shape for Spring! The goal for this day will be general groundskeeping on the property along with getting Grasshopper Grove ready for opening day in next month. We'll be there from 9am-1pm. Even if you can only come for a portion of the time, we would appreciate the help! No experience required. Please wear weather appropriate clothing, close-toed shoes, and (if you have them) bring work gloves & safety goggles. We have the know-how and the tools, but we need YOU! Click the link below to sign-up. Thank you!
Call (845) 534-5506 with questions

If you are interested in helping please let us know by
 clicking here to sign up

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We offer volunteer opportunities in the following areas:

Public Outreach, Program Help, Buildings and Grounds, Operations Assistance

If you have trouble finding a program that fits your interests, or you have special needs or requirements, please let us know how you’d like to use your talents as an HHNM volunteer!

General Attributes
Volunteers should:
- Enjoy and be able to work with many types of people.
- Possess good verbal & communication skills
- Have a pleasant personality & neat appearance
- Have an interest in nature, animals, environment, etc.
- Volunteers should generally be 15 years or older. (Please feel free to inquire about opportunities for 13 and 14 year olds.)

Public Outreach
Visitor’s Center Representative (ODC) - weekends
- Greet visitors to the museum and trails.
- Provide information and answer questions about the facilities.
- Conduct program registration- take admissions fees, maintain sign-up sheet.
- Perform cash register transactions at the gift shop.

Off-site Events - weekends
(Held at locations other than ODC or WEC)
- Help set up Museum booth, table, displays
- Provide information to public about HHNM activities and upcoming events
- Solicit sign-ups for email list, monthly membership raffle
- Interact with children in promotional activities like the pelt game, bug tattoos.

Special Events: 
Maple Sugar Tours (weekends in February and March), Earth Day , Halloween (last weekend in Oct.), Champagne Brunch (second Sunday in November)

There are many ways in which volunteers can help prepare for any of our Special Events. If you would like to participate, let us know!
Examples – participate in any one or more of the following activities:
- Register attendees and accept program fees
- Assist in conducting programs – lead tours, run games
- Information booths, concessions, crafting help
- Preparation/logistics: help to decorate, set up
- Direct visitor parking
- Assist in gathering items for Silent Auction
 

Programs
Craft Helper (ODC & WEC) – weekends and school vacations
- Assist children in making crafts as part of museum programs.
- Help keep programs timely and craft quality consistent.
- Assist educator with program as needed.
- Help in program clean-up.
- Craft prep – use your scissor skills! (for special events, Knee High Naturalist program, mini-camps) (weekday or weekend)

Scout Program Partner – for Adults (ODC) – weekends
Participate in any one or more of the following activities:
- Lead trail hikes, conduct activities
- Help keep programs/participants on schedule, especially with large

Boy/Girl scout groups
- Training will be provided
- Desired commitment: two 4-hour Scout days per year
School Program Partners – weekdays
- Lead hikes as part of school programs
- Training will be provided

Scout/School Prep and Follow-up – weekdays
- Assist Museum educators by helping to prepare materials and facilities for programs, especially Boy/Girl Scout events
- Make confirmation calls to scout groups, school groups (once a week)

General Program Help – evenings/weekends
- Register attendees at special events, such as the Evening Lecture Series
- Provide event and Museum information to attendees
- Take program fees, maintain cash box

Counselors In Training (CIT), Summer Camp - summer weekdays
- Help the camp instructors with set-up and clean-up, assisting campers, and above all, being a role model for the campers by setting a positive example.
- Campers and CITs participate in environmental education both at the Museum and by traveling to local sites.
- Training provided 1 week before hand
- Usual duration is 1 week, can be extended
- 15 years old and up
- Call Carl Heitmuller at (845) 534-5506 x209

Buildings and Grounds
Trail Maintenance/Invasives Removal (ODC & WEC) – any time
Participate in any one or more of the following activities:
- As part of a crew, or independently, keep trails safe and clean through maintenance.
- Regularly walk a trail and clear or report impediments from trails.
- Build elements such as platforms, bridges, etc.
- Remove invasive plants in a timely manner.

Buildings Beautification (ODC&WEC) – any time
Participate in any one or more of the following activities:
- Help maintain and beautify buildings by painting, cleaning, etc. Museum facilities
- Organize storage and supply areas to maximize resources
- Decorate for special events

Woodworking Projects– any time
- Fabrication of wood objects to support projects and educational activities
- Needed items include birdfeeder and bird house kits, “tree cookies”, natural blocks, walkways for Maple Sugar Tours.
- Help with Exhibit creation and repairs.

Nature Gardeners (ODC & WEC)  – any time
- Help plant, weed, and maintain the decorative gardens surrounding Museum buildings
- Potentially, help to revitalize and maintain the vegetable garden at the ODC
- Help support and staff the annual Wildflower Sale fundraiser (Saturday after Mother’s Day in May)

Operations Assistance
General Operations Assistance – weekdays and weekends as scheduled
- Photography – we always need great pictures of programs, camp, school visits and events
- Help with putting together mailings, fundraising materials
- Periodic data entry for maintenance of Museum databases
- Filing projects

Projects that need an artistic eye and/or computer graphic skills – any time
- Create achievement certificates
- Assist with exhibit painting, drawing, graphics
- Help create interactives for educational programs (ANTs)