Volunteers are the backbone of Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center — there is always work to be done! We rely heavily on the skills and labor of student, community, and retired volunteers for a wide variety of tasks.
If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities at Shaver’s Creek, please call or email ShaversCreek@outreach.psu.edu. We are always looking for volunteers in the following areas:
Animal Care
- Feed, water, and clean enclosures for outdoor and indoor animals
- Work with hawks, owls, eagles, and other raptors, and snakes, turtles, and/or frogs
- Maintain bird-feeding area for resident and migrating wild birds
- Create new perches and structures for the animals
- Prepare for animal programs, handle the raptors, and provide public educational opportunities
Watch this Raptor Center video to preview some of the work you can do.
Grounds, Trails, and Facilities
- Maintain and beautify the center and grounds
- Landscape the gardens — plant, trim, weed, prepare soil, etc.
- Do physical work on trails, such as trim vegetation, remove fallen trees, pick up litter to be recycled, and make repairs
- Monitor and repair bird boxes
- Check accuracy of maps and interpretive trails
- General “handyman” duties
Become a fan of the Shaver’s Creek Caretaker Corps Facebook page to get updates on volunteer work days, ongoing projects, and photos!
Public Programs
- Spend an unforgettable week as a school counselor for fifth graders
- Lead environmental education programs
- As a Penn State student, become a role model while earning credit and/or volunteer hours
- Lead or assist school groups through our daily programs
- Lead environmental education programs
- Lead Discovery Walks and guided Nature Center visits
- Available in spring and fall semesters
- Be a counselor or group leader for kids ages 4–14
- Lead environmental education programs
- Create and lead games and creativity stations
Special Events
Volunteers assist us in a variety of ways for our festivals, including parking management, food preparation, being Zero Waste Czars, and more, depending on the event:
- Fall Harvest Festival and Children’s Halloween Trail in October
- Maple Harvest Festival in March
- The Birding Cup, annual fundraiser and bird identification competition, first weekend in May
- Native Plant Festival in May
- Music Festival and Evenings of Music
- Project Feeder Watch, an ongoing monitoring project by volunteers at their home bird feeders
Please help us to make Shaver’s Creek the best nature center we can be! Contact us for more information about becoming a volunteer!
