Volunteering is as much an opportunity to learn as it is to take part. Even if you are not an avid outdoors person, there are still a multitude of opportunities to fit your interests. Knowledgeable District staff or veteran volunteers will provide whatever training is necessary. Volunteer pportunities typically occur on weekends or during a person’s free time. However, weekday volunteers are also needed to assist in education programming. Click here to review the various opportunities in our Volunteer Brochure.

Whatever your interests or skills, there's a volunteer opportunity waiting for you at the McHenry County Conservation District. To receive a volunteer application packet or obtain more information about volunteer job descriptions, responsibilities, training or time commitments, contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Denice Beck, at 815-338-6223 ext. 229 or e-mail volunteers@mccdistrict.org.

Read about activities and opportunities in our newsletter Volunteer
Summer/Fall 2010 | Winter 2010

Individual/Family Opportunities
Education Department Volunteers: Education Department volunteers bring our natural world to life for thousands of visitors each year. Both Weekday and Evening/Weekend volunteers are needed to work with staff on programs such as school field trips, summer day camp, The Festival of the Sugar Maples, Discovery Days, day and night hikes, Holiday Festival, District Egg Hunt, and a variety of special programs.

Natural Resource Management Volunteers: NRM Volunteers have helped to restore natural communities on over 15,000 acres scattered throughout the boundaries of McHenry County. Countless hours have been dedicated toward the restoration of thousands of acres of wetlands, now home to a variety of wildlife, including Blandings Turtles, Snail Darters, Egrets, and Sandhill Cranes. In addition, volunteers played an active role in returning the Nippersink Creek to its original channel, planting miles of prairie flowers and grasses, surveying plant and animal life and monitoring stream, river and pond quality throughout the county.

Prairie Trail Safety Watch Volunteers: Members of the Prairie Trail SafetyWatch Program bike, walk or rollerblade along the 26-mile meandering Prairie Trail and take part in keeping the trail safe and fun for users. Volunteers work a flexible schedule during the riding season as they travel the trail in pairs and work with the Conservation Police to watch for unsafe conditions or activities, while enjoying their time outdoors. Volunteers are provided with everything from uniforms to radios to bike equipment, training, and a number of group social activities. Prairie Trail Safety Watch volunteers must be 21 years old.

Trail of History Volunteers: Held the third weekend of October at Glacial Park in Richmond, this annual historical event utilizes scores of volunteers, individuals and entire families who join in the reenactment of prairie life from 1670 through 1850. Both costumed and non-costumed volunteers are needed. Through a series of meetings, volunteers receive an orientation to the event, costume preparation assistance, and training in a number of event activities. Volunteers are able to sign up for a preferred assignment that demonstrates pioneer skills, such as writing with quill pens, cooking in a pioneer kitchen, teaching in a frontier school house to making candles, woodworking or making corn husk dolls (to name just a few). Come hear the music of fife and drum, smell the delicious scents of wood smoke and cooking, and help make this colorful pageant of history unfold.

Wildlife Resource Center Volunteers: Wildlife Resource Volunteer assist with the care of program animals, captive reared species and feeder populations. In addition, interested persons help in food preparation, cage maintenance, cleaning and construction, and assistance at education programs. Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age.

Service Volunteer Opportunities
The McHenry County Conservation District has a variety of projects needing a sponsor or sponsors to help bring them to completion. Suitable for groups (youth, corporate, or families) to individuals (Eagle Scout candidates, etc.). Depending upon the task to be accomplished, service volunteer opportunities can be divided into several categories or commitment levels:

A single day commitment: Such projects might be working with MCCD volunteer stewards in land restoration tasks, a litter removal project, attending a special workday/seminar and, less frequently, special one-time projects.

Project commitment from start to finish: Sample projects may include construction of boardwalks, benches and shelter structures; fence line or farm dump removal; pond depth surveys; nest box construction, invasive species removal from waterways or – with the direction of District Site Stewards – larger restoration projects. These projects change continually. A list of current projects is available upon request.

Recurring service project: Foremost among the service projects is the Adopt-a-Trail program. Individuals, corporations or groups make a commitment to monitor and clean up certain portions of the 26-mile Prairie Trail. A sign along the Prairie Trail announces your organization’s commitment to all Prairie Trail users.

Court-Ordered Community Service Workers
The McHenry County Conservation District does utilize court-mandated service workers. For more information, contact the Land and Facilities Department at 815-338-6223, ext. 211.

 

 

The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required for all pdf files.